During May 2013 I travelled in North Korea from the Chinese border to the DMZ and back. I didn't see any starving people or beggars [maybe they where kept indoors while I travelled past !!] Whatever peoples views on their political policy the country is worth a visit. Very clean [I saw 5 pieces of rubbish in 4 days.]I saw Pyongyang Airport 5 Koryo aircraft lined up on the tarmac.I've visited the DMZ from both North and South Korea and the propaganda talk is much more aggressive than the north.