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I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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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

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Mansudae Grand Monument

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I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Sunset view overlooking the Grand People’s Study House

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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Juche Tower & Kim Il Sung Square

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Study Hall in the Grand People’s Study House

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

The city of Pyongyang

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

A farmer and his child at the Chonsam Cooperative Farm

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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National Day celebration outside Kim Il Sung Stadium

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Monument to Party Founding

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Monument to the 3 Charters of Reunification

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Panmunjom

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Kumsusan Palace of the Sun

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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Kaesong City

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Ullim Waterfall, Wonsan

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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The city of Wonsan

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Taehwa Peak at Masikryong

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

The city of Pyongyang

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Aerial view of North Korea

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Pyongyang Sunan International Airport Airstrip

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Mount Paektu

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

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Heaven Lake of Mount Paektu

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

The Grand Monument at Samjiyon

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Sunrise in Pyongyang

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Pyongsong City

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

Mid Autumn Festival celebration at Juche Tower

I Spent 12 Days In North Korea And Took These Panoramic Shots Of The Socialist Nation

15Kviews

Reuben Teo

Malaysian Designer + Photographer

Malaysian Designer + Photographer

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.

12points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thank you very much for your compliments. You can view more photos of the DPRK on my website. :)

1point

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Anne-MarieBurgon 8 years ago

But where are all of the people? (& did you take pics of your escorts?)

3points

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/

1point

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DaimonSM 8 years ago

looks like a museum , ain't city built for people

2points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

It sure is a unique one of kind place

0points

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WayneBeesley 8 years ago

Looks clean tidy and peaceful I like it

1point

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Indeed! Thanks

1point

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FannSaw 8 years ago

Looks like a city built using lego

1point

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Very structured and organised! :D

0points

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Gabriel 8 years ago

Great pictures!!

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thanks Gabriel

0points

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FatihatulMuali 8 years ago

Beautiful yet empty city, where are all the people?

0points

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

1point

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KFAArabia 8 years ago

Great article Reuben, you took beautiful pictures especially of the exceptional city Pyongyang, the world's unique capital.

0points

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

0points

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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!!

0points

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.

0points

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JoyGeorge 8 years ago

Beautiful pictures of a deserted city and empty roads.

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thanks Joy George

0points

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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?

0points

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?

2points

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AnnaSalerno 8 years ago

Pictures of empty loneliness in a dark communist country. Very few people where are the people who make up country?

0points

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.

0points

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DavidHart 8 years ago

Beautiful photos of a mostly untouched land. Thank you for sharing.

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thank you very much! :D

0points

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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.

12points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thank you very much for your compliments. You can view more photos of the DPRK on my website. :)

1point

Load More Replies...

Anne-MarieBurgon 8 years ago

But where are all of the people? (& did you take pics of your escorts?)

3points

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/

1point

Load More Replies...

DaimonSM 8 years ago

looks like a museum , ain't city built for people

2points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

It sure is a unique one of kind place

0points

Load More Replies...

WayneBeesley 8 years ago

Looks clean tidy and peaceful I like it

1point

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Indeed! Thanks

1point

Load More Replies...

FannSaw 8 years ago

Looks like a city built using lego

1point

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Very structured and organised! :D

0points

Load More Replies...

Gabriel 8 years ago

Great pictures!!

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thanks Gabriel

0points

Load More Replies...

FatihatulMuali 8 years ago

Beautiful yet empty city, where are all the people?

0points

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

1point

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.

0points

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

0points

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!!

0points

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.

0points

Load More Replies...

JoyGeorge 8 years ago

Beautiful pictures of a deserted city and empty roads.

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thanks Joy George

0points

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?

0points

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?

2points

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?

0points

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.

0points

Load More Replies...

DavidHart 8 years ago

Beautiful photos of a mostly untouched land. Thank you for sharing.

0points

ReubenTeo (Post author) 8 years ago

Thank you very much! :D

0points

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