Testimony of a French expatriate
I was working at the time (early 90's) in a business under construction. My boss and his team flew a project in North Korea. When I arrived, the team was preparing to take the complete record of building plans in Pyongyang. He proposed to accompany them to the negotiation of special contracts. In Pyongyang, a team site was already there. His mission was not to oversee the work but to help the Koreans to build the building. 
When I arrived there, my first impression was a feeling of making a jump from 50 years ago. I was surprised at first to see women sweeping the road while we were conveyed to Pyongyang. The streets of the city were vast and empty. No shops but many performances of Kim Il Sung. No pets. And what I realized much later, I met no senior. We were very well received despite some logistical problems (no water because the latter was available only late afternoon ... and color doubtful). We were not allowed out alone. We stayed in our apartment.
There were three kinds of currencies: the won to the North Korean won for the "Communist friends" and won the red for the "capitalists". Purchases were very limited. When I arrived there, my first impression was a feeling of making a jump from 50 years ago. I was surprised at first to see women sweeping the road while we were conveyed to Pyongyang. The streets of the city were vast and empty. No shops but many performances of Kim Il Sung. No pets. And what I realized much later, I met no senior. We were very well received despite some logistical problems (no water because the latter was available only late afternoon ... and color doubtful). We were not allowed out alone. We stayed in our apartment. 
international press 
