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100 Photos Inside North Korea – Part 1

July 14, 2015, 10:36 am

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In a Nutshell: I visited North Korea in late 2014 for 16 days, just prior to the absolute lock down caused by Ebola. Most tourists only experience the political smokescreen of Pyongyang, I had the privilege in visiting all corners on one of the longest tours ever executed (no pun intended) for foreigners into the hermit kingdom. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. Upon exiting the country, my cameras were searched for over 2 hours in Sinuiju. Many photos were deleted. However, I had backups. Here are 100 photos (part 1) taken during my time in North Korea, enjoy.

1-pyongyang-skyline — Pyongyang skyline taken from the Yanggakdo Hotel. The pointed building is the unopened Ryugyong Hotel.

2-pyongyang Sunan-airport — The fleet of North Korean airline ‘Air Koryo’ at Pyongyang Sunan airport. Air Koryo is the only ‘one star’ airline in the world, and until 2010 was banned from flying into the EU due to lack of safety standards.

3-mansudae-grand-monument — Mansudae Grand Monument, the most important monument in the country. Locals flood here to show their respect. Kim Il-Sung and his son overlook their city, and while Pyongyang sleeps off their (alleged) power shortages, they also drain all that remains to be lit up like a Christmas tree. You must bow, and you should leave flowers.

4-kaesong-countryside — Countryside town east of Kaesong along the DMZ. Sad, lonely and forgotten.

5-pyongyang-traffic-lady — Traffic ladies are iconic to North Korea and it’s a highly respected profession. Their movements are definitive and militaristic, saluting party delegates as they pass as pictured here.

6-fatherland liberation-war-museum — Our local guide giving us a recap on the Korean war in the beautiful preceding gardens to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum. Yes, that’s really the name of the museum.

7-music-appreciation-room — Music Appreciation Room. That’s what the sign said on the door. Photo taken in the Grand Peoples Study House, Pyongyang.

8-kimilsung-square-slogans — The main ministerial building in Kim Il-Sung Square, Pyongyang. Translations: “Long live our glorious Songun (military first) revolutionary idea!” and “Long live our Democratic People’s Republic!”

9-kaesong-morning — The industrial city of Kaesong, in the south near the DMZ.

10-panmunjom-dmz — Military checkpoint at Panmunjom within the DMZ. In the distance sits the infamous 160m flag pole amidst the empty propaganda village of Kijong-dong, you can see this from the South. It’s been used unsuccessfully to lure South Korean soldiers to defect to the North. In reality it’s empty, and the lights are on timers giving the impression of activity.

11-wonsan-childrens-camp-lobby — Why not send your child to summer camp in North Korea? In Wonsan, there is the International Children’s Union Camp. This photo is of the lobby. Signage here is in Korean, English, Russian and Chinese, and the camp can accommodate 1200 children.

12-north-korean-bus — In the countryside, buses as we know them don’t exist.

13-north-korean-art — Talented North Korean artists have become very good at painting their leaders. Subject matter aside, the DPRK had some of the most beautiful art I’ve seen.

14-kaesong-kimilsung-janam-hill — Statue of supreme leader Kim Il-Sung on Janam Hill in Kaesong. The stairs set off an alarm if stepped upon. It’s the best vantage point of the city up here, too.

15-wonsan-locals — Locals going about their day in the east coast city of Wonsan.

16-socialist-revolution-monument — Men, women and children – they all fight for the cause. This is a small section of one of the two 50 metre long Socialist Revolution monument’s enclosing the leaders statues in Pyongyang. To give you an idea of scale, each person is on average 5 metres high. It’s massive.

17-haeju-propaganda — “Total concentration, total mobilization. All head to the harvest battle!” A propaganda billboard central to the rarely visited city of Haeju in the south-west of North Korea. Very few tourists have been here.

18-wonsan-harbour-locals — The edge of the harbour in the port city and navel base of Wonsan, on the east coast. Directly behind me sits the out of service ship; Mangyongbong-92. This previously provided ferry transport to Japan – until North Korea admitted abducting Japanese citizens, followed by a permanent ban after firing missiles into their waters.

19-kimilsung-square-view — Kim Il-Sung Square. If you’ve seen North Korea propaganda before, then you’ve seen this location. It’s where most military parades, mass dances and rallies are performed. The Juche Tower is in the distance.

20-pyongyang-military-bicycle — Even military officers traverse the streets of Pyongyang by bicycle. Cars exist few and far between, reserved only to the rich and elite.

21-haeju-countryside-propaganda — Propaganda art en route to the rarely visited south-west city of Haeju. The photo wasn’t very well received.

22-museum-of-united-states-war-atrocities — The Museum of United States War Atrocities. It’s located in Sinchon, where a mass murder of North Korean civilians occurred at the hands of the United States during the war. If there was one place in North Korea to get upset over the one sided propaganda, this would be it. It’s aggressive. The murals depicted here are graphic, brutal and depict Americans enjoying the torture of men, women and children using primitive methods. Facts are scarce. Intense stuff.

23-wonsan-harbour-statues — Kim Il-Sung and his son look on as locals fish where possible to survive in Wonsan. Seafood is plentiful in this city.

24-kumusan-palace-of-the-sun-mausoleum — The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, otherwise known as the Mausoleum. Inside this building lie both leaders, embalmed inside glass cases. You must bow at the feet, both sides but not at the head. Entry is only possible after security clearance and access is underground via long travelators.

25-dprk-national-day-locals — Locals excited to begin a mass dance in Pyongyang for National Day, the celebration of the founding of North Korea in 1948.

26-pyongyang-kaesong-motorway — Outskirts of Kaesong, adjacent to the ‘Reunification Highway’ which dissects between Pyongyang, and Kaesong.

27-pyongyang-circus-theatre-locals — Locals being given instructions outside the Pyongyang Circus Theatre.

28-dog-meat-soup-kaesong — Dog meat soup. I passed. There are many speciality dog meat soup restaurants in Pyongyang – it’s so prevalent that the price is even regulated by the government. Unappetising gained further traction when a dog tooth was found inside one of our soups.

29-korean-peoples-army-escort-dmz — Korean People’s Army accompanying us on our short drive into the DMZ between tank traps and active minefield to the Joint Security Area and Demarcation Line (political border) itself.

30-three-revolutions-exhibition-pyongyang — Embarrassing one of my guides during a visit to the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang. This place showcases the ideological, technical and cultural power of Kim Il-Sung’s leadership – including space and nuclear advancement. Note the photo behind us, depicting Kim Jong-Il visiting this location.

31-north-korean-workplace-safety — Construction apparatus of this kind are commonplace throughout the entire country. The number of workforce deaths must be absolutely astounding.

32-workers-party-of-korea-monument — “Long live the Workers’ Party of Korea, the leader and the organizer of all victories of the Korean People!” Aesthetically, my favourite monument in North Korea, officially known as the Monument to the Korean Workers Party.

33-kaesong-policemen — Police officers having a discussion on the streets of Kaesong.

34-yanggakdo-hotel-pyongyang — The Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang. This is where most foreigners stay upon a visit here. It’s conveniently isolated on an island, so you cannot leave and freeroam the city. Tourists are placed in rooms facing the best parts of Pyongyang existing to the right of this frame. It has been speculated for years the rooms are bugged.

35-traditional-bowls-meal-kaesong — Our lunch, a Korean banquet, presented in small metal bowls traditionally served to royalty in Kaesongs history.

36-mansudae-hill-locals — Young men just after showing their respects at the Mansudae Grand Monument on Mansu Hill. In the distance you can see one of the most recognisable icons, the Monument to the Korean Workers Party.

37-north-korean-female-guides — Our female North Korean guide translating for the local guide at the Monument to the Korean Workers Party. Seemingly all female guides are incredibly beautiful. Coincidence? Unlikely.

38-reunification-building-mtkumgang — This building is within the proximity of the specialised Mount Kumgang Tourism region on the south-east border. To the left, a restricted road leading to South Korea, to the right, Mount Kumgang. We were told swiftly (as we passed) that the building is used as a meeting point for family reunification between North and South Korea. In reality, this road hasn’t been used since 2008 when a South Korean tourist was shot dead on a tour here.

39-wonsan-hill-buildings — Tall buildings scatter the hillside like mushrooms, intimidating the port city of Wonsan.

40-pyongyang-metro-conductor — A Pyongyang Metro conductor awaiting a train to arrive. Contradictory to what rumours have long suggested, the people in the metro system are absolutely not actors. In response to this rumour, the DPRK opened up both lines, and all stops to tourists in 2014. We visited all of them. It’s a hive of activity, and crucial to Pyongyang.

41-mansudae-art-studio-statues — Flowers lay at the base of an exemplary propaganda monument inside the grounds of the Mansudae Art Studio, Pyongyang.

42-kimjongil-thegreatman-book — Snippet from a book I purchased from the Foreign Languages Bookshop, translated directly from Korean. The book was named; “Kim Jong-Il – The Great Man”. You can’t make this stuff up guys.

43-pujon-county-guide-slogan-trees — Local guide at Pujon County, in the north-east. We hiked the woodlands here. With pride, we were shown the Slogan trees. These are trees adorned with loving phrases to the leaders – they are preserved eternally in reinforced glass. People will protect these trees with their life.

44-national-day-mass-dance — National Day celebrations included a mass dance to nationalistic music, marking the founding of North Korea. These performances are a sight to behold here – it was fantastic. We even had a chance to join them for a dance, which I did with a guide. The statement under the portraits translates; “Comrade Kim Il-Sung and Comrade Kim Jong-Il will be with us eternally” – of course.

45-international-friendship-exhibition-gardens — The perfectly manicured grounds of the International Friendship Exhibition in the mountains outside Pyongyang. A visit is a formal occasion, locals arrive well dressed for tours to catch a glimpse at the great leaders well earned treasures.

46-chongchon-hotel-lobby-mural — You are hit in the face by this large mural upon entering Chongchon Hotel at Mt Myohyang. Come in, sit down and have a hot cuppa and a cigarette with Dear Leader. Make yourself at home!

47-pyongyang-circus-military-intermission — In Korean only of course, this skit during an interlude of the Pyongyang Circus left little to the imagination. Militaristic in it’s entirety, the locals loved it. From what I heard, it was better than the last performance which depicted a drunk American soldier dressed as a clown and treated as a laughing stock.

48-local-produce-sariwon — Locals selling local produce in the middle of a dirt road, somewhere between Haeju and Sariwon.

49-north-korean-structural-integrity — Structural integrity is an undefined term in North Korea.

50-north-korean-guide-lonely-planet — One of our North Korean guides reading a Lonely Planet guidebook one of us brought in from the outside world. He was fascinated as to what we say about his beloved country.

51-kaesong-propaganda — “Let’s thoroughly penetrate the militant tasks set out in this year’s New Year message!”, “The great Comrade Kim Jong-Il, we will be faithful till the end!”, “According to the leadership of the great comrade Kim Jong-un, let’s complete the achievements of Juche revolution till the end!”

52-north-korea-haircut-options — Fancy a haircut? There’s a wide variety. Choose wisely.

53-north-korean-countryside-housing — About as good as it gets outside Pyongyang and other main towns.

54-pyongyang-restaurant — The typical restaurant setting inside Pyongyang. Restaurants were always empty as a rule and we were the only expected guests. Ignore the clock, karaoke will be available. No exceptions. Murals decorate the walls depicting holy locations such as Mount Paekdu.

55-hamhung-beach-military-helicopters — Military helicopters flying above us while walking the beach on the east coast. In Hamhung, a night turned into morning drinking Soju was met with an angry KPA officer with an AK47 telling us it was time for bed.

56-north-korea-dmz-kpa-soldiers — At the DMZ, soldiers are more than happy to take photos and crack a smile. This is a far cry from the scare tactics and intimidation used on the South Korean side. This is almost certainly on purpose, possibly a passive aggressive way to make a mockery of the precautions on the South.

57-pyongyang-metro-leaders — Not even train carriages are safe from these two. The subway is flooded in propaganda. Down time spent transiting is a good opportunity for ‘re-education’, I guess.

58-north-korean-schoolbus — The local school bus, kids stack on top of one another for transit.

59-pyongyang-foreign-books — This is just a small selection of the foreign texts available to purchase. The presentation for many has clearly been heavily borrowed from religious texts, and some resembled more of a funeral handout than a published work.

60-haeju-military-propaganda-child — A young boy sits innocently within a giant militaristic propaganda mural in the city of Haeju. It says “Long live the great victory of Songun (military first) politics!”

61-kimilsung-square-students — Students in Pyongyang, curious of our presence in Kim Il-Sung Square.

62-north-korean-snake-soju — North Korean specialities Snake Soju (wine) and Ginseng Jelly among other treats are for sale at many tourist locations. The Snake Soju is bottled with a live snake – the more venomous, the more expensive and the greater the ‘medicinal’ payoff. It’s the peak of luxury in North Korea.

63-war-museum-america-propaganda — A captured US Army helicopter showcased for propaganda purposes at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in Pyongyang. Note the photos, one showing the American ‘imperialists’ surrendering, and the other a gruesome uncensored photo of an American pilot shot in the head. Children visit here in droves.

64-pyongyang-policemen — A Pyongyang local trying to talk his way out of a situation with a policeman. North Korea is notoriously featured in lists of the most corrupt countries on earth.

65-north-korea-coal-truck — Taking a nap in the back of a moving coal powered truck.

66-pyongyang-times-america-propaganda — English translated Pyongyang Times. I think this image speaks for itself, enjoy.

67-pyongyang-arch-of-triumph — “Long live the great revolutionary traditions of our party, hooray!”, “National Reunification, Frequent self-defence.” To the right sits the ‘Arch of Triumph’. I’m a long way from Paris.

Half way! Click below to head over to part two.

Interested in North Korea? More coming soon! Follow me on Facebook!

Earth Nutshell

The post 100 Photos Inside North Korea – Part 1 appeared first on Earth Nutshell.

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