Introduction: The Quiet Cities Behind the Curtain
When we are talking about North Korea, we immediately think of its enigmatic ruler, its strict regulations, and closed borders. But what about the cities in North Korea — the places where people live, work, and quietly dream under one of the world’s most secretive regimes?
The whole world is hidden behind the propaganda posters, parades, and military marches that outsiders barely ever get to see. Today, we’ll pull back the curtain on that hidden reality with 15 shocking facts about North Korea and its cities — stories so strange and fascinating that they almost feel unreal.
Table of Contents
15 shocking facts about North Korea
Pyongyang – The Showroom City
There is no city in the country similar to the city of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The most committed citizens are the only people who are allowed to reside in them and this is because of years of serving the regime faithfully. The streets are clean, the buildings are magnificent, and the skyline is full of propaganda billboards. It is a show city, made to look good, not to be comfortable.
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The Country’s Power Divide
Whereas Pyongyang is brightly lit at night, the rest of North Korea is scarcely lit. Satellite photos show a single bright spot in the black emptiness. Beyond the capital, there is a lack of electricity – families use candles and fires. The energy divide is one of the most insane facts about North Korea, as power cuts are a common occurrence in smaller cities.
Ghost Cities Built for Show
North Korea has constructed complete artificial cities to propagate itself. The most popular is Kijong-dong, which is close to the border with South Korea. It even has high-rise buildings, tarmac roads, and street lights, yet none of the people. It is a psychological tactic designed to impress strangers and attract defectors.
Streets Without Cars
Traffic is very low in Pyongyang despite the extensive tarmac roads. The majority of citizens are not able to afford cars, and only the officials or military people own cars. Rather, there are bicycles and overcrowded trams. During the rush hour, individuals flow in silent and well-mannered queues, which is a weird contrast with the hecticness of the rest of the world’s capitals.
The Hotel That Never Opened
The skyscraper boasts the Ryugyong Hotel, a 105-story pyramid-shaped building that dominates the skyline of Pyongyang, although the hotel has never accommodated a guest. The building commenced in 1987 and became stuck decades later. Despite the exterior finally being completed, the interior is mostly bare. It is called the Hotel of Doom – a monument to the unfulfilled ambitions of the country.
A Metro That’s Also a Bunker
The Pyongyang Metro is considered the deepest in the world, with a running depth of more than 100 meters. It has lavish stations with chandeliers, mosaics, and nationalistic music. But in addition to being a mode of transport, it will also be used as a nuclear shelter, constructed to save the people in case they are attacked by warfare.
Fashion Has Rules
In North Korea, fashion is not about liberation; it is about obedience. The government has a list of approved hairstyles, and jeans are prohibited as being Western. Men are required to maintain their hair at a short length; women are very strict on their dress code. Individuality can be regarded as rebellion even in large cities in North Korea.
Housing: It Is a Gift – or a Punishment.
People do not purchase houses; they are provided with apartments by the state. The address of a worker is based on his/her loyalty and social standing. Unpopular people can be resettled during the night. The high-rises in Pyongyang are clean and colored. In the smaller towns, they are likely to have crumbling buildings and lack a heating system.
Hidden Military Cities
The North Koreans have specific areas that a foreigner will never be allowed to visit. In these secret military cities, weapons research, missile testing, and defense production are located. They are painted off the record and put under the state of high security and even closed to a majority of citizens – one of the truly crazy things about North Korea.
The Culture and Entertainment are monitored.
There are theaters, museums, and parks in Pyongyang, yet they are all devoted to propaganda. Films are in praise of the Kim family; songs are in glorification of socialism. Foreign media is banned. Even in amusement parks, there is a way to make them showcase joy to the visiting foreigners. It is not leisure, but entertainment that is based on loyalty.
Ration Cards: Choose What You Eat.
In North Korea, people do not shop freely for food; it is given to them by the state. Rations are given out by the citizens according to their rank and profession. These supplies are also late or inadequate in other smaller cities in North Korea. Black markets known as jangmadang are often used by many to survive and trade in rice, clothes, and any other items.
Education is Geared towards Obeying.
Before knowing simple math, North Korean kids start learning about their masters. Portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are found in every classroom. There are history classes that rally around the Kim dynasty, and students are made to believe that their leader is a guardian who was sent by fate. Ideology is used instead of critical thinking.
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The Elite Live in Luxury
Most North Koreans are not doing well, but the elite of Pyongyang do not live that way. They consume foreign wine, foreign fashion, and exclusive apartments. Kim Jong Un himself is reported to spend millions of dollars on luxury items annually. Such a Contrast between the high and the low is one of the most appalling facts in the case of North Korea.
Cities as Stages
During the tourism period, North Korea plays perfectly. Streets are swept, markets are abounding with fresh produce, and the non-Elitist citizens are very meticulously chosen actors. The fatigued, scared, and quiet off-camera experiences are only visible to the visitors through a script. All the tours are theatrical, all the smiles are drilled.
Political silence: Hope below the water.
In spite of such strictness, there are signs of change. The youths sneak and view smuggled South Korean dramas or exchange products via the limited network in the country. Even in the darkest of places, the hope is not lost as the people of North Korea keep it at the very heart of the city.
Final Thoughts
These 15 outrageous facts about North Korea demonstrate that its cities are not only physical locations, but they also represent control, illusion, and survival. Although Pyongyang is an elegant backdrop to foreigners, it is the small cities that reveal the truth of the truth – one of survival and silent defiance. Whenever you look at pictures of well-kept streets and smiling people, you should bear in mind: there is always something dirty behind every picture of perfection.
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