Beer is a big deal in North Korea. Taedonggang Beer is one of the best-known local beers. In 2000 the state-run brewery bought up an entire British brewery, shipped it to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.cnn.com%2Fnorth-korea">North Korea</a> and two years later opened for business just outside Pyongyang.
Beer is big —
Beer is a big deal in North Korea. Taedonggang Beer is one of the best-known local beers. In 2000 the state-run brewery bought up an entire British brewery, shipped it to North Korea and two years later opened for business just outside Pyongyang.
Feng Li/Getty Images
The Pyongyang Metro is 100 meters underground and it takes a couple of minutes to ride the escalator down to the station. It was opened between 1969 and 1972 by former President Kim Il-Sung.
The subway is very, very deep —
The Pyongyang Metro is 100 meters underground and it takes a couple of minutes to ride the escalator down to the station. It was opened between 1969 and 1972 by former President Kim Il-Sung.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
Commuters sit aboard a train at Puhung subway station in Pyongyang. The underground network has two lines and 17 stations. Inspired by the grand Moscow Metro, many of the stations have ornate chandeliers and paintings and murals on the walls.
Under ground in Pyongyang —
Commuters sit aboard a train at Puhung subway station in Pyongyang. The underground network has two lines and 17 stations. Inspired by the grand Moscow Metro, many of the stations have ornate chandeliers and paintings and murals on the walls.
Ed Jones/AFP/GettyImages
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice. North Korea mounted its largest ever military parade on July 27 to mark the event, which ended fighting in the Korean War, displaying its long-range missiles at a ceremony presided over by leader Kim Jong-Un.
60 years of 'peace' —
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice. North Korea mounted its largest ever military parade on July 27 to mark the event, which ended fighting in the Korean War, displaying its long-range missiles at a ceremony presided over by leader Kim Jong-Un.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
North Korean soldiers sit on the back of a truck on Kim Il-Sung square before portraits of former leaders Kim Il-Sung (l) and Kim Jong-Il (r).
Dear Leaders —
North Korean soldiers sit on the back of a truck on Kim Il-Sung square before portraits of former leaders Kim Il-Sung (l) and Kim Jong-Il (r).
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
North Korean children wait on a roadside following a parade marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice in Pyongyang.
Street side festival —
North Korean children wait on a roadside following a parade marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice in Pyongyang.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
The 60th anniversary has been a huge nation-wide event, with school children, families, military personnel and more involved in the Mass Games and other events.
Love in Pyongyang —
The 60th anniversary has been a huge nation-wide event, with school children, families, military personnel and more involved in the Mass Games and other events.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
North Korean soldiers march through Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade. Forming perfect straight lines of people is not limited to the military. The training begins at a young age and by the time they are in their teens a crowd of hundreds can organize themselves into any number of parallel lines, equally spaced, in a minute.
Nation of straight lines —
North Korean soldiers march through Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade. Forming perfect straight lines of people is not limited to the military. The training begins at a young age and by the time they are in their teens a crowd of hundreds can organize themselves into any number of parallel lines, equally spaced, in a minute.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A North Korean girl wearing traditional dress stands at a clothing section inside a supermarket in Pyongyang. Officially, visitors aren't allowed in department stores, but this is a rule that is given flexibility.
Department stores off limits —
A North Korean girl wearing traditional dress stands at a clothing section inside a supermarket in Pyongyang. Officially, visitors aren't allowed in department stores, but this is a rule that is given flexibility.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
All North Koreans wear a "Kim pin" on the left breast of whatever they are wearing. The pins show a portrait of Kim Il-Sung or his son, Kim Jong-Il, and sometimes both.
The 'Kim pin' —
All North Koreans wear a "Kim pin" on the left breast of whatever they are wearing. The pins show a portrait of Kim Il-Sung or his son, Kim Jong-Il, and sometimes both.
Women love their high heels and many wear four-inch heels day and night, to work, to do the shopping, in the military -- we even spotted a woman working on a construction site in a pair.
High heels for every occassion —
Women love their high heels and many wear four-inch heels day and night, to work, to do the shopping, in the military -- we even spotted a woman working on a construction site in a pair.
Kate Whitehead/CNN
Visitors are now allowed to bring in their own mobile phones, to use with local SIM cards. The local cell phones allow all the functions of a regular mobile -- make calls, listen to music, take photos -- with the exception of access to the Internet.
Mobile phones are fine —
Visitors are now allowed to bring in their own mobile phones, to use with local SIM cards. The local cell phones allow all the functions of a regular mobile -- make calls, listen to music, take photos -- with the exception of access to the Internet.
Kate Whitehead/CNN