Photographs: Stringer/Reuters
North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world. It does not allow many foreign visitors to enter the country and, even when it gives visa, it monitors their every moment.
These restrictions mean the outside world still hasn't seen much of the country - until now, that is. German architect Philip Meuser provides a rare and spectacular view of the secretive nation in his book, Architectural and Cultural Guide Pyongyang.
Let's take a look at this hidden and mysterious country.
Courtesy, Dom Publishers
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
A view of government buildings on Kim Il Sung Square, a common gathering place for military parades and rallies.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Grand Monument on Mansu Hill centres around a giant bronze statue of Kim Il Sung.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The red torch is the tip of the Juche Tower. The concept of 'juche', meaning 'self-reliant', is a guiding ideology in North Korea.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Grand People's Study House, situated along Taedong River, is Pyongyang's main library.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
A view from the Grand People's Study House across Kim Il-sung Square (the Juche tower is across the water).
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Party Foundation Monument consists of a hammer, a sickle and a writing brush to represent workers, farmers and intellectuals, respectively.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Arch of Reunification shows two women holding a map of an undivided North Korea.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Arch of Triumph, a 200-foot-tall monument built to commemorate Kim Il Sung's 70th birthday, is where the former leader made his first public speech after returning to Korea in 1945.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Yongwang subway station is one of two stations open to foreigners.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Pyongyang ice rink, built in 1981, seats 6,000.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The nearly 500-foot-tall Pyongyang Koryo Hotel is the second-highest hotel building in North Korea.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
A view of the 105-storey Rygyong Hotel.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
A residential block of Pyongyang.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The waiting room of the women's hair salon in the Changgwangsan Health and Recreation Centre.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Auditorium of the Pyongyang Grand Theatre can seat more than 2,000.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
More than 5,000 students attend Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, a six-storey building built in 1989.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
This poster reads: "Ideology, fighting spirit, way of life. The same as our ancestors!"
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The Mansudae Assembly Hall is mainly used by the Supreme People's Assembly but it also hosts diplomatic events and press conferences. The inside is decorated with large murals and opulent chandeliers.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
Acrobatic performances take place inside the Pyongyang Circus, which seats 3,500 spectators.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
The 150-foot-tall Chollima statue on Mansu Hill depicts a worker and peasant woman riding a winged horse. The horse stands for the reconstruction of North Korean society.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
A view of cylindrical residential towers and wave-shaped housing slabs.
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Rare and spectacular images of North Korea
Photographs: Courtesy, Dom Publishers
Residential buildings in capital Pyongyang.
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