Outside visitors who wish to come to North Korea have to go through a heavy vetting process just to receive a visa and enter the country. However if you are accepted, you must adhere to strict rules of course, the biggest one: photography is extremely restricted. Although not everyone plays the rules and some brave souls have snapped a few shots and made ’em public, just a look at the images captured.
“Guided” Tours
Unlike most big cities worldwide, where tour guides can freely allow visitors to wander around, tours in North Korea are antithetical. Every single tour is organized by the state, meaning you are only allowed to see and to speak with people who have been examined by the state.
Guided Tours
Virtual Interactions
There is a small chance that North Koreans and foreigners will interact, and if they do, it’s usually on an organized tour.
Virutal Interactions
Big Brother Is Watching
After you read the title, you may think it doesn’t make much sense. However, in reality, the government in North Korea monitors every single action their citizens make. As a matter of fact, the government has gone so far as to place hidden cameras and microphones in homes, offices, parks, buses, and cars.
Big Brother
Propaganda
For anyone who owns a television or radio, either in their private home or business, they are required by law to leave the electronics on at all times. The consequences if you don’t are not pleasant to put it lightly.
Propoganda
Empty Grocery Stores
This is the Pyongyang supermarket and it isn’t rare for the citizens to see empty shelves.
Empty Grocery Stores
Ghost Town
In order to “keep” appearances, the Hermit Kingdom’s government will move an entire city population to another so that it appears more full, more populated to any outside observances.
Ghost Town
Bath Time
When you leave the urban areas, it is common to see individuals taking baths in lakes and rivers as not everyone has access to clean, running water.
Bath Tme
The Black Market
Yes, the government has long banned the activity of black markets. As a result, some of the citizens resort to running grey markets instead. A grey market sells only small things like cigarettes or sweets but doesn’t earn much money.
The Black Market
At work
More often than not, you’ll see children helping out on farms by digging plants and vegetables.
At Work
Point the Way Out
In order to prevent its citizens from deserting the country, the government has installed more than 1,500 miles of the coastline with electric fences.
Point the Way Out
School Time
As most of the citizens in North Korea live in severe poverty, schools are funded by the state. Therefore, the idea of missing school days is frowned upon. And quite often, the children will walk to school unsupervised.
School Time
Hard At Work
North Korea believes in growth, self growth especially, and it relies on its citizens to help one another out. Therefore it is quite common to see soldiers helping others out, the farmers in particular.
Hard At Work
The Golden Throne
The bathroom pictured below is quite commonly found in rural areas. Furthermore, the families who live in these rural areas are specifically chosen by the government.
The Golden Throne
Heading To Work
Buses such as the pictured one below are commonly filled full of people heading to work as most citizens don’t own their own vehicles.
Heading To Work
Neat Freak
Both citizens and soldiers alike band together to keep all of North Korea as clean and perfect as possible.
Neat Freak
Pink Is Your Color
We can’t fully wrap our minds around this picture. It’s filled with Army officials but smack dab in the middle, is a lady wearing pink.
Pink Is Your Color
Where to?
In the capital city, Pyongyang, cars are turning into commonalities so much so that the government started to build more and more highways. However, not all of the citizens could afford such luxuries therefore a lot of highways remain deserted.
Where to?
Collecting Grass
Unfortunately, there are an increased food shortage issue in North Korea, forcing most citizens to then rely on “wild foods” like grass, scraps, rats, birds, and even tree bark. The government has even created a cookbook that focuses on the best tasting grasses and leaves. Excluding the dangerous ones of course.
Collecting Grass
Long Long Lines
Lines for public transportation and necessities can span for hours. Here you can see a picture of a very long queue formed for a bus in Pyongyang.
wait
Wait In Lines For Hours
Friends
There are activists in North Korea who are attempting to smuggle in the hit television show Friends, seriously. The reason: they believe that free data and digital contraband are the best tool to fight against the totalitarian regime.
Friends
Black Out
All across North Korea, electricity has turned into a rare commodity and more often that not, its citizens are left sitting in the dark.
Black Out
Abandoned
As mentioned, the capital city is Pyongyang so the buildings are meticulously maintained, especially on the outside. However if you stepped into one of these buildings, you’ll usually find ’em abandoned.
Abandoned
The Gray City
The leading architectural style is that of old Soviet style and because the government believes that everyone is made equal, that includes the buildings as well.
The Gray City
Upside Down
We can’t say too much here as it’s just a simple photo of some North Korean citizens heading to work but it still opens a page into life in North Korea.
Upside Down
Taxi!
Regardless of the small population, there are a surprising number of taxis. Especially if you’re in the capital city of Pyongyang. It doesn’t compare to that of LA or New York but it’s still pretty high.
Taxi!
When Nature Calls
We’re not sure how this photo was obtained but I can’t imagine it was a safe move.
When Nature Calls
More Roads, Less Cars
There is a railroad stop in rural part of North Korea which basically consists of an very real hole in a wall and dirt path leading to the railroad tracks. However, due to incredibly strict conditions, it’s almost impossible to obtain a travel permit, so there are very little infrastructures built.
More Roads Less Cars
Everywhere
Don’t be surprised to see the military absolutely everywhere. Trains, buses, and airports are common but also on farms.
Everywhere
Cat Nap
The government in North Korea has made it practically law that it is forbidden to take pictures of their Army. Especially if the solider is seen as being “lazy” and yes, a solider napping is considered as laziness.
Cat Nap
Tunnel Time
The capital and largest city in North Korea is Pyongyang and as such, there is a sophisticated subway system. The subway system also happens to be the deepest one in the world however you’re not allowed to take pictures of the tunnel as it also doubles of a bomb shelter.
Tunnel Time
Join The Army
To join the Army, you need to be well connected and if you are, the chances of becoming an officer are much higher. As an officer, you’ll have higher wages and will lessen the burden of expenses.
Join The Army
Lights, Camera, Action
The trains in North Korea tend to stop running quite early and what you’re looking at here is a staged photo shoot!
Lights Camera Action
Kimjongilia Festival
Kimjongilia is a flower named after the late North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il. The Japanese botanist, Kamo Mototeru, cultivated this flower as a representation of the friendship between Japan and North Korea. It is actually even designed to bloom annually on Kim Jong-il’s birthday, February 16.
Kimjongilia Festival
Welcome
Also known as the Hermit Kingdom because it’s totally isolated and closed off, this state treats everything like a closely guarded secret. This particular photo was secretly captured by a photographer, who then smuggled the photo out of the country – this act could have cost him his life or he could have been sent to a concentration camp for his actions.
Welcome
Strength
In this photo, taken from a train, we see rural North Korea with a small rice paddy in the foreground. Moreover there is a truck filled with people. However when you take a closer look, the people on the truck are actually soldiers. Why would a supposed “strong and modern” country need to transport their soldiers on an old pickup? It may seem like such an insignificant question, but when you boast of power, shouldn’t all of your citizens, especially your soldiers, be held to a certain standard?
Strength
So Modern
If you’re ever in Downtown Pyongyang, know that it’s the kind of place that North Korean loves to show off. All throughout Downtown Pyongyang, you’ll see lots of modern looking, flashy buildings – which in any given country are totally normal. However in North Korea, almost all of these buildings are either incomplete on the inside or have no one living in them! Most don’t even have electricity. It’s all fake modernity.
So Modern
The Government
What you’re looking at here is the Central Government Building, but have you noticed a few odd things? Firstly government bureaucrats all just strolling by, as they normally would. Second, there are no cars on the roads so everyone knows full well they can just walk around here willy nilly. Third, the photographer who captured this image was extraordinarily brave. The penalty for taking a photo of this very building involves an arrest on the grounds of espionage, and then you’ll likely be executed.
The Government
Idol
Crazily enough when it comes to worship in North Korea, the citizens actually worship their leaders. Specifically Kim Il Sung, their dear leader who passed some 25 years ago. Moreover their prophets are Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, as you know they’re the son and grandson of Kim Il Sung. More often than not, you will see North Korea’s citizens bowing to statues of their dear leaders.
Idol
Going Somewhere?
Well this bus looks like it might be from 60’s and we can’t decide if that’s totally rad or just plain sad. Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly) the average North Korean will typically never even leave their village, as entrances to most cities and towns are controlled by the military. Most noteworthy here is that if you do not have permission to leave, you’ll be arrested for espionage.
Going Somewhere?
All Hands on Deck
Did you know that North Korea actually has a 0% unemployment rate? But everyone pitches in to keep the cities clean, even schoolgirls. However we have to ask, can we truly believe a figure such as 0%? We’d have to lean toward no but then again…
All Hands On Deck
China!
Here is a case when the differences between North Korea and its neighbor China is crystal clear. On right is Tumen, a Chinese town located on on the Tumen river. Then on the left, you see a little village in North Korea. Do we need to point out China’s sky scrapers versus North Korea’s dark, small houses? Didn’t think so. Some North Korean citizens try to cross the river, even if the lake is frozen solid in the winter. No matter the conditions, they’re desperate to escape.
China!
Farmer Life
A bus passenger secretly captured this photo of a man behind a steer, attempting to plow the soil. But it looks like the soil is filled with rocks? We can’t even imagine how hard this work must be!
Farmer Life
Hey Kid
In almost every country, child labor is ~not~ allowed in any circumstance. However many images smuggled out of North Korea show children working, not just doing chores for an allowance, but honestly working. According to North Korean officials, this work happens in a harvest season during a severe economic downturn, a downturn that the officials say America caused.
Hey Kid
Fishy, Fishy
Here is the Taedong river, located in the North Korean Capital Pyongyang. If you assumed it was some small, poor village, you were mistaken. Due to severe malnutrition running in the whole country, plus fresh fish and meat are impossible to come by, men like this have to fish in the city’s river just to put food on the table.
Fishy Fishy
Frankie Says Relax
As we already mentioned, not many North Koreans have cars, therefore if they don’t use public transport, many of them bike for miles to get to work. I mean, even Lance Armstrong needed assistance… Now when this photographer took this picture, he was allegedly yelled at by his minder, who said it is a massive crime to show people In North Korea being tired.
Frankie Says Relax
Average
In Kaesong, which is on the border with South Korea, this photo was taken. While the photographer was told by the guides that the area he was in was really nice and posh, he still managed to take some photos of the poverty that is in all areas of North Korea.
Average
No Boat, No Problem
Some citizens, as we have mentioned, live in poverty so they resort to whatever means necessary to provide for their family. Such as this man, he has no boat but that’s okay, he’s using a massive tire to catch fish. We can’t even imagine how dangerous this is!
No Boat No Problem
Poverty
Speaking of poverty, while North Korea claims to be well off, have no crime, and is filled with happy, healthy people – these photos prove otherwise. Take one step out of Pyongyang and you’ll see many villages just like the one below.
Poverty
Blackout
As it turns out, blackouts are a very common occurrence in Pyongyang, the capital. Obviously you can see that the buildings have no power, the only thing that is lit up is the picture of North Korea’s dear leader.
Blackout
Hitchhike
Considering there is very little public transportation, most citizens can’t really afford to pay for public transportation anyways, so they often hitchhike. Sometimes those who drive and own their own vehicles, or if they are lucky enough to get a company truck, will earn extra cash on the side as they charge people for raking rides. However all forms of private enterprise are considered illegal in the Hermit Kingdom, meaning these drivers are taking a huge risk.
Hitchhike
I See You
Every single home in North Korea has pictures of their three dear leaders: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Moreover every family must have the pictures prominently displayed in their homes.
I See You
Preparation
So these giant blocks on the road are not decorations. Instead they have been set up to blow up to create tank traps in case there is an invasion. As the blocks fall, they will block the road so that nothing can pass.
Preparation
Isolation
North Korea honestly believes that the whole Korean peninsula belongs to it and no one else. This is precisely why it has a massive military arsenal pointed at the country of South Korea, plus their nuclear weapons. Due to the leadership’s hostile nature and its refusal to even speak to the West, North Korea has essentially almost completely sealed itself off from the rest of the world. Their only friends are China, Sudan, Syria, and Iran.
Isolation