Please note that we were not allowed to take photos of the numerous military we saw on our trip, poverty that was everywhere in the south of the country and many other things — so this is not a balanced look at the country. But at least it lets you see some of the nicer things inside North Korea.
Detail of the mural outside Kim Il Sung stadium. This shows how the people are supposed to look up to the "dear leader"
Arch of Triumph, built in 1982 as a copy of the french Arc de Triomphe
Supporting countries inside the Juche Tower. Australia was represented, as was the USA
Juche Tower, a central landmark in Pyongyang
Mural of President Kim Il Sung next to the fountain park. Murals like this are throughout the country
BBQ beef being cooked on the table
Me in front of a captured US jeep from the Korean War inside the "Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum"
In hindsight this was a dangerous photo to take. We saw lots of North Korean military units throughout our tour and were not permitted to take photos of them (including this one, which I took to give you this perspective). This was inside the War Museum where they were learning about the Korean war, so their soldiers were rather more unfriendly towards us than usual here.
I took this photo at the exact moment that one of our tour members was explaining to our tour guide about the new leader of North Korea. They receive so little information inside the country that tourists are often a more accurate source of information. (at the Monument to Victory in the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War)
The building in front is filled with gifts from leaders worldwide (as happens with all leaders) — but the korean leadership use it to convince the population of the international support for their regime. (International friendship exhibition — Kim Jong Il hall)
North Korea has so little traffic that they prefer to have female police officers directing traffic - the theory is that the mostly male drivers will pay more attention! (outside the Changwangsan health complex)
This was from an amazing performance at the Mangyongdae School Childen's Palace. It makes you wonder how such young children got to be SO good.
A night view of Pyongyang — Taedong river
One of the waitresses from Yanggakdo hotel bar.
A small child at the Taesongsan fun fair
Young pioneers in the Pyongyang Grand Theater. Some of the kids are giving the pioneer salute.
Young pioneers in the Pyongyang Grand Theater.
One of many monuments in Pyongyang - the monument to workers party foundation
Me in front of the USS pueblo
Me in front of Pyongyang's "Monument to Workers Party Foundation"
There were an endless supply of waitresses like these, dressed in national costume. This was in the Lotus Flower restaurant in Pyongyang
I was able to get a real "Korean President" outfit custom made — this was taken Inside the Pyongyang subway at the Renaissance station
A woman painting in Moranbong park, in Pyongyang
A couple getting married in Moranbong Park. This is how couples dress on their wedding day in North Korea
We slept on the floor in this hotel (no, it wasn't comfortable!) at Kaesong — Minsok hotel (folk customs hotel)
The DMZ from the North Korean side– Joint Security Area / Truce village (Panmunjom)
Looking over the DMZ with a North Korean lieutenant. The UN military is on the mountain behind us (Concrete wall lookout post)
Me on the exact center between North and South Korea, flanked by North Korean military (Inside the UN administered building at the Panmunjom)
Two US military came out to check on us while we were touring the DMZ from the North Korean side
The North Korean tour group in front of the "Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification"
