Cheng Zhang / For China Daily

Since its foundation, nearly 20 painters have arrived at Mudanjiang.

"More purchasers and connoisseurs have turned their attention to the DPRK paintings in recent years," Cheng says.

"The painters finished the paintings according to the orders without any objection. This is what distinguishes them from painters from other countries. They never know how many of their works have been sold. Of course, they don't mind. Every month they get their fixed wage on time."

The DPRK paintings also attract foreign purchasers and connoisseurs, particularly people from the Republic of Korea.

Some of them told Cheng that the paintings, which exude DPRK style, could arouse their homesickness for the northern land.

He still recalls an incident in 2009, when a young man from ROK visited the News Painting and Calligraphy Institute and asked Cheng to allow him to take photographs of the paintings.

The young man said his parents were old and their greatest wish was to be back in their hometown in DPRK. So the young man hoped the images could alleviate their homesickness. While shooting, the young man could not stop his tears from flowing.

He told Cheng that he really hoped his parents could have the chance to visit DPRK one day.