Rare aerial footage shows North Korea capital as haunting ghost town

Global tensions concerning North Korea's nuclear research and military activity are continuing to rise. The country has repeatedly tested weapons of war in recent weeks, including long range missiles, despite repeated warnings and sanctions from the international community.

While governments and journalists attempt to learn more about the country's alleged nuclear arsenal, there are many other features of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea that remain shrouded in mystery.

In a very rare move, Singaporean Aram Pan was given permission to film the city of Pyongyang from the air by the North Korean authorities.

The resulting images are eerie.

Pan saw the colourful capital city from above, including skyscrapers and highways and bridges.

Pan said:

It's a rare treat that a foreigner is allowed photography and filming over the skies of North Korea and even rarer to be doing so in a Piper Matrix PA-46 Light Plane.

But what really stands out is the lack of people and cars. The city is thought to have around 2.58 million people living in it, but from above the city looks empty.

Picture: YouTube / Aram Pan

Picture: YouTube / Aram Pan

Pan is part of a project called DPRK360, which aims to showcase North Korea through footage and pictures online.

You can watch the video here and follow DPRK360's work on Facebook.

More: The internet is obsessed with the lady who reads the North Korea news