I was in South Korea a few years ago and was doing some work with an American from our embassy there who had gone on the trip to Pyongyang with Madeline Albright. He relayed two strange/amazing facts: 1. He saw no tree or shrub in the country, outside the capital, that was taller than 2 feet. Why? Because the people all chop them down for firewood to warm themselves. 2. Each luxury hotel in the capital has its own currency and you can only use their currency in their hotel.