North Korean Gold

While traveling across the countryside, I was able to observe locals panning for gold in one of the rivers. They were swirling pans and using sluice boxes to prospect for the precious metal. That piqued my interest and the following year, I finally got to see a North Korean gold bullion coin minted from the Central Bank of the DPRK.

Hungnam Fertilizer Complex

The Hungnam Fertilizer Complex’s primary function is the production of superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate fertilizers. 흥남비료연합기업소의 주요 역할은 과인산석회비료, 유안비료 그리고 질산암모늄비료를 생산하는 것이다.

Samhung Station

Samhung Station (삼흥역) is situated along the Hyoksin line (혁신선) in Pyongyang. Because it is in-between the Kim Il Sung University and the University of Foreign Studies, many of North Korea’s best and brightest students use this station.

Golden Triangle Bank

The Golden Triangle Bank is the primary bank of the Rason Special Economic Zone. Exchanges rates here are at local market exchange rates of 8,000KPW/US$1 instead of the usual 100KPW/US$1. The exchange rates here are also much better than in Pyongyang. Because Rason is a ‘Special Economic Zone’, you’ll find Chinese and Russians businessmen making […]

Changjon Street

Changjon Street represented the beginning of a wave of “modernization projects” that would see multiple new-towns like Mirae Scientists Street (미래과학자거리) and Ryomyong New Town (려명거리신도시) sprout up across Pyongyang.