11(^02)
Miss Kim I-sim is a French-speaking guide in the
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum.
She said that she learnt French in Pyongyang
thanks to the “high level of education that the
nation provides”. I later learned that she was the
daughter of a diplomat and spent her childhood
in French-speaking Algeria
(^05)
Women perform during the Arirang Mass Games
in Pyongyang. This artistic festival’s epic story
is based on the Korean folk tale about a young
couple who are separated by an evil landlord.
It’s used to portray the division of Korea. It was
stopped a few years ago as it was too costly
(^09)
A Kim Il-sung statue in Mansudae, Pyongyang.
Thousands of North Koreans come to pay respect
to the late leader every day, leaving flowers.
Every tourist must do the same – and bow
(^03)
A soldier looks through binoculars towards the
walled section of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
This huge wall separates North and South Korea
along the border. Thanks to these binoculars,
soldiers can see to the other side of the border
quite clearly
(^06)
A North Korean woman wears the traditional
dress that most of the women still wear in
Pyongyang. Wearing trousers is forbidden for
women. She also dons the Kim Il-sung badge,
showing that she is a member of the Party
(^07)
A young girl practises her instrument in school in
Hamhung. Education is seen as very important in
North Korea, and music is part of the curriculum
(^08)
General Pak Shan-su is a hero from the war
against the US. When asked why he has so many
medals, he said: “Because I killed many enemies”
01
On Kim Il-sung Square, soldiers march past two
enormous pictures of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-
il, the latter of which was added when he died
04
Young soldiers train to walk in line across
Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. Every man
has a number on his chest. When one makes
a mistake, the officers can tell him what to
correct by calling his number