Not everyone is able to rise up the ranks. Some people become bureaucrats, others are employed by a state-run enterprise. But the majority of the middle class are in some way connected with markets.Since virtually everything from food and clothes to appliances and books is bought and sold there, the North Korean middle class mostly consists of market traders.
Education is free and mandatory. From a young age, children are taught about the achievements of the Kim family and the country’s revolutionary history. Propaganda plays a major role in schools, media, and public life, reinforcing loyalty to the government and distrust of foreign influences. Internet access is restricted to a domestic intranet called Kwangmyong, which hosts government-approved content. Foreign media, music, and movies are banned, though some material is smuggled in from China and South Korea.
