North Korean capital shows flashes of prosperity amid country's isolation

North Koreans visit Mansudae in Pyongyang, in this photo taken by Kyodo on September 9, 2015, to mark the 67th anniversary of the nation's founding. Mandatory credit REUTERS/Kyodo

PYONGYANG (Reuters) - Smartphones, traffic jams and modern, energy-saving lights casting a dim glow on the streets - North Korea's capital shows signs of change even as it prepares for a pageant of military muscle and propaganda of the kind the country is known for.

One of the world's most inaccessible places, North Korea has invited foreign journalists to Pyongyang this week for celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party, and rising wealth is evident despite a creaking state economy.