North Korean capital Pyongyang with
3 million populations
The following shots of today's North Korea
were taken by Chinese journalists, who recently visited
North Korea with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and
generated wide interest and heated debates among
the viewers after posted online. |
 This is the top
grand hotel in Pyongyang which did take quite a while
to complete due to, probably, short of fund. But the
project eventually accomplished and the building has
become a landmark of the city.
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This is a residential
area in Pyongyang, which is very much like what you
could see in Beijing a couple of decades ago. The
buildings erected along the major streets are mainly
residential blocks with shops located within the
residential areas. So far, North Koreans resist the
idea of using advertisements to promote commercial
activities or establishing large commercial centres. |
Though economically
less developed, North Koreans do enjoy free education,
free health care and free housing.
Pyongyang during the day
North Koreans receive 11 years of compulsory free education,
including one year pre-school, four years at primary school
and 6 years in junior and senior highs, with text books
and other stationary costs all covered by the government.
About 50 percent of high school graduates have a chance
for further tertiary education, which are also paid by
the government with living allowances provided. Consequently,
the literacy rates in North Korea are reported to be 99
percent for both men and women.
The general free health care system was
put into the place since 1953 which has contributed to
the increased life expectancy among its people. It is claimed
that the life expectancy for North Korean men has reached
73 and for women is as high as 75.
All graduates in North Korea, regardless
they are from high schools or colleges, would be assigned
a job (which they may or may not like very much), and along
with a job is a furnished flat or house between 80m2 to
150m2(which may or may not be in a very good
condition), and along with a flat or house are nearly free
water, electricity, gas and heating supplies. However,
no residents in North Korea are allowed to own a flat or
house and therefore if they change their jobs, they will
have to change their residence accordingly.
Pyongyang at night
North Korea is also a country with an
age pension system that covers every man after 60 and each
woman over 55. The amount of pension that retired workers
receive depends on their contribution during the working
years, ranging from a full payment to 40 percent of their
wages.
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(Source of photos:
club.china.com/data/thread/1011/2713/48/58/2_1.html)
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