North Korea’s mass game events in 2015 may, for the first time in the history of the series, be without their signature choreographed human backdrop, sources familiar with artistic performance and tourism industries have told NK News.

The backdrop, which has become one of the key aspects of the performances, will now likely be replaced by a modern, large-scale electronic screen, Norwegian artist Morten Traavik, who regularly hosts cultural exchange events in the DPRK, told NK News.

“Artist colleagues involved in DPRK mass gymnastics productions have recently told me that for next year’s Mass Games there will, for the first