Bella Seo, who fled North Korea when she was a teenager, has given a chilling account of what school life is like in the hermit kingdom, where children are forced to do hard labour.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent 287.02 million yen ($2.01 million) in educational aid and scholarships to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, also known as Chongryon, to mark the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung.

North Korea's involvement in the war has sparked fears of global escalation, with Seoul especially concerned of Pyongyang's troops gaining experience.