In September 2025, ASIAPRESS's border reporting team captured footage of residents in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, using ultra-telephoto cameras from Changbai County on the Chinese side of the border.
People looked different compared to the past.
Women working at construction sites along the Yalu River wore clean, tidy work clothes — some even had decorative elements.
Border guard soldiers' uniforms were noticeably neater than before, and their builds and nutritional condition appeared good.
People going about their daily lives were wearing smartwatches and talking on mobile phones, projecting an air of relative comfort.
Had living standards in North Korea actually improved?
ASIAPRESS's investigation revealed this to be a phenomenon confined to border areas clearly visible from the Chinese side.
In November 2025, a reporting partner living in Hyesan said, "Chinese people look down from the observation deck like they're watching animals at a zoo. The authorities say that people looking shabby damages the prestige of the Republic, and they're even cracking down on people going outside in shorts during summer."
Regarding soldiers, the source revealed: "Particularly sturdy and healthy soldiers are specially selected and assigned from the border brigade [because they're clearly visible from the observation deck]. Their rations are also slightly different, and they're given priority for uniforms."
This was the real reason behind the outwardly visible changes. Further details can be found in the video. (ASIAPRESS)
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