Inside The Other ‘Korea’

Four-lane roads. Lexus on the streets. A modern eye centre inspired by Singapore's own. The Straits Times got a glimpse of Pyongyang, the public face North Korea wants the world to see. Associate editor Rahul Pathak and photojournalist Desmond Foo report.

PUBLISHED: NOV 30, 2017

North Korea dresses up its scars in elegant clothing.

A visitor to Pyongyang would see smooth, wide roads – some run four lanes in each direction – with trams and Lexus cars and a string of new taxis that charge US$1 (S$1.36) for every 2km. These are different from the red taxis at hospitals that ferry expectant mothers for free.

If he took the 110m-deep escalator to the bowels of the earth – on which people stand perfectly still for fear of falling – he would be deposited before a Metro station. If it is The Station of Prosperity, he would take in its smooth grey arched ceiling and frescos of tall buildings and thriving industry.

This is a fascinating read so little has ever been seen in North Korea, I was surprised to bump into this article. I thought I would share. Enjoy!

https:// graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/11/inside-the-other-korea-pyongyang/index.html