Life in North Korea is gradually changing: Two years since young Kim Jong-un became the country’s leader, North Koreans now have more freedoms and see fewer propagandistic portraits.
Life in North Korea is gradually changing: Two years since young Kim Jong-un became the country’s leader, North Koreans now have more freedoms and see fewer propagandistic portraits.
Any talk of a thaw would be premature, but some changes are evident: North Koreans now smile when they see a foreign face.
Two years ago, residents of Pyongyang would lower their eyes whenever they saw a foreigner, but now they even say, “Hello,” and wave at buses with foreign journalists driving by.
Still, starting a conversation with a foreigner is much too daring for ordinary Koreans.
When asked to say a few words, Koreans at first decline, claiming to be too tired or to have some urgent business to tend to. Then, if further pressed by journalists, they studiedly laud their leaders’ achievements.
There were few to no cars in Pyongyang in 2011, and Koreans either walked or used bicycles and public transportation for trips.
Now the city features cars by Toyota, Mercedes, Lexus, Volkswagen, as well as Russian UAZes and Ladas, and Chinese and Korean cars. Taxi services are also available nowadays. One trip costs 50 euro cents per kilometer, which is very expensive by North Korean standards.
It would not be true to say that the leadership’s personality cult is disappearing fast. All Koreans still wear enameled badges bearing the images of former dictators Kim Il-song and Kim Jong-Il on their chests.
The first such badge is issued at the age of 14 when joining the youth league. It should be worn on the left side of the chest, where the heart is.
Young communists on the square in front of Kim Il-sung’s mausoleum, the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
Portraits of the incumbent leader, “respected comrade Kim Jong-un,” are nowhere to be seen: The new leader has personally banned them, claiming to have not yet done enough for his people to deserve the honor.
These two years have also seen a rise in the number of pavilions selling ice cream, flowers and drinks.
This year, Pyongyang celebrates the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
A demonstration marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Military men at a gala concert marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
During the gala concert the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Veterans during the military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Military servicemen at the opening ceremony of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum.
The opening ceremony of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum.
