In May of 2026 I was lucky enough to attend the Pyongyang Spring Trade Fair. This, I will add, was done as part of a trade delegation, rather than as a tourist.
It was a great trip overall and indeed great to be back, but my huge takeaway was just how many changes in Pyongyang there have been since I was last there 6 years ago. The economy, as has been reported from multiple sources, is booming, there are new housing districts, bars and restaurants, as well as a booming middle class.
Here are the big 7 changes in Pyongyang that I noticed.
7) There’s internet in the hotels of Pyongyang
We actually previously had internet in North Korea through Koryolink (which we no longer have), but now there is quite literally WiFi in hotels like the Koryo. And while there is unlikely to be a Digital Nomad Pyongyang scene yet, you can at least now get some work done when you travel to North Korea.
6) There’s traffic in Pyongyang
One of the biggest changes in Pyongyang is that of the traffic. Private cars and taxis are now a thing, as well as people having money. This has led to the inevitable, and that is traffic. Fear not though, it is not Jakarta just yet.
5) Less emphasis on the former leaders of the DPRK
While reverence is still undoubtedly held for President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il, it is much more subtle and, you might say, less in your face. This has included their birthdays being of much less importance now. Don’t worry though, you can still see their statues.
4) There’s a middle class in Pyongyang
There’s now a big middle class in North Korea, which means there’s also a lot more to buy. Pyongyang now has big sparkling malls, designer shops and even car dealerships. This also shows that there has been a cultural change. Being rich is much less frowned upon now.
3) Pyongyang Went Cashless on Payments
This is less a change in Pyongyang, but more a change in North Korea and its economy. Everyone now has smartphones and these smartphones have apps that mirror the services that we all have in the West. One of these is digital payments and I honestly had times where people did not even accept cash.
2) New Bars and Restaurants in Pyongyang
As the Street Food Guy this was the bit that excited me most, new bars and restaurants. This included a great German style beer bar and the Clock Restaurant which was legitimately a fine dining experience. And of course these were mostly centred around the new districts.
1) Pyonghatten
This is a whole area that simply did not exist prior to 2020. This new district, which has been dubbed Pyonghatten, is the biggest of the changes in Pyongyang. This area, which features housing, apartments and a whole heap of leisure activities, is the legacy of Marshal Kim Jong Un and is a sight to be seen.
And those are the 7 biggest changes in Pyongyang that I personally noticed, although it would have been easy to include many more. Sadly, one point I did not add to the list is that it was the first time I saw no tourists in Pyongyang. The really sad part though is that it is very clear that they are not being missed and are unlikely to be coming back any time soon.
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