Rarely seen North Korea

North Korea: A painting at Cottage Hospital at Haksan Cooperative Farm of Kim Jong-il

A painting at Cottage Hospital at Haksan co-operative farm shows Kim Jong-il offering guidance to medical staff on how to run a hospital Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Pyongyang's Samtaesong fast-food restaurant.

Pyongyang's Samtaesong fast-food restaurant. Hamburgers are named 'minced beef patty and bread' to avoid Americanising the language, and cost 1,500 won, or half the monthly salary of the average worker, putting them out of reach of all but the elite Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: People have a beachfront barbeque close to Wonsan

A group of North Koreans have a beachfront barbeque close to Wonsan Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Citizens leave to head home after rehearsing a parade at Kim Il-Sung Square

North Koreans head home after rehearsing a parade at Kim Il-sung Square in the centre of Pyongyang Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Pyongyang street with one of North Korea's ubiquitous propaganda posters

Pyongyang street scene with one of North Korea's ubiquitous propaganda posters Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Farmer Choe Myong Chan at his home in Haksan Cooperative Farm

Farmer Choe Myong Chan at his home in Haksan co-operative farm. Next to him on his right is a Kimjongilia in a glass, a specially bred red begonia, named after Kim Jong-il Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: A scene at Kim Jong Suk Nursery in Pyongyang

A scene at Kim Jong-suk nursery in Pyongyang, named after Kim Il-sung's first wife who died during childbirth in 1949. On the wall are pictures of Kim Il-sung and the current leader, his son, Kim Jong-il Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Workers at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a venture between the two Koreas

Workers at the Kaesong industrial complex, a joint venture between the two Koreas Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

A scene at Kim Jong-suk nursery in Pyongyang, named after Kim Il-sung's first wife who died during childbirth in 1949 Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: Locals play pool at Pyongyang Gold Lane bowling alley

Locals play pool at Pyongyang Gold Lane bowling alley. Bowling is affordable only by the elite, as a session costs the equivalent of over six months' salary for the average worker Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

North Korea: School children, members of the Pioneers, the official youth organisation

Schoolchildren and members of the Pioneers, North Korea's official youth organisation, at Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies. On the wall are pictures of Kim Il-sung and the current leader, his son, Kim Jong-il Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images

Pyongyang street scene with one of North Korea's ubiquitous propaganda posters Photograph: Irina Kalashnikova/Reportage by Getty Images