Russian historian, Andrei Lankov lived in Pyongyang in the 1980’s, where he was an exchange student. His forthcoming book takes a look at how the government established a tight grip on the lives of everyday North Koreans.

Take, for example, these anti-US questions cited by Lankov in a North Korean student textbook.

Question 1:

During the Fatherland Liberation War [North Korea’s offical name for teh Korean War] the brave uncles of Korean People’s Army killed 265 American Imperial bastards in the first battle. In the second battle they killed 70 more bastards than they had in the first battle. How many bastards did they kill in the second battle? How many bastards did they kill altogether?

Question 2:

South Korean boys, who are fighting against the American imperialist wolves and their henchmen, handed out 45 bundles of leaflets with 150 leaflets in each bundle. They also stuck 50 bundles with 50 leaflets in each bundle. How many leaflets were used?

No, not all maths questions are of a poltitcal nature. But depsite the spicy educational propaganda, Lankov had this to say about the country.

When living in North Korea myself, I could not help but find it remarkable how “normal” the daily lives usually were. North Koreans of the Kim Il Sung era were not brainwashed automatons whose favourite pastime was goose-stepping and memorizing the lengthy speeches of their Leader (although these activities had to be a part of their lives).

[Source: Global Post]