by Lam Yik Fei The North Korean government announced the death of its late leader Kim Jong Il on 19 December 2011. Group tours between the sealed nation and its neighbour China were closed. This set of images was taken during the first re-opened group tour after Kim Jong Il's death in end-February 2012. The images show the real face of North Korea. Pedestrians walk passed in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.  A woman walks passed a bus in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Goldfishes swim in an aquarium inside Yanggakdo International Hotel in the North Korea capital, Pyongyang, 2012. The hotel is a standard stop on all tours of North Korea. A waitress works at a restaurant in the North Korea capital, Pyongyang.  She is not allowed to talk with visitors. A picture of North Korean late leader Kim Jong Il at night in Pyongyang. An overview of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang taken from Yanggakdo International Hotel. A picture of North Korean late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. A girl carrying a bunch of plastic flowers in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. An overview of the North Korea capital, Pyongyang. People íinside the mass transit station in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. People stand inside a train cabin in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. A man walks passed in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Local residents in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. A waitress lights up a candle when the restaurant experiences a power failure in the North Korea capital, Pyongyang.  Power failures are commonplace. MAY 2013 BACK ISSUE Back to current issue