The Mangyongdae Children’s Palace is an unusual academy in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, where the most gifted children in the country are sent in order to develop their talents. The intent is to showcase the children and their capabilities as evidence of the superiority of the North Korean system and state. The children, some as young as 4 or 5 years in age, and who may not see their families again for years or even decades, are thrust into a regimented program where the sole focus of the child’s life is to perfect their talent, whether it be in ballet or painting or playing a musical instrument or any of several other skills that have been deemed desirable to promote. The lifestyle and extraordinary talent of the children is certainly fascinating, but what is perhaps even more interesting is revealed by the simple fact that children are not as adept at concealing their feelings as adults are.