A relaxation of rules around private vehicle ownership in North Korea appears to be driving a surge in the number of cars on the streets of Pyongyang, testing the city’s infrastructure as a growing class of relatively affluent consumers embraces new Chinese imports.

Photos reviewed by NK News show dozens of cars with yellow number plates indicative of private ownership in the DPRK capital in recent months, a marked change from the past when such plates were largely the prerogative of high-level officials and businessmen.

Multiple informed sources, including recent visitors to the country, have also confirmed a noticeable uptick