Inside the ‘kitsch and psychedelic’ hotels in North Korea’s capital Pyongyang

A new book has given a fascinating and rare glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle some tourists enjoy inside Kim Jong-un’s highly secretive kingdom.

An amazing new book opens the doors to some of North Korea’s “frozen in time” hotels – complete with neon karaoke rooms, revolving restaurants and groovy bars.

The publication gives a fascinating and extremely rare glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle some tourists are allowed to enjoy inside Kim Jong-un’s secretive regime.

For author James Scullin, who has visited the rogue state eight times, hotels were always the highlight of his trips as they gave him a chance to meet people in a relaxed, if often unusual, setting.

“So much of the world is globalised now. There are so few places you can go to that have a bespoke culture and look and feel,” he said.

Hotels of Pyongyang book gives a rare glimpse into a North Korea hotel. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

Author James Scullin, a former tour guide, has visited Kim Jong-un’s rogue state eight times. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

Hotels of Pyongyang – by Scullin and photographer Nicole Reed – gives readers a peek at some of the capital’s most glamorous and often gloriously outdated places to stay.

The pair spent five days together in the sprawling city photographing 11 hotels as well as the people who work within their walls.

Melbourne-based Scullin was able to use his connections as a former tour guide to secure visas and state permission to visit those places that currently cater to tourists.

One of Scullin’s favourite hotel quirks is this karaoke room at the Koryo Hotel. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

The pair spent five days together in the sprawling city photographing 11 hotels. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

“I chose to do hotels as the centrepiece for the project as access to the hotels is not really a political matter … meaning the project was possible without excessive red tape,” he said.

He revealed that one of his favourite places was the karaoke rooms in the incredible Koryo Hotel.

“It’s very kitsch and psychedelic. It has three different types of floor tiling and each wall has different wallpaper,” he told MailOnline Travel.

“It has beads that hang from the ceiling, which give off a ’70s vibe, while the futuristic swivel chairs at the bar look like something out of The Jetsons.

The author was also able to speak to staff in the Pyongyang hotels. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

While the hotels have five-star amenities, they rarely have Wi-Fi and don’t have room service. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

“It’s interesting to imagine that someone designed this room unaccredited without ever having travelled overseas or having been exposed to other countries that aren’t North Korea.

“I wanted to personally explore these hotels, but also document these hotels in Pyongyang that service international travellers.”

The hotels have many five-star amenities and pools were “nearly everywhere” but there is no room service and Wi-Fi is rare.

And despite the fact that all the hotels in the country are state-owned, each clearly prides itself on having its very own unique identity.

“Creativity exists under any circumstance,” Scullin said. “The hotels are, in essence, an excuse for someone to let those ideas out.”

The huge indoor swimming pool at the Changwangsan Hotel was first opened in 1975. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

The Chongnyon features an amazing marble lobby and is home to the offices of Air China. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

“With regards to clothing, behaviour and street life, North Korea is rather uniform.

“However, within these hotels, individuals have been given licence to design dining halls, lobbies and karaoke rooms in a unique fashion.

“This is also from individuals who have not been particularly exposed to the rest of the world, meaning a lot of aesthetic is without influence.”

Hotels of Pyongyang goes inside 11 hotels in the usually secretive North Korean capital. Picture: Nicole Reed Photography

Scullin was living and working in Beijing when he first ventured into North Korea as a tourist in 2012.

“I’ve always had an interest in countries with a Soviet past. They have such different cultures and aesthetics than we do in the West,” he said.

“Also, the fact that North Korea is so isolated makes it fascinating to see how a country develops outside of the globalised world.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission