North Korea is bowed but not broken by international sanctions, according to clues gleaned by a small group of outsiders dedicated to shining a light on the reclusive Asian nation.
Although poverty remains rife in the 25m-strong country, the economy has shown signs of increased prosperity as it diversifies away from the state-dominated system that led to famines in the 1990s.
“In the countryside it’s tough and in Pyongyang it’s normal,” said Nick Bonner of travel company Koryo Tours, who last visited Pyongyang two weeks ago. Despite tightened sanctions, middle-class pleasures such as shopping and outings “are continuing — you wouldn’t notice a change on the surface of things”.
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