North Korea is synonymous with corruption and communism. Due to its restricted access, there are very few photos taken that expose exactly the situation there today. Originally one nation, Korea became divided after World War II; the South becoming a democracy and the North- communist, governed by its dictatorial leader, Kim Jong-Un. It’s extremely dangerous for Western photographers to even dream of shooting there, but here, we have our hands on a few of those smuggled shots.
North Korea Today Exposed In Photos
1. Army Investment
Kim Jong-Un’s exact amount in the Korean People’s Army is unknown, but it is worth millions. The army uses cyber warfare, lasers, and missiles, which are banned in other countries.
1. Army Investment
2. Working at School
All North Korean students are ordered to buy their desks, chairs, and heating for the school during the cold, winter months. They are also exploited at school, where they work for free, producing various government items. Parents’ only way to escape their children from exploitation-working-whilst-at-school is to bribe the teachers or refrain from sending their kids to school altogether, which means missing out on vital education.
2. Working at School
3. Only 3% of Roads are Paved
Due to most government funding going towards the Korean People’s Army, minimal remains for paving roads and highways. There exist 120,538 sq km of road in North Korea, of which only 2.83% is paved. Trivia: If all of North Korea’s roads were paved, the distance could circle Pluto 3.5 times. However, the current 450miles of paved roads in North Korea only reach New York’s distance to Cleveland.
3. Only 3% of Roads are Paved
4. North Korea’s GDP less than Bill Gate’s Net Worth
North Korea’s Gross Domestic Product is around $17.4 billion, whereas Bill Gate’s 2017 net worth was $90.2 billion. Meanwhile, GDP in the USA is $16.77 trillion. Despite several changes in policy over the years, North Korea retains its centrally-planned economy. This means the government has ultimate control over production, prices, supply, etc., and its citizens have to depend upon their government for their wants and needs.
4. North Korea’s GDP less than Bill Gate’s Net Worth
5. World’s Most Corrupt Country
Not surprisingly, North Korea was ranked the most corrupt country globally by the Corruption Perceptions Index. 0 is rated as the most corrupt and 100 as the least corrupt, upon which North Korea scored 8, tying with Somalia. The results also exposed that 68% of the world’s countries are corrupt and that no country exists free of corruption.
5. World’s Most Corrupt Country
6. The Size of Pennsylvania
At only 120 538 sq km, North Korea is a small country, the size of Pennsylvania. However, nowadays, only 19.5% of the land is suitable for farming due to several natural disasters in the 90s. This was a stark contrast from the 80s in North Korea, when it was regarded as one of the world’s most productive agricultural systems.
6. The Size of Pennsylvania
7. Tourists Cannot Walk Alone
Entry into North Korea is no mean feat. Once the government finally approves the foreigner, they must have a compulsory guide with them at all times as instructed by the law. These guides- according to the photographer, Michal Huniewicz, whom “we could not leave during the entire stay” told “us when to sleep and when to wake up,” depicting the dictatorial state of North Korea.
7. Tourists Cannot Walk Alone
8. Soldiers Here, There, and Everywhere
There are 1.2 million people in the Korean People’s Army, making it one of the world’s biggest armies. Reports state that 1 in every 25 North Korean citizens is enlisted. The Ground Force is the largest unit in the KPA, with 1 million staff and many weapons and vehicles. The KPA also holds the record for the world’s most number of submarines.
8. Soldiers Here, There, and Everywhere
9. Legal Weed
Despite its many harsh laws, the smoking of marijuana and opium is surprisingly permitted in North Korea. It is unclarified whether this is because there are rules that aren’t enforced or because there are simply no rules on these drugs whatsoever. It is also unknown whether these weed-smoking-laws apply to tourists, though it is known that the consumption of methamphetamines comes with severe consequences.
9. Legal Weed
10. Strict Public Service
The photo below at Mansu Hill Monument depicts a uniformed lady sweeping the pavement as part of her public service. A sight you would never see in the States. Public service acts vary from citizen-to-citizen and depend upon their social-economic status, political background, and family records traced back to three generations.
10. Strict Public Service
11. Same Haircut
All males are instructed by law to have the same haircut- no longer than 2cm, taking inspiration from the “ambitious” cut of their leader Kim Jong-Un. Women are no exception to this rule. They are permitted to choose from 14 hairstyles of the bob cut as modeled upon Kim Jong Un’s wife. Single women, however, are permitted to keep their hair long and curly.
11. Same Haircut
12. $8,000 to leave North Korea
Kim Jong Un commands that all his citizens remain in North Korea, administering $8,000 fines to anyone wanting to leave. However, this hefty amount only takes them to China, and most citizens don’t have that kind of cash-to-splash for their freedom. Due to the volatile relationship between North Korea and China, citizens who ‘flee’ are not entitled to Chinese refugee status and are deemed illegal. Most of the information known about North Korea has been obtained from these immigrants.
12. $8,000 to leave North Korea
13. No Locals and Tourists in Shops
It is prohibited for locals and tourists to shop in the same place. Photographer Michel Huniewicz inconspicuously took this photo after a minute’s escape from his guides and was promptly arrested by police. Citizens depend on the government for their food and housing supply, which is heavily regulated. With that said, you can, however, find it in the Pyongyang department and grocery stores in which citizens can buy things. Small-scale farming produce is also available on the black market, but at conditions determined by the government.
13. No Locals and Tourists in Shops
14. Unusual Military Transport
This illegal photo depicts the KPA in transport in an old vehicle that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Statistics show that the KPA owns 3,700 tanks and 2,100 infantry fighting vehicles.
14. Unusual Military Transport
15. Clean Streets
Traveling around North Korea’s capital, there is an evident lack of litter due to the government’s cleaning-up scheme. However, this is not reflective of every day-to-day life in Pyongyang. Photographer, Michael Huniewicz risked prison for a click of his camera when he caught a moment of a man urinating on the streets, a stark contrast from the clean streets that the government wants you to witness.
15. Clean Streets
16. No Jazz
Kim Il- Sung, the previous president, banned jazz in North Korea, stating that all music must be politically correct. However, his son and success were a lot less stringent and enabled more genres of western music. Above is North Korea’s Spice Girl equivalent, Moranbong Band or Moran Hill Orchestra, a popular all-female group, each member hand-chosen by Kim Jong-Un himself.
16. No Jazz
17. Permit to Leave City
Not only is leaving North Korea difficult but leaving your home city is too and only allowed with a government permit. This way, they can keep an eye on their citizens’ whereabouts. And even when this permit is granted, citizens cannot take their vehicles; instead, they must use the public bus or train.
17. Permit to Leave City
18. Pyongyang Pride
Pyongyang, the largest city in North Korea, was destroyed in the Korean War, divided the North and South. President Kim Il-Sung rebuilt the city, which is now the country’s pride and joy. Photographer, Michael Huniewicz said he was continually taken to Pyongyang by his guides, proving their patriotic pride for the city’s capital.
18. Pyongyang Pride
19. Carrying the Load
Labor workers are without access to transport, carrying their construction equipment’s heavy load to their sites alone.
19. Carrying the Load
20. Popular Bus
Public transport is the main way of traveling to-and-from work in North Korea, with the bus being the most popular. Any travel beyond the city requires a government permit.
20. Popular Bus
21. Simple Architecture
Due to its communist nature, architecture in North Korea is simple and modest. Blocks of flats where residents reside resemble prisons more than inhabited homes.
21. Simple Architecture
22. Staged Train Station Shot
Photographer, Michael Huniewicz went to Pyongyang Train station and was alarmed to find the station busy, despite there being only one train for the whole day. Well-dressed citizens were coming-and-going in a manner that seemed staged.
22. Staged Train Station Shot
23. Vacant Entry Point
The train’s arrival point to North Korea was vacant when Michael arrived. Not a soul in sight. With all the restrictions and anti-tourist regimes, it is no wonder North Korea isn’t a popular travel destination.
23. Vacant Entry Point
24. Extra Eyes to Spy
The North Korean government is always spying on its citizens and their potential escape, and it has even summoned the Chinese’s assistance to intervene too. Escapees caught will be sent to a concentration camp, with a death sentence penalty for traitors. If the Chinese’s extra eyes catch North Korean citizens, the men are sent back, but the women are sold to Chinese men.
24. Extra Eyes to Spy
25. Farmland
There are miles and miles of farmland in North Korea’s countryside. Below, we can see local workings tending to their rice fields. However, since South Korea cut contact with the North, the only fertilizer they have access to is feces.
25. Farmland
26. Father and Son Photos
On Mansu Hill, there stand two 22m high statues of Kim Il-Sung and his son, Kim Jong-Il, made from bronze. It is illegal to take a photo of one of the statues without the other. Behind them is the Korean Revolution Museum.
26. Father and Son Photos
27. Crossing the Tracks
Here, citizens wait for the train to pass to cross tracks meticulously controlled by the station’s guard.
27. Crossing the Tracks
28. No Taxis for Tourists
No tourists are permitted to take taxis; they are instead assigned with guides and minivans. Just as well, really, as North Korea’s taxis are costly and only used by the rich.
28. No Taxis for Tourists
29. No Photos
Certain places in North Korea are completely banned from photos, though that did not stop Michael from sneaking this shot of a rundown pink tower from his train’s window. The old buildings look run-down, though it is clear that the crops are well-maintained.
29. No Photos
30. Neighbors with China
North Korea is geographically-situated very close to China. In this photo, you can see the difference between the two communist countries, North Korea on the left and China on the right, divided by the Yalu River. Since South Koreans are banned from entering, binoculars-and-a-boat is the only way they can view North Korea.
30. Neighbors with China
33. Few Cars
Cars are a luxury commodity in North Korea, with very few to be seen on the roads. Citizens take the bus, bike, or walk-to-work, making traffic an invalid excuse for lateness.
33. Few Cars
32. Soldier Surveillance
In this photo taken in a Pyongyang park, we see soldiers spying on citizens doing their community service. This extra pressure from soldiers ensures citizens are meticulous and thorough with their labor.
32. Soldier Surveillance
33. Different Dates
North Korea has different dates from the rest of the world, using a Juche calendar. This is a fusion of the Gregorian calendar used around the world and the traditional Korean one. The birth year of the former leader, and grandfather of the current one, Kim Il-Sung, was 1912, which marks the beginning of the Juche calendar. Three years after his death, the calendar was integrated into society, meaning that 2017 is known as “Juche 105”.
33. Different Dates
34. Peace or Propaganda Village?
Next to the South Korean border in the Demilitarized Zone created in 1953 post-war, lies the controversial village, Kijong-dong. This village is named a peace village by its citizens and a propaganda village by outsiders. Rumor has it that its high-rise buildings are unpopulated, and well-maintained crops are fake, acting as intimidation to the South.
34. Peace or Propaganda Village?
35. An Undisciplined Kid
A rare instance of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. When this kid stood in the middle of the road, the bus was driving along the small roads of Samijyon in the north. So, when you drive there, you have to be careful, as this could also happen to you.
35. An Undisciplined Kid
36. Dressing Appropriately
In North Korea, the way you dress is significant. In the town, you’re never going to find anyone dressed poorly. The students were dancing in the park on this day. The girl asked the man to straighten his shirt when they were asked to take a picture.
36. Dressing Appropriately
37. Fascinating Cars
As Pyongyang cars have become more widespread, the commoners are still getting used to seeing them. Kids are playing in the middle of the main avenues just like before when there were no cars in sight.
37. Fascinating Cars
38. a Ridiculous Prohibition
When he took a picture of this official painter working on a new mural in Chilbo, it was perhaps a ridiculous prohibition the photographer had faced. Since the painting was unfinished, everyone began yelling at him, as he wasn’t allowed to take a picture.
38. a Ridiculous Prohibition
39. Elites’ Supermarket
In Pyongyang’s two supermarkets, where things are sold in both Euros and Wons, you can find all kinds of food and drinks. They even have water from Evian. Only the elite can shop there.
39. Elites’ Supermarket
40. Grey Market
Bans against black market sales have been strictly enforced for a long period of time. Sellers from the grey market are more common. By selling cigarettes or sweets, they make a small amount of money.
40. Grey Market
41. Needing Permits To Travel
There is almost no public transportation connecting to the main towns. To go from one place to another, citizens need permits. But you can spot soldiers hitchhiking on the highways.
41. Needing Permits To Travel
42. Taedong River
On this day in spring, on the Taedong River banks, people put some carpets to dry in the sun. Since there was a statue of Kim Il Sung in the back, it was forbidden to take pictures with those carpets.
42. Taedong River
43. Tired People
Most had to ride their bikes for hours to work in the fields, many tired people out on the streets. It is prohibited to take pictures of them.
43. Tired People
44. Perfect Acrobat
In North Korea, perfection is the key to any activity. To perform in front of a live audience, only the best of the best are selected. For this feat, this acrobat did 3 flips.
44. Perfect Acrobat
45. Building Exteriors
Pyongyang is supposed to be the showcase of North Korea, so building exteriors are carefully maintained. The bleak truth will become apparent when you get a rare chance to look inside.
45. Building Exteriors
46. Different Interpretations
People from the town go to the country every year to help out with public projects. They’ve repainted milestones on this day. Shots like these were seen as positive by the government before, but now they understand that we can interpret this as forced labor.
46. Different Interpretations
47. Taboo Topic
Money in North Korea is a taboo topic of conversation. It isn’t easy to understand how much people earn, the cost of living, etc. It became a controversy when this picture of the cashier of the brand new funfair counting a lot of money was captured!
47. Taboo Topic
48. Times Are Hard There
A visit to a country home. The government carefully chooses the houses and families that live there. But sometimes, a detail like a bathroom used as a cistern shows that times are hard.
48. Detailed Bathrooms Are Hard To Find
49. Restaurants Of The Elite
In the new center of Pyongyang, brand new restaurants have opened along the Taedong River. For the equivalent of a few euros, only the elite can afford to eat there.
49. Restaurants Of The Elite