In January 2020, North Korea closed its borders. Before that date, people fortunate enough to enter the country were met with strict rules that severely restricted the practice of photography. North Korea has always been shrouded in mystery and secrecy, making it one of the most enigmatic places on Earth.
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A drawing class at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyongyang. The Mangyongdae Children’s Palace is a facility for children’s after-school activities. It has 120 rooms, a swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts and a 2,000-seat theatre.
North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), shares borders with South Korea to the south, China to the north and Russia to the north-east. The most populous city is its capital, Pyongyang. The country has a rich historical background, a distinct political system and a unique cultural identity.
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The Mansudae Grand Monument in Pyongyang, with bronze statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The image was taken the day before Liberation Day, when military personnel visited the monument to lay flowers in honour of the late leaders. Liberation Day holds great significance in North Korea as it marks the country’s liberation from Japan at the end of the second world war.
North Korea has one of the world’s largest standing armies. Military service is mandatory for all able-bodied individuals, and the military contributes to the economy through owned businesses and factories.
North Korea is notorious for its absolute rule under Kim Jong-un. Central to its political ideology is the philosophy of juche, credited to Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il-sung. Juche emphasises self-sufficiency, independence and the supremacy of the state over the individual. It permeates all aspects of society through propaganda, education and cultural activities.
Most information about North Korea focuses on its politics, offering a one-dimensional perspective. However, North Korea is a complex nation that demands a more humanistic understanding of its culture. Photography plays a vital role in this endeavour, helping us to grasp and appreciate this little-known country.
Visiting North Korea is a rare privilege afforded to only a few individuals from outside the country. Only about 5,000 non-Chinese tourists visit North Korea each year.
Photographing the enigmatic landscapes of North Korea presents immense challenges, given the strict regime control. This collection of images offers rare glimpses of the North Korean people’s daily struggles and ways of life.
North Korea’s human rights record is one of the worst in the world. The regime suppresses political opposition and free expression, engages in arbitrary detention, employs torture and carries out executions. The inhumane conditions in political prison camps, known as kwanliso, are widely recognised. Despite facing international condemnation, the regime resists any significant reform.
Despite the government’s efforts to control all aspects of people’s lives, ordinary citizens demonstrate resilience against oppression and find innovative ways to overcome challenges. These photos act as a window into a hidden reality, unveiling an intricate interplay between tradition and modernity and the complex dynamics of a nation navigating its path amid global scrutiny.
North Korea: The People’s Paradise is published in December by Kehrer Verlag and is available to pre-order in the UK through the Guardian Bookshop or Amazon.
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