North Korea is a country of stark contrasts. On the one hand, it presents real socialist stereotypes like cryptic messages from a frozen time loop, combined with shocking reports on shortages. On the other hand, polished Pyongyang lures with a futuristic skyline, flashy amusement parks and department stores with a range of goods equal to those in western consumer meccas.

Gold for Kim: A life for North Korea's leader

Scientists speculate why the end of the last Ice Age caused the extinction of some of Earth's largest animals.