North Korea, a country that is quite secretive and people barely have any idea about them. Be it the execution of its defence minister with an anti-aircraft gun or reports about underground hydrogen bomb tests or the bizarre haircut law, under Kim Jong-un’s leadership you can think about how the people live there and function. Living there is no less than terror. There are some laws that forbid tourists to click pictures of certain things and places.
A London-based photographer, Michal Huniewicz, on his trip to Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea, captured some impeccable pictures and posted on his Facebook handle that will take you through the streets of the secretive country. Most of the pictures are illegal, so you could get a more candid look into the most mysterious country. Despite the risk of detention, Michal managed to capture and smuggle the pictures out of the country, which was quite stressful.
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1. Authority – the military is present everywhere in Pyongyang
2. The difference between North Korea (left) and China (right) is staggering
3. And it becomes even more apparent at night
4. You have several of these to fill in on your way in
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5. The first photo I took in North Korea. Photography from this train is illegal
6. People waiting to sell human waste to be used as fertiliser
7. “(The Korean Workers’) Party is never going to forget the comrades of Rakwon [city]”
8. North Koreans can only travel within the country when they receive a permit
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9. North Korean soldiers
10. Dignity
11. Arrival in Pyongyang. Probably this was staged, as there were no other trains that day, so those elegant looking travellers had no reason to be there
12. Pyongyang – The guide would tell you when to sleep and when to wake up
13. North Korean street photography
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14. Architecture of Pyongyang
15. Cityscape from the Yanggakdo hotel
16. The hotel officially has no floor 5, and you can only reach it by stairs
17. You can’t interact with the locals at all. Most waitresses seemed slightly terrified
18. Kim Il-Sung’s square. This is one of the places they want you to photograph
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19. Those allowed to live in Pyongyang are privileged, and wear a badge that is impossible to buy (you can get a fake one in China)
20. 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
21. The photographer only 15 seconds to take this picture. This shop is for the locals only, and he was kicked out of it by the guide soon after taking this photo, but the guide didn’t see him taking it
22. Some of the souvenirs you can buy
23. The city is clear of rubbish
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24. There was hardly any traffic, but they took the photographers passports away and forbid him to go anywhere on our own in case we participate in a car accident
25. Workers
26. The city was clean and elegant, but then he saw this
27. Socialist murals
28. Finally, people commuting to work
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Also read: 29 Unbelievable Facts about North Korea That Will Make Your Jaw Drop to the Floor
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