YouTube Clip Shows Cars Aplenty in Pyongyang

A YouTube clip of rush-hour traffic in Pyongyang is drawing a lot of attention from viewers who are used to seeing empty thoroughfares in the capital of the impoverished state, where cars were thought to be a luxury.

The clip was taken on Sept. 26 and posted on YouTube on Friday by a user going by the handle Jaka Parker.

Several state buildings such as Mansudae Hill, the Workers Party headquarters and other political and military agencies can be seen, which means the clip was shot on a road in downtown Pyongyang.

The cars are therefore probably owned by party officials on their way home from work. One or two lanes ahead are at times completely jammed or move at a snail's pace. Some cars can be seen cutting in or crossing into the opposite lane.

Parker comments in voiceover that traffic is "not like this every day." The cars include Toyotas and Nissan SUVs sprinkled among the humbler BYDs and other Chinese models. A considerable number of taxis are painted yellow or orange.

Traffic policemen direct the flow, which resembles fairly ordinary rush-hour traffic in a medium town.