CNN has unveiled rare scenes of downtown Pyongyang which include images of a western-style amusement park.

CNN’s Alina Cho talked to North Koreans at the amusement park that also houses a food court selling western food. Cho said that she noticed more average North Koreans speaking English than during her last visit to the North two years ago and that a large number of people in downtown areas were spotted using cell phones.

She said that the city’s first traffic lights were installed in the spring.

However, Cho said that time stands still in the communist state as many continue to live in poverty. She noted that there are no ads, just propaganda, in downtown Pyongyang.

Cho is visiting North Korea to cover the communist state’s celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party.