North Korea

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Pyongyang Metro is the deepest in the world at 120 metres and doubles as an bomb shelters in times of war. The design is said to be based on the Moscow metro system. I was immediately struck by the… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Ryugyong Hotel is the tallest structure in North Korea. Construction started in 1987 but ended in 1992. Had it been completed it would have been the world’s tallest hotel. It has 105 floors but as it is at present… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 2 minutes This museum focused on the Korean War. There were many captured American planes, jeeps and tanks inside as well as North Korean military vehicles. Huge Kim Il Sung mural at the entrance to the museum. Original army propaganda poster from… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 2 minutes I picked up some of these postcards in a stamp shop I visited in Pyongyang. All art in North Korea must adhere to socialist realism principles. The many posters and banners we saw in North Korea are designed to educate… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 3 minutes I watched an incredible performance of the Mass Games while I was in North Korea in April 2007. Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 1 minute This is a huge monument to Kim Il Sung at the top of a hill overlooking Pyongyang which can be seen from all over the city. Either side of the Kim Il Sung statue are two further statues. The first… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 2 minutes On the birthday of Kim Il Sung it seemed the whole of Pyongyang had turned up in the square. Our guides told us that this dancing started early in the morning and continued all day. These photos don’t show it… Continue Reading →

Reading Time: 1 minute Due to the shortages of electricity in Pyongyang the North Koreans use “traffic ladies” to direct traffic at busy crossroads and prevent huge pile ups. We were told that only the prettiest North Korean women are chosen to become traffic… Continue Reading →