Pyongsong

With a population close to 300,000 and the capital of South Pyongan Province, Pyongsong lies just 32 kilometers north of Pyongyang but still remains relatively unvisited by foreigners.

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Lobby foyer and friendly staff at the Jangsusan Hotel in Pyongsong.

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Our Jangsusan Hotel room faced the city's main boulevard, so we spent the very early morning hours just sitting out on the balcony watching the city life pass us by. Great opportunity to see how the locals live and for candid unscripted photography.

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Our smiling local guide magically appears as soon as our bus rolls into the city's central square.

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Closeup of our guide's Kim Il Sung pin.

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Some snapshots of central Pyongsong.

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One of the more fun things tourists get to see in North Korea is factories. Where else on earth do guides proudly take visitors to sweat shops? It's one of the things that make travel in North Korea so interesting and unique. Our visit to the Pyongsong Textiles Factory was a treasure trove of photographic potential. For the most part, the workers seemed happy and were good sports about the subsequent photo spree.

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Rather drab concrete interior of the city. The myriad of electric cables lying directly across the roofs of some buildings was positively frightening to see.

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Curious students look down at us as our bus pulls up to the Kim Jong Suk Senior Middle School.

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The heads of Kim Jong Suk Senior Middle School who will accompany us during our visit inside.

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Talk about peer pressure! Each student in North Korean schools is publically ranked from first to last so everyone knows who has to study harder.

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Inside the English class of Kim Jong Suk Senior Middle School, where students get to practice with native speakers.

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Driving out of Pyongsong amidst massive reconstruction projects.