This is the first part of a two-part photo series on the Pyongyang International Trade Fair (PITF) 2017. You can see part two here.

The 20th edition of the Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair ended late last month, the conclusion of a four-day event which saw more than 200 foreign and domestic companies participate.

In addition to the DPRK-based firms that were present, “[the fair] was attended by many foreign companies from Belarus, China, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cuba and Taipei,” said the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).

However, despite forecasts by DPRK state media