Pyongyang, North Korea (CNN) For just over a week, CNN's Will Ripley, Justin Robertson and Tim Schwarz stepped inside the reclusive state of North Korea.

They were the only Western broadcasters to report from the country since it conducted a ballistic missile test on February 12, the first one of 2017.

North Korea is one of the poorest countries on Earth. But for many in the capital, Pyongyang, life can be colorful.

Here are the team's dispatches from Pyongyang as they documented their trip on television and on Instagram.

Welcome to the world's most reclusive country.

Monday

The team's last day in Pyongyang took them to a newly completed eye hospital, which they were told was built in six months despite strict international sanctions.

A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 12:11am PST

They met patients who had only recently undertaken eye surgery inside the center, including a number of children.

A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 12:13am PST

A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 12:14am PST

Back at the hotel, it was time to begin preparing to leave North Korea, but not before one more sunset over Pyongyang's Taedong River, as seen from the hotel.

Sunset over the Taedong River. #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 1:15am PST

Stepping again onto Air Koryo, the North Korea state-owned airline, the team was given an in-flight meal of shrimp curry, salmon, cured meats, mushrooms, fresh fruits and a brightly-colored drink that was said to be cider.

#NorthKoreaFood Air Koryo in-flight meal Shrimp curry, salmon, assorted cured meats, mushrooms, fresh fruit, "cider" (which tastes more like cough syrup) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 2:46am PST

Will Ripley and the CNN team signing off from Pyongyang.

My ticket home! #AirKoryo #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 20, 2017 at 6:02am PST

Sunday

In Pyongyang, Sunday is the only day off, so naturally it is a day of fun and family time.

The Pyongyang Zoo has been newly renovated under the direction of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Tigers at the zoo are given as lavish gifts to North Korea's leaders.

Tigers at the #Pyongyang zoo are lavish gifts to the #NorthKorea leaders. A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:24am PST

These visitors to the city's aquarium take a picture of the fish on display. Smartphones are becoming increasingly common in parts of North Korea.

Smartphones have become a part of daily life in #NorthKorea, like at this #Pyongyang aquarium A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:16am PST

The Pyongyang Natural History Museum was built in just one year, despite heavy sanctions on the country its nuclear and missile programs.

A tour guide at the #Pyongyang Natural History Museum -- built in just one year, despite heavy sanctions on #NorthKorea for its nuclear and missile programs. A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:19am PST

For those who aren't spending Sunday at the zoo, a couple of giraffe statues will do.

Kids on the playground. #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:26am PST

Saturday

Like many other places around the world, weekends are the time for weddings in North Korea. No white gowns here today. These dresses are elaborate and brightly colored.

A North Korean couple on their wedding day (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 7:02am PST

A regal bride. Public holidays in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea mean people get married. (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 7:15am PST

This is how the team spent Saturday night out in Pyongyang: Bowling, local drinks and dried fish. No word on who won.

Saturday night in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea. Bowling, soju...and dried fish. A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 18, 2017 at 6:59am PST

On Saturday morning, the team visited a secondary school for orphans in Pyongyang.

Students at a primary school for orphans in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 8:48pm PST

Each classroom is monitored remotely to ensure the teachers are 'properly' educating their students in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 8:54pm PST

North Korean kids learning how to drive in class.. A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 17, 2017 at 11:53pm PST

A class of around 70 performing arts students puts on a show in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 8:52pm PST

The school relies on a geothermal generator for heating and power.

This #Pyongyang school relies on a geothermal generator to provide consistent heat and electricity, regardless of outages on the main power grid A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 8:57pm PST

Students are taught the ideology of their late leaders, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung.

The headmaster of a secondary school for orphans in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea stands in a classroom where, three hours a week, they learn about the ideology of their late leaders A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 18, 2017 at 4:08am PST

Friday

The team had a lunch meeting with government officials on Friday.

Quite a lunch spread. Not your typical North Korean meal. #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 5:07am PST

They also carried out some interviews at a floating restaurant.

The floating Rainbow Restaurant in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 5:04am PST

After that they visited different construction sites around Pyongyang. The building in the photo is a 70-story apartment block that the North Koreans are racing to finish by April 15.

70-story apartment building under construction in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 5:03am PST

This shot captures a twilight view of the capital.

Evening. #Pyongyang #NorthKorea (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 17, 2017 at 9:08am PST

Thursday

Thursday in Pyongyang ended with fireworks to celebrate what would have been the 75th birthday of late leader Kim Jong Il.

The Day of the Shining Star is a two-day celebration packed with concerts, fireworks and military displays. It doesn't appear that the sanctions leveled against North Korea have affected the pomp and circumstance of its big national holiday.

JUST WATCHED North Korea celebrates late leader's birthday Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH North Korea celebrates late leader's birthday 01:54

A massive fireworks display lit up the night sky over the capital Thursday evening.

#NorthKorea soldiers watch fireworks in #Pyongyang A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 2:53am PST

A sea of smartphones as #NorthKorea citizens watch fireworks in #Pyongyang (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 5:32am PST

Soldiers and families filled Kim Il Sung square for the celebration.

#NorthKorea soldiers in #Pyongyang's Il Sung square celebrating the birthday of late leader Kim Jong Il (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 5:30am PST

A #NorthKorean boy and his father watching the fireworks (Pic: Ellana Lee) A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 5:31am PST

I'm seeing many more #NorthKoreans with smartphones. Here, they photograph an ice sculpture in #Pyongyang A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 3:06am PST

JUST WATCHED Inside North Korea via Facebook Live Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Inside North Korea via Facebook Live 04:10

‪CNN's first ever Facebook live from #Pyongyang #NorthKorea w/ cameraman @cnn_justin A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 16, 2017 at 5:40am PST

Thousands of people dressed in heavy winter jackets filed into an exhibition hall to pay their respects.

Many others are observing the occasion at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where Kim and his father Kim Il Sung were laid to rest.

Others danced in front of the Pyongyang indoor stadium.

Mass dancing in Pyongyang, North Korea A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 15, 2017 at 11:40pm PST

This shot shows a boy standing in front of the "Kimjongilia" flower show. The red flowers are named after Kim Jong Il.

A North Korean boy visits the 'Kimjongilia' flower show. The red flowers are named after late North leader Kim Jong Il. A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 10:13pm PST

Here, a North Korean female soldier stands guard at the Mansu Hill Grand Monument. While military service for women has long been voluntary, it was reportedly recently made mandatory in a bid to bolster the nation's armed forces. North Korean men are required to serve for 10 years beginning at age 17.

A North Korean female soldier stands guard at the Mansu Hill Grand Monument, Thursday, February 16.

This shot is from a bookstore outside the team's hotel.

The latest page turners at the bookshop for tourists in the Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang. #pyongyang #northkorea A post shared by @tjschwarz on Feb 15, 2017 at 5:43pm PST

North Korean woman walks alone in a traditional dress, a Joseonot, on the birthday of late leader Kim Jong Il A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 15, 2017 at 9:20pm PST

Here's what the team's hotel room setup looks like.

Our live location in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea. I really need to start tucking in my shirt. Pic: @cnn_justin A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 4:31pm PST

It's still quite chilly in Pyongyang Thursday.

North Korean man walks his bicycle over the Taedong bridge in Pyongyang. A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 16, 2017 at 1:39am PST

‪Good morning from a chilly #Pyongyang #NorthKorea. You can see the icy #Taedong river.‬ A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 4:21pm PST

Wednesday

The crew were in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung square -- the location of many of the country's large and widely broadcasted military displays and parades -- and some of the surrounding areas.

On Wednesday, the team also talked to some North Koreans and asked them about recent missile launches.

JUST WATCHED N. Koreans praise missile test despite sanctions Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH N. Koreans praise missile test despite sanctions 03:00

Sunday's missile launch has been covered extensively in North Korean media.

#NorthKorea evening propaganda broadcast shows images of Sunday's ballistic missile launch A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 14, 2017 at 9:46pm PST

The crew visited some of Pyongyang's most important landmarks.

Soldiers pay respects to the late #NorthKorean leaders. This is considered one of the 'holiest' sites in #Pyongyang A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 12:20am PST

The symbol of the Workers Party, the ruling (and only) party, atop this gov't building in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 14, 2017 at 10:54pm PST

Portraits of the late #NorthKorean leaders are everywhere in #Pyongyang A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 14, 2017 at 10:49pm PST

At the monument, flowers were on sale to commemorate the birthday of the former leader Kim Jong Il, who would've turned 75 this week.

In North Korea, Thursday is a public holiday, known as the Day of the Shining Star.

Flowers for sale to pay respects to the late leaders of #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 12:22am PST

Nearby, people in Pyongyang were moving around the city by bus and taxi.

More people are taking taxis these days but most people ride the bus in #NorthKorea #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 12:41am PST

One of the many underground street crossings in #Pyongyang #NorthKorea A post shared by Will Ripley (@willripleycnn) on Feb 15, 2017 at 12:39am PST

CNN photojournalist Justin Robertson captured this scene over the Taedong River.

Residential areas of Pyongyang.. Looking out over the frozen Taedong river. A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 14, 2017 at 8:25pm PST

North Korean man fishing through the ice in Pyongyang A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 14, 2017 at 8:18pm PST

It's a struggle to get connected in Pyongyang as Will noted.

Serious issues with our live signal here in #NorthKorea. Seems they are having better luck w/ missile development than internet connectivity — Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) February 15, 2017

Here's one of his first reports of the day for television.

JUST WATCHED CNN in North Korea after missile launch Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH CNN in North Korea after missile launch 03:34

Tuesday

On Tuesday, the crew captured moments from their journey to Pyongyang.

There's usually only one flight a day and the plane isn't the biggest.

Cnn crew leaving for Pyongyang.. @willripleycnn @cnni @tjschwarz A post shared by Justin Robertson (@cnn_justin) on Feb 13, 2017 at 10:17pm PST

Here's the view from the window before the crew arrived in Pyongyang.