Under the dictatorship of Kim Jong-un, North Korea has been on the QT. Nowadays, there’s little to almost no information or whatsoever about the country, so we are very curious. How is it like living there? How are people being treated? What’s prohibited?
Because of the strict laws and restrictions, it has become especially hard to know the answer to those questions. But last year Michael Huniewicz (a well-known photographer) traveled to the country with one mission: get an insight into how is the world for the North Korean people, on a daily basis. It wasn’t easy, but he managed to accomplish his mission and of course, here are the best and most explicit pictures for you to see.
So instead of talking about it, I will let the photos do what they do best: “Speak louder than words.”
1. Street cleaners were sweeping the pavement under the strict watch of a soldier in one of the parks in the capital city, Pyongyang.
2. While working as a waitress, she has to listen to the government’s propaganda 24/7.
3. Michael took advantage of the passing train and was able to photograph the locals in the countryside.
4. According to the photographer, this was a staged scene as there were no more trains routes left for the day.
5. This is how the every day looks like for the North Korean people.
6. Workers have to carry by themselves their own equipment through the streets.
7. This declaration form establishes that it is absolutely illegal to bring into the country: laptops, Korean films, pornography and even guide books.
8. This is the station where foreigners enter the North Korean country, as you can see it is almost empty.
9. An explicit view of North Korean’s ways, maybe?
10. Farming is an essential activity; that is why it is very common to see miles and miles of green fields throughout the country.
11. One of the riskiest photo. Two North Korean soldiers talking to each other in what seems to be a 5 minutes rest, maybe?
12. Grey architecture is also very characteristic.
13. The Sino-Korean Friendship bridge is one of the few bright lights remaining in the territory.
14, “I had 15 seconds to take this picture. This shop is for the locals only, and I was kicked out of it by my guide soon after taking this photo, but he didn’t see me taking it,” explained Michael Huniewicz.
15. Guards in the watchtowers are positioned to prevent people from going off the right path.
16. People ride bicycles or carriages as if somehow the cars didn’t exist at all.
17. “We were intercepted by our guides, who we could not leave during the entire stay, and who’d tell us when to sleep and when to wake up.” Speaking of controlling.
18. “You are only allowed to photograph these statues if both bodies are featured in their entirety. There was an endless stream of North Koreans bringing flowers and bowing.”
19. North Koreans can only travel within the country if they had received permission.
20. Three girls are playing around with anything they might have.
21. The streets of the capital city, Pyongyang.
22. Tall buildings that seem uninhabited.
23. In the same way, taking photos is a tough task with every kind of guards watching carefully each and every action you might pursue.
24. Moreover, a group of women cleaning an already spotless and neat pathway of the capital city.
25. And at last, people commuting to work.
Source: Anonews