Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
User submission
696
15.5K
I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation
My first trip to North Korea was in 2014 and I spent about 12 days in the hermit kingdom with my wife. We travelled to many places outside of Pyongyang which included Kaesong, Pyongsong, Wonsan, Samjiyon and also the newly built Masikryong Ski Resort. We also climbed Mount Paektu and had a spectacular view of the Heaven Lake that shares its borders with China.
Despite all the scary stories you hear about the country, this is the angle from my camera. The country is beautiful and very organised. A very clean city with extremely friendly people. As a landscape photographer, I wanted to bring back photos of what I saw there and share to everyone how gorgeous their landscapes and cityscapes can be by putting aside all our political and economical differences.
We couldn’t stop by many places to take proper landscape photos with my tripod and filters. I had to resort mostly on handheld settings and spontaneous solutions. I tried my best to experiment and find angles as much as I could while we stopped briefly at places without missing out on the explanations from my guides. I was extremely fortunate to bring home these wonderful and scenic beauties of their country and showcase them to everyone. Here are some of my best panoramic shots of the beautiful Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
More info: reubenteo.com
The Grand Monument at Mansu Hill
Mansudae Grand Monument
Sunset view overlooking the Grand People’s Study House
Juche Tower & Kim Il Sung Square
Study Hall in the Grand People’s Study House
The city of Pyongyang
A farmer and his child at the Chonsam Cooperative Farm
National Day celebration outside Kim Il Sung Stadium
Monument to Party Founding
Monument to the 3 Charters of Reunification
Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Panmunjom
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
Kaesong City
Ullim Waterfall, Wonsan
The city of Wonsan
Taehwa Peak at Masikryong
The city of Pyongyang
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum
Aerial view of North Korea
Pyongyang Sunan International Airport Airstrip
Mount Paektu
Heaven Lake of Mount Paektu
The Grand Monument at Samjiyon
Sunrise in Pyongyang
Pyongsong City
Mid Autumn Festival celebration at Juche Tower
15Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
MikeNerud 8 years ago
Beautiful photos. So glad someone finally captured the beauty and grandeur of this country without the focus being on pity or politics.
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much for your compliments. You can view more photos of the DPRK on my website. :)
Load More Replies...
Anne-MarieBurgon 8 years ago
But where are all of the people? (& did you take pics of your escorts?)
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
As far as I understand, one of the priorities of Kim Il-Sung was to limit the population. Authorities maintain a restricti of movement into the city, making it atypical of East Asia as it is silent, uncrowded and spacious. Also, yes I did take pictures with my tour guides. You can view it here: http://reubenteo.com/2014/11/snapshot-mount-paektu/
Load More Replies...
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
It sure is a unique one of kind place
Load More Replies...
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thanks Fatihatul. I've replied about the emptiness of the city in the other comments. You can have a look
Load More Replies...
KFAArabia 8 years ago
Great article Reuben, you took beautiful pictures especially of the exceptional city Pyongyang, the world's unique capital.
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much KFA Arabia! I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. It sure is a unique place. One of a kind and extremely misunderstood
Load More Replies...
Yolanda 8 years ago
Thank you very much for this great and beautiful land and cityscapes. The pictures are talking by themselves. Good you had luck with the weather. I like the variety and agree totally with Mike Nerud!!
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you for the compliments Yolanda. Yes, the weather was with me most of the time when I was there. There were some days that were cloudy and foggy, but then that was also rather beautiful if you look at it from an artistic point of view.
Load More Replies...
MelissaJackson 8 years ago
One wonders, was the author still IN N Korea when he penned this article? The writing seems rather startling in its complimentary treatment of this nation whose people have to resort to eating grass just to live. On the other hand, the pictures really are quite nice- IF you manage to ignore the details that are mentioned here by other commentators. Where are the people? What DIDNT you photograph? Oh! And where are the people?
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thanks Melissa. No, I wrote this article 2 days ago, in my own home in Malaysia. As for the lack of people, indeed it looks empty because of the timing I was there. Most of these shots are done during working days and hours. If you look closely at the final picture, it's actually crowded as many locals were enjoying the fountain displays during the mid autumn festival. I'm a landscape photographer and I guess that's always my focus when I'm traveling. If you'd like to see more of my other shots of the DPRK, you can check out my Flickr or my blog. I have a post focusing on the people, maybe you'd like to check it out?
Load More Replies...
AnnaSalerno 8 years ago
Pictures of empty loneliness in a dark communist country. Very few people where are the people who make up country?
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Indeed it looks that way, but in fact it's a very colourful city. The very few people is due to the timing of my shoot (It was during everyone's working hours) and also the population limit to the capital by their government.
Load More Replies...
MikeNerud 8 years ago
Beautiful photos. So glad someone finally captured the beauty and grandeur of this country without the focus being on pity or politics.
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much for your compliments. You can view more photos of the DPRK on my website. :)
Load More Replies... Anne-MarieBurgon 8 years ago
But where are all of the people? (& did you take pics of your escorts?)
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
As far as I understand, one of the priorities of Kim Il-Sung was to limit the population. Authorities maintain a restricti of movement into the city, making it atypical of East Asia as it is silent, uncrowded and spacious. Also, yes I did take pictures with my tour guides. You can view it here: http://reubenteo.com/2014/11/snapshot-mount-paektu/
Load More Replies... ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
It sure is a unique one of kind place
Load More Replies... ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thanks Fatihatul. I've replied about the emptiness of the city in the other comments. You can have a look
Load More Replies... KFAArabia 8 years ago
Great article Reuben, you took beautiful pictures especially of the exceptional city Pyongyang, the world's unique capital.
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you very much KFA Arabia! I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. It sure is a unique place. One of a kind and extremely misunderstood
Load More Replies... Yolanda 8 years ago
Thank you very much for this great and beautiful land and cityscapes. The pictures are talking by themselves. Good you had luck with the weather. I like the variety and agree totally with Mike Nerud!!
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thank you for the compliments Yolanda. Yes, the weather was with me most of the time when I was there. There were some days that were cloudy and foggy, but then that was also rather beautiful if you look at it from an artistic point of view.
Load More Replies... MelissaJackson 8 years ago
One wonders, was the author still IN N Korea when he penned this article? The writing seems rather startling in its complimentary treatment of this nation whose people have to resort to eating grass just to live. On the other hand, the pictures really are quite nice- IF you manage to ignore the details that are mentioned here by other commentators. Where are the people? What DIDNT you photograph? Oh! And where are the people?
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Thanks Melissa. No, I wrote this article 2 days ago, in my own home in Malaysia. As for the lack of people, indeed it looks empty because of the timing I was there. Most of these shots are done during working days and hours. If you look closely at the final picture, it's actually crowded as many locals were enjoying the fountain displays during the mid autumn festival. I'm a landscape photographer and I guess that's always my focus when I'm traveling. If you'd like to see more of my other shots of the DPRK, you can check out my Flickr or my blog. I have a post focusing on the people, maybe you'd like to check it out?
Load More Replies... AnnaSalerno 8 years ago
Pictures of empty loneliness in a dark communist country. Very few people where are the people who make up country?
ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago
Indeed it looks that way, but in fact it's a very colourful city. The very few people is due to the timing of my shoot (It was during everyone's working hours) and also the population limit to the capital by their government.
Load More Replies... You May Like 30 Animal Panorama Fails That Are So Bad They're Good “View From My Window”: 30 Mesmerizing Scenes People Snapped Right From Their Windows
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Related on Bored Panda
111
29