The North Korean capital was bustling with new construction activity in early 2021, according to high-resolution satellite imagery, despite persistent economic difficulties and a prolonged pandemic-related lockdown.

Authorities have shifted priorities in recent years when it comes to top-down construction projects — appearing to temporarily abandon some of their largest projects while launching newer and bigger ones. In recent months, workers were also busy on smaller projects across Pyongyang.

The following is a collection of images taken last month that show Pyongyang is still changing as the country settles into its most closed-off and “self-reliant” state in decades.

All of