You can also see years' worth real-real behind the scenes North Korea (as much as is possible) on http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser. But be prepared to spend a weekend indoors in front of the computer.

It's not actually completed, Charles. They installed glazing on the one facade that tourists are allowed to see.

i don't think its the ugliest building in the world.

I don't think it's the ugliest building in the world. That moniker is better applied, collectively, to the brutalist tower blocks blighting the major cities of the industrialized world.

The photos of daily life should have included a wood-gas-burning truck, common in rural areas of the PRK.

It's surprisingly efficient, if a pain to operate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas#In…

Wow this is a fascinating post -thanks, Charles!

Behold the fail that is extractive institutions. Not only do the extractees starve to death, the extractors can't even build a skyscraper in a reasonable amount of time.

I quite like it. As long as it has an elevator. Nations like this intrigue me. I spent some time in Uzbekistan. One can have surreal experiences in such nebulous locations.