Pyongyang Life

A North Korean child skates in full gear at a rollerblade park in Pyongyang.

A North Korean wears a rare double-breasted suit at the Kaeson Youth Park.

Younger North Koreans often wear light colours, unlike the adults.

Buses are one of the major forms of public transportation in Pyongyang, in addition to the subway, tram and taxi.

Students play volleyball at the June 9th Middle School in Pyongyang. The school name came from Kim Il-sung’s order to build a new school on June 9th in 1969. Tourist groups are brought to visit the school and watch students’ performances.

Two North Koreas stand at the side of the ice-skating rink in Pyongyang.

A street cleaner works in spotless Pyongyang.

Two North Koreans lace up their skates at an ice-skating rink in Pyongyang. They say in English that they come to the rink sometimes.

Hong Kong Baptist University journalism students are instructed to bow and pay tribute at the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower.The students spent four days in North Korea.

Cycling is a major form of transport in Pyongyang. There is little private car ownership. Cars are given as rewards for extraordinary service to the country, such as to athletes or officials.

Metro passengers in Pyongyang read the newspaper. More than 100 meters deep, some of the stations are modeled on the ornate Moscow Metro with chandeliers and colorful murals.

All North Koreans wear a required red Kim Il-sung pin on their left breast.

City residents use the pedestrian subway in Pyongyang. Officially, North Koreans work six days a week with a holiday on Sunday.

Cyclists cross a bridge over the Taedong River in Pyongyang.

Three North Korean boys enter the Pyongyang Skate Park.

Images of late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il dominate buildings in North Korea.

Tweleve years of education are compulsory in North Korea.

Many North Korean students study English. Russian, Manderin and Japanese are also popular.

A North Korean sweeps Pyongyang's clean streets. Officialy, North Koreans work 8-hour days, six days a week.

North Koreans walk along the Taedong River, which runs through the capital Pyongyang.

Kids play roadside in Pyongyang.

North Koreans stand in front of a mural depecting late leader Kim Il-sung being welcomed home in 1945 after victory against the Japanese.

Most North Koreans travel around Pyongyang by bicycle. A ban on women riding bicycles in North Korea was lifted in 2012.

North Koreans entering a gate at the Yonggwang station on the Pyongyang Metro.

Students with cleaning supplies walk along a street in Pyongyang. Red scraves are part of the school uniforms.

A North Korean wears the required red badge with the images of the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on her left chest.

North Koreans go to work in the capital city Pyongyang.

Trams in Pyoingyang cost 5 won for North Koreans, about 30 Hong Kong cents.

North Koreans bow to bronze stautes of late leaders Kim Il-sung (left) and Kim Jong-il on Mansudae Hill. The bronze statue of Kim Jong-il (right) was added in 2012, but the statue's formal jacket was switched to a winter parka soon after.

A bass guitar player performs for tourists at the June 9th Middle School in Pyongyang.

Two North Koreans spend their Sunday night at the Kaeson Youth Park amusement park. Originally builts in the 1980s, it was renovated a few years ago.

The sun sets over Pyongyang.

Morning fog over the river in Taedong Pyongyang.

A group of works passes by the Pyongyang airport in the early morning.

A North Korean couple takes a wedding photo in front of the Tower of Juche Idea in Pyongyang.

It was recently reported that all male university students must have their haircut like leader Kim Jong-un, the hairstyle pictured here.