37 Photos That Were Secretly Smuggled Out Of North Korea
Nathan Johnson
Published
03/13/2016
in
wow
Michal Huniewiz risked imprisonment by smuggling these photos out of North Korea.
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He took this photo of a customs declaration form revealing the items banned from being brought into the country (the list is quite long). Additionally, everyone's laptop was searched for "controversial" content. -
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His visit started with a train journey from the Chinese city of Dandong to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. -
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Dandong station is one of the only entry points into North Korea for foreigners. This is where his journey started. -
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Here, a young boy checks out the railway works during the journey. -
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Here's Pyongyang by day, looking about as bleak as possible. -
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The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge remains one of the last bright lights for tourists. -
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Here, Koreans watch and wait for a train to pass, giving the photographer a few seconds to snap this image. -
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In this image, Korean workers in matching uniforms haul their equipment. -
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And here, street cleaners sweep pavements for dust under the keen eye of a soldier in one of the parks in Pyongyang. -
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In this restaurant, propaganda images are broadcast on television around the clock -
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In fact, there's propaganda broadcasting just about everywhere. -
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Here, a mother carries her baby alongside other women. -
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Although both of these city women are well dressed, many people in the country are living in poverty -
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Here, group of women in matching, government-mandated outfits are sweeping a spotless pathway in Pyongyang. -
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The photographer took a ton of photos of everyday life, all of which were strictly forbidden. -
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And somehow, he managed to smuggle them all out of the country, undetected. -
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In this image, a truck carries North Korean soldiers, unaware they are being photographed. -
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Images of soldiers were very risky and could have landed the photographer in jail. -
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The images show exactly how run down the capital city really is. -
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Most of the city is full of depressing, grey concrete. -
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The rural parts of North Korea reveal miles of uninterrupted green fields. Agricultural is an integral part of the country's survival. -
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Most people don't own cars, and instead ride bikes through the countryside. -
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Here, three girls play in the crops next to a dilapidated building. -
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Despite that, the city is filled with fancy looking cars -- many of which rarely get used. -
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A traffic officer stands to attention at the side of the road, however there are no cars to be seen. -
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"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," the photographer said in an interview. -
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Here, a North Korean man stares back at the camera while commuting. -
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Here's what a typical grocery store in the city looks like. -
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Here, road workers repair street lights in the city. -
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The city has plenty of massive buildings, but many of them stand empty. -
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Most of the buildings in the city are high rises. -
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If they're not empty, they're completely run down. -
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Leaving the hermit state remains extremely difficult for many North Koreans, with numerous watchtowers positioned in rural areas to prevent anyone from going astray. -
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The towering metal statues of North Korea's founding father Kim Il-Sung and King Jong-Il looming large over the city square. -
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Pyongyang is full of constant reminders of the Dear Leaders, never allowing the residents to forget who is in charge.
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