WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state. Instead of using traffic lights to control the stop and go flow of the cross-roads, attractive women dressed in perfectly crisps and identical outfits dangerously stand along in the middle of the road on a small platform. Displaying riveting focus, they are only allowed to turn counter-clockwise, directing traffic with forceful and halting movements. They have been the subject of photographic study for many years but French photographer Eric Lafforgue, 49, captured these moments during six trips to the Marxist country.
Full of tired and busy commuters, these underground stations are rarely admired for their architecture or beauty .
A lazy otter finds the ideal spot to soak up the sun and sleep off his lunch .
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
FROM COLOURFUL autumn leaves to living trees at first glance you might miss these people blended with nature .
This hungry white tiger has just one thing on her mind - to taste fresh meat .
AIRPORT staff have been put on alert after diet pills that come in grenade shaped containers sparked security alerts .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
What lies beneath this building site? Britain's great hope of winning the pre-WW2 arms race against Nazi Germany .
FLEXING his muscles and staring straight at his opponent, this bodybuilding squirrel is the nuts .