A diplomat’s life: The ephemeral beauty of concrete Pyongyang | NK News
NK News Logo
November 21, 2024
NK News is hiring
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: The ephemeral beauty of concrete Pyongyang

North Korean builders are highly skilled, but erratic leadership priorities and few materials make for an unsafe skyline

The following article is the seventh in a multipart series by Taylor Darby, a pseudonym for a foreign diplomat that worked in Pyongyang for an extended period of time before being forced to leave in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Views expressed in columns are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.


Become a member for less
than $5.75 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.