A Glimpse of Pyongyang, North Korea

Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, the world's most secretive nation. It is still one of the few countries in the world where socialism is still practiced.

This city of 4 million people sits on the Taedong river and is the regime's showcase to the world. Government propaganda machinery portrays it as paradise on earth, a spotless city where the population enjoys the fruits of the Korean revolution.

In Pyongyang, the streets are spotlessly clean. One gets to see very little cars. The only modes of transportation appears to be buses and the subway. This is one city where monuments are aplenty and they are of monstrous proportions.

On board Air Koryo, the North Korean national carrier. Air Koryo flies Russian Tupolev planes.

Pyongyang International Airport

Pyongyang with the Taegun River in the foreground.

A 35 meter statue of the Great Leader, Kim Il Sung at Mansudae

Kim Jong Il inherited the dictatorship from his father, Kim Ii Sung when the latter passed away in 1994.

A Robotic Woman Traffic Cop.

There are no traffic lights in Pyongyang.

Trolley Bus in Downtown Pyongyang

Lone traffic cop in the middle of a major junction.

Probably one of the world's costliest architectural disasters, the Ryugyong Hotel.

Another view. 100 floors, totally deserted. Now a derelict.

Taedong Gate.

"Arc d' Triumph", only larger than the one in Paris.

A car going past the Arc d' Triumph! A rare sight indeed.

Worker's Party Monument.

The Jurche Tower.

Murals depicting North Korea's history.

Monument for Korean Unification.

Kim Il Sung's Square just like Tien An Men Square in Beijing only smaller.

Propaganda Billboard.

Metro in Pyongyang.

Boating in Taedong River.

North Korean children on excursion.

There are about 25,000 apartments on this stretch of road but no cars.

Another housing estate in Pyongyang. Again no cars.

Pyongyang Skyline with the Ryugyong Hotel standing up like a sore thumb.

A well known Pyongyang restaurant famous for cold noodles

Captured American spy ship on display, the USS Pueblo.

Koryo Museum, Kaesong.

Mausoleum of King Wang gon, Kaesong.

Thongll Street, Kaesong near Panmunjom.

Another view of an almost deserted street in Kaesong.

North Korean waitresses in a restaurant.

Royal Lunch in a Thongll Street restaurant, Kaesong.

Almost deserted highway from Kaesong to Panmunjom.