North Korean citizens bow before the portraits of the founding father Kim Il-Sung, left, and his son Kim Jong-Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea on Monday, April 9, 2012. April 15 marked the 100-year anniversary of the founder's birth and journalists were allowed inside the country.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
North Korean citizens bow before the portraits of the founding father Kim Il-Sung, left, and his son Kim Jong-Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea on Monday, April 9, 2012. April 15 marked the 100-year anniversary of the founder's birth and journalists were allowed inside the country.
North Korean technicians check the Unha-3 rocket at Tangachai-ri space center on Sunday, April 8.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
North Korean technicians check the Unha-3 rocket at Tangachai-ri space center on Sunday, April 8.
A controller is seen from the window of a train along the railway on the west coast Sunday. A controversial missile launch is expected to take place in the coming days. Pyongyang insists it has no bad intentions and invited foreign journalists to view its launch site.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A controller is seen from the window of a train along the railway on the west coast Sunday. A controversial missile launch is expected to take place in the coming days. Pyongyang insists it has no bad intentions and invited foreign journalists to view its launch site.
Citizens dance on Monday during a rehearsal for the commemoration of Kim Il-Sung's 100th birthday anniversary. Japan, the United States and South Korea see the launch -- which would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions -- as a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test. And a South Korean intelligence report says it's likely to precede a nuclear test, as it did in 2006 and 2009.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
Citizens dance on Monday during a rehearsal for the commemoration of Kim Il-Sung's 100th birthday anniversary. Japan, the United States and South Korea see the launch -- which would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions -- as a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test. And a South Korean intelligence report says it's likely to precede a nuclear test, as it did in 2006 and 2009.
North Korean soldiers are seen from the window of a train along the railway heading from Pyongyang to the North Pyongan Province on the west coast.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
North Korean soldiers are seen from the window of a train along the railway heading from Pyongyang to the North Pyongan Province on the west coast.
A woman plays the piano and entertains in a downtown Pyongyang restaurant. U.S. President Obama said the real consequence for North Korea, should it go through with the launch, is that the country's leaders will miss an opportunity. "I hope that at some point the North Koreans make the decision that it is in their interests to figure out how to feed their people and improve their economy rather than have big parades where they show off weapons," he said in March.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A woman plays the piano and entertains in a downtown Pyongyang restaurant. U.S. President Obama said the real consequence for North Korea, should it go through with the launch, is that the country's leaders will miss an opportunity. "I hope that at some point the North Koreans make the decision that it is in their interests to figure out how to feed their people and improve their economy rather than have big parades where they show off weapons," he said in March.
Two women on the the train prepare food for the journalists traveling across the country.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
Two women on the the train prepare food for the journalists traveling across the country.
The dress rehearsal for the celebration continues in the capital.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
The dress rehearsal for the celebration continues in the capital.
A pin with the face of Kim Il-Sung is affixed to the uniform of a North Korean soldier standing guard at the space center in Pyongyang on Wednesday, April 11.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A pin with the face of Kim Il-Sung is affixed to the uniform of a North Korean soldier standing guard at the space center in Pyongyang on Wednesday, April 11.
A woman ties the branches of apple trees on a farm near Pyongyang on Tuesday, April 10.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A woman ties the branches of apple trees on a farm near Pyongyang on Tuesday, April 10.
Workers and farms are seen through the window of a train as it passes through the country.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
Workers and farms are seen through the window of a train as it passes through the country.
Bicycles line the road as citizens work the land between Pyongyang and the North Phyongan province.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
Bicycles line the road as citizens work the land between Pyongyang and the North Phyongan province.
A North Korean soldier is seen from the window of a train as he walks near a small town along the railway heading from Pyongyang to the North Pyongan Province on the west coast.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A North Korean soldier is seen from the window of a train as he walks near a small town along the railway heading from Pyongyang to the North Pyongan Province on the west coast.
Employees work in a textile factory in Pyongyang.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
Employees work in a textile factory in Pyongyang.
People line the street as they wait for a bus.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
People line the street as they wait for a bus.
A dance troupe performs during the opening ceremony of the Spring Arts Festival in Pyongyang.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A dance troupe performs during the opening ceremony of the Spring Arts Festival in Pyongyang.
A band performs during the opening of the Spring Arts Festival.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A band performs during the opening of the Spring Arts Festival.
A building adorned with a huge portrait of the late president Kim Il-Sung is cleaned by workers in Pyongyang.
A glimpse inside North Korea —
A building adorned with a huge portrait of the late president Kim Il-Sung is cleaned by workers in Pyongyang.