Ancient wood-powered trucks, troops asleep on the road and women fighters in high heels: The true face of Kim Jong-un's army revealed in photos smuggled out of North Korea (19 Pics)

Photos taken by a tourist between Mount Kumgang and the port city of Wonsan on North Korea's east coast

They show soldiers sleeping on the side of the road, trucks powered by wood and men trying to fix vehicles

The images, smuggled out of Kim Jong-un's secretive country, also show women fighters wearing high heels

The true face of Kim Jong-un's army has been revealed in pictures smuggled out of North Korea showing ageing wood-powered trucks (pictured) and exhausted soldiers asleep on the roadside

In the photos, taken by a tourist between Mount Kumgang and the port city of Wonsan on North Korea's east coast, Kim Jong-un's troops are seen sleeping on the roadside

One photo shows a female soldier in military clothing on duty in high heels. The image was among a number smuggled out of the secretive country

While Kim Jong-un boasts of the power and skill of his army, photos reveal a different story. One image shows men struglging to fix their ageing truck

The photographer, who asked not to be identified, said the few soldiers he saw appeared unready for action – even at the South Korean border

Hitching a ride: One photogapn shows at least 14 of Kim Jong-un's troops crammed onto a vehicle that seats just six

On the road: North Korea is famously strict about photography and visitors often have their pictures deleted by their chaperons

These pictures were taken on a camera with two memory card bays, meaning any photos deleted would be backed up

The photographer did not need to worry and said his guides were 'very liberal'. His cache of photos was not even inspected once

War games: Two soldiers take a break and play a board game - in stark contrast to the image presented by Kim Jong-un of an army ready for battle

Experts say North Korea's army is significantly less capable than that of neighbouring South Korea, but that Kim's forces are not to be underestimated

Three North Korean men walk along carrying what appear to be imitation weapons. The photos were smuggled out of the country by a tourist

Some trucks even appear to be powered by wood gas generators – a technology not commonplace in Europe since the end of the Second World War

The snaps were shot en-route to Mount Kumgang and the port city of Wonsan on North Korea's east coast, the city of Nampo on the west coast and in the capital Pyongyang

Caught off guard: Pictures show armed officials wandering around a courtyard outside a building in North Korea

Rank and file: These military personnel were pictured laughing and joking while on duty - in contrast to the images of goose-stepping troops that are regularly released by state media

Time out: Female soldiers take a break while another talks to a passerby in another photo smuggled out of the secretive state

On guard: While some photos showed military personnel relaxing or even asleep, this image captured two soldiers taking their responsibilities very seriously

Directions: Off-duty military personnel are pictured wandering around the streets past North Korean flags