Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
In this article, you will see some intriguing, documented pictures of North Korea depicting life in the mysterious country. How did we get a hand on these North Korea pictures, you ask? Let us tell you the story.
Photographer Eric Lafforgue is one of the very lucky few who have had a chance to see what North Korea is really like. “Since 2008, I have ventured to North Korea six times,” he said. “Thanks to digital memory cards, I could save photos of North Korea that I was forbidden to take or was told to delete by the minders.”
He’s actually a regular Bored Panda user who is responsible for some of the most popular posts on our website, for example, Highway To Yell In North Korea Which I Captured During The Last Trip and I Introduced Polaroid To North Korea, And It Made People Open Up And Tell Their Stories.
Is Taking Pictures of North Korea Illegal?
You can take North Korea images only of the things permitted by the government. There are restrictions on particular things that you can’t photograph. Let us dive deep into Eric’s story and understand through his experience what is allowed to be photographed and what is banned.
Lafforgue wasn’t interested in the carefully orchestrated tourist trips to the mysterious country, revealing only fake North Korean facts. He wanted to go beyond that, to catch a domestic glimpse of the land and people that aren’t under the regime’s complete control.
“I was treated like any other tourist,” Eric told Bored Panda. “They didn’t allow me to take pictures of the police, the army, etc. But I could take so many with a 300mm zoom lens and a seat in the back of the bus.”
He shot thousands of pictures, showing citizens and government officials going about their everyday lives. “As soon as they were opening a new area to visit, I tried to go and see it, documenting the life in North Korea.”
What Happens If You Take a Photo of North Korea?
If the North Korean government finds out that you have taken photos of North Korea illegally or captured some things that are restricted from photographing, things might go wrong for you. Let us see what happened with Eric Lafforgue.
After Lafforgue returned from his 6th trip to North Korea in 2012, the government discovered him sharing secretly taken North Korea images online. They demanded he take down the images.
“I refused as I showed all the aspects of the Hermit Kingdom: the good and the bad. Just like I do with any country I visit. I refused to make an exception for North Korea, and they didn’t like this.” Soon, the regime banned Lafforgue from crossing its border ever again.
“During homestay meals in the countryside, I could speak with the locals for hours, thanks to my guides. They told me so much about how they live, what they dream of, and so on. The main thing to know is that North Koreans are warm people, very curious about the visitors, and very generous, even though most of them own nearly nothing.”
Scroll down to see Eric’s North Korea pictures for yourself.
Updated: Our video team has gathered more information on those images and contacted Eric for additional footage. Check our video for more information.
More info: ericlafforgue.com | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
Such an amazing contrast! You must be having balls of titanium to click this image!
Kjorn 6 years ago
if you want to eat you need a job... the only one available in NK is in the army. can't blame them.
Bear Trapp 6 years ago
Serving in the military in NK is not optional. It's required.
Load More Replies...
Debbie Andersson 6 years ago
Why aren´t army pictures allowed though? Thought the military and their "strength" was the pride of north korea according to Kim?
Blue Cicada 6 years ago
Officially sanctioned photos are allowed, not visitor's photos. I've visited countries where we've received official warnings at the border about not photographing railroad stations, bridges, railroad tracks, government buildings etc.
Load More Replies...
Yew Fai Wong 6 years ago
i think so. the "blackness" of her hair somehow looks out of place with the sea of black haired soldiers. and her size feels wrong too, even if she is of a smaller build. might be "photoshopped".
Load More Replies...
Michelle Brown 6 years ago
That guy at the far right hand corner looks creepy he has spotted the photographer glad I was born Australian
Elizabeth Scarborough 6 years ago
Gives the feeling there is life and hope in a harsh stagnant World.
Eugene Sapiano 6 years ago
In 1989 a group of 30 delegates from leftist youth organizations went to Pyongyang for the 13th World Festival of Youths and students. They liked it a lot! In fact I was one of the delegates for the 12th WEorld Youth and Student Festival held in Moscow. It was also a wonderful experience.
Richard Petch 6 years ago
That's a load of bull as they show plenty of pictures of their army on the television screens.
Joeri Eyckmans 6 years ago
I think pink is the color that people wear to show their respect for the leader in North Korea. So civilians often wear pink clothing on official festivities or holidays etc...
Kaiya Price-Dennis 6 years ago
What an amazing picture. Beauty in the midst of a possible war.
Denis Allen 6 years ago
This could as easily be South Kore, not enough information to make a judgement.
Soonyato Logan 6 years ago
Actually there is at least one more woman officer behind the woman in pink
Jeeves 6 years ago
Officially sanctioned ones, yeah. Visitors aren't allowed to take any.
Load More Replies...
rustic raven 6 years ago
Oh snap how did she get there is what they are saying to each other ,someone is going to pay for this one no food or sleep for a week ,even if she is his sister ;=]]
A woman standing in the middle of a crowd of soldiers. This rare North Korea picture is not supposed to be taken as officials do not allow army pictures.
RELATED:
#2
Daniel Losinger 6 years ago
North Korea is so advanced they have computers that don't need electricity.
When you visit families, the guides love it if you take pics to show the world that kids have computers. But when they see there is no electricity, then they ask you to delete it!
Soldiers often help on local farms.
#4
Molly Block 6 years ago
I have also read many times that on Sundays, most people must 'volunteer' to work, even if they want to sleep in, and this could mean "mowing" the grass in public areas, using their hands, because there is NO gas for lawnmowers. There are no lawnmowers.... so they do it by hand.
This kind of photo of North Korea is widespread in the West. The caption often explains that North Koreans eat grass from the park. The guides get furious if you take it.
A rare example of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. The bus was driving on the small roads of Samijyon in the north when this kid stood in the middle of the road.
The way you dress is very important in North Korea. In town, you’ll never find anybody dressed poorly. On this day, students were dancing in a park. When I asked to take a picture of them, the girl asked the man to straighten his shirt.
#7
Molly Block 6 years ago
Lots of room to play kickball...............IF they HAD a ball.............
As cars have become more widespread in Pyongyang, the peasants are still getting accustomed to seeing them. Kids play in the middle of the main avenues, just like before when there were no cars in sight.
Pyongyang’s subway system is the deepest in the world as it doubles as a bomb shelter. Someone saw me taking this picture and told me to delete it since it included the tunnel.
Perhaps the most ridiculous prohibition I faced: this official painter was working on a new mural in Chilbo. I took the picture, and everybody started yelling at me. Since the painting was unfinished, I couldn’t take the picture.
#10
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
Even in malnutrition, he is wearing military cap and pin-button of his supreme leader.
It is forbidden to photograph malnutrition.
When you sleep in Kaesong, near the DMZ, you are locked in a hotel complex composed of old houses. It allows the guides to say, “Why do you want to go outside? It’s the same as in the hotel.”
No, it’s not.
#12
William Dreyer 6 years ago
Please be careful if you would like to do pictures of people faces where they might personally be prosecuted because you caught them in a bad situation , this is North Korea.
It is forbidden to take pictures of soldiers relaxing.
#13
On a little lake on the way to Wonsan, this fisherman uses a tire as a boat.
The pioneer’s camp of Wonsan is often visited by tourists to show the youth from all over the country having fun. But some children come from the countryside and are afraid to use the escalators, which they’ve never seen before.
#15
Molly Block 6 years ago
Even on their time off, they must wear uniforms. Just like the schoolkids-- when they leave home, even on the weekends, to go to the shops or whatever, they must have on their school uniforms. This country loves uniforms!
When visiting the Delphinium in Pyongyang, you can photograph the animals but not the soldiers, who make up 99% of the crowd.
#16
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
I don't mind the queue, it represents order. But here meaning of this image is so different, they are shepherded like sheep's by a mindless leader. This shows desperation, unavailability of travel resources and failing of govt doings.
Queueing is a national sport for North Koreans.
#17
Vlad Horobet 6 years ago
With the window behind him and the light in the ceiling, i think he's seen in a pretty good light. I mean look at his shining head; It's brighter than my future
In a Christian church, this official was dozing off on a bench. You must never show the officials in a bad light.
#18
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
Families carefully selected by Government?? what the hell? and what happens to those who govt rejects?
A visit to a rural home. Those houses and the families who live there are carefully selected by the government. But sometimes, a detail like a bathroom used as a cistern shows that times are hard.
#19
Abhisek Chakraborty 6 years ago
At times I wonder if we try a little too much to show the dark side of the country. I am aware of how weird, cruel and wary the rules in North Korea are but I dont see anything wrong with this soldier sleeping on the grass.
This soldier was sleeping in a field.
#20
Molly Block 6 years ago
Sure, these are children working.....laboring........but they are the lucky few, for they actually have on shoes and what appears to be clothes that are in pretty good condition, and are not torn, dirty, or ragged.... They even have bands for their hair and pigtails....
The North Korean officials hate when you take this kind of picture. Even when I explained that poverty exists all around the world, in my own country as well, they forbade me from taking pictures of the poor.
#21
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
That's filmception. Video shoot the video shoot of a video shoot.
Only in North Korea: I was at a factory shooting with my TV crew. We were followed by a local cameraman who filmed throughout the trip (on the right). On this day, the government sent another cameraman to film us all! Very meta.
It’s not a circus; they are workers in a country with low safety standards.
#23
Nia Loves Art 6 years ago
I suspect that a flashing camera might indeed be scary for people who had never seen a picture being taken before, especially in the case of small children.
One night, on the way back to the hotel, my bus had to take an alternate route due to street closures. As we passed by old buildings, the guides asked me not to shoot with a flash. The official reason was “to avoid scaring people.”
#24
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
That is one beautiful dress, that shows we all are same inside no matter where are we from. She must be wife of some high-ranking govt. official to be able to wear such colors.
You can find all kinds of food and drinks in Pyongyang’s two supermarkets, where things are sold in both euros and wons. They even have Evian water. Only the elite can shop there.
Taking a picture of the Kim statues from the back is absolutely forbidden. It is considered very rude.
Brand new restaurants have opened along the Taedong River in the new center of Pyongyang. Only the elite can afford to eat there for the equivalent of a few euros. The sturgeon I had was actually very tasty.
#27
Vlad Horobet 6 years ago
"oh some hard pointy sharpy blunty rocks. What a comfy places to take my lunch nap"
This man was resting on the rocks by the sea in Chilbo. My guide asked me to delete this for fear that Western media could say this man was dead. He was alive.
When times are hard (as they usually are here), kids can be found working for the farming collectives.
#29
Holly Hobby 6 years ago
It is illegal to photograph anything broken down (such as a broken down bus). It makes the country look poor and reflects negatively against the image the government thinks they project. The citizens are taught they are the greatest nation on earth and the world bows to their leader.
Something you can see often in North Korea but are still forbidden to photograph.
#30
In the art center of Pyongyang, we experienced a power outage, a daily event the North Koreans hate to show. When it happens, they tell you it’s because of the American embargo.
#31
Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
You say you were asked to delete some of these photos but you didn't so what happened when you refused to?
Paranoia is too strong in North Korean minds. I took this picture at a fun fair of a tired mother and child resting on a bench. I was asked to delete the picture since the guides were certain I would have said those people were homeless.
#32
Janina Prado 6 years ago
there's a lot of this in Tijuana, Mexico. I'm certain other countries experience similar situations.
Bans against black market sales have been strictly enforced for a long time. Grey market vendors are more common. They earn a little money selling cigarettes or sweets.
#33
There are a lot of tired people since many have to ride their bikes for hours to go to work in the fields. Taking pictures of them is forbidden.
#34
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
Citizens need permit to go from one place to another??? Jeez. That's unreal. I wonder how long it will take for North Koreans to stand up against this mindless tyrannical govt. and start a revolution and throw the govt. out.
Public transportation connecting the main towns is nearly nonexistent. Citizens need permits to go from one place to another. On the highways, you can spot soldiers hitchhiking.
The officials took issue with this North Korea photo for two reasons:
- The teen has his cap worn in a strange way (according to my guide).
- There are soldiers in the back.
A very rare picture of a wheelchair. On six trips, I saw only two of them.
#37
Sarcasticow 6 years ago
Is that Kim II Sung's suitcase and hat? Was he allowed to leave then like this before stepping on the platform?
This is never supposed to happen: A broom standing on the base of Kim Il Sung’s statue in Mansudae, in Pyongyang.
Thousands of North Koreans queued up to visit various monuments on the day of the Kimjongilia festival.
#39
frederic eeckman 6 years ago
They are obsessed with Mercedes. Kim Jon Il even tried to build his own brand, a copy of the C Class. Google "pyongyang 4.10"...
Showing poverty is forbidden, but displaying wealth is also a big taboo in North Korea. In a park on a Sunday afternoon, I found this car that belonged to one of Pyongyang’s elite. The owners were having a BBQ.
#40
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
Ahh - The military cap and pin-button of supreme leader is missing.
It is forbidden to take pictures of the daily life of the North Korean people if they are not well dressed. For my guide, this man was not well dressed enough to be photographed.
Taking pictures in the DMZ is easy, but they stop you if you come too close to the soldiers.
#42
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
What is not - forbidden? I wish you could hold a banana in one hand and taken a picture of that statue with both parallel in sight!
On this day in spring, people had put some carpets to dry on the banks of the Taedong River. Since a Kim Il Sung statue was in the back, taking pictures with those carpets was forbidden.
Perfection is key to any activity in North Korea. Only the best of the best are selected to perform in front of a live audience. This acrobat did three flips for this feat.
Kids in Begaebong streets, collecting grains.
#45
Vaida Kuodytė 6 years ago
Something in common with Lithuania, and possibly many other countries - even IF the facade looks okay, the other sides are always in horrid disrepair, completely falling apart. The tourist (central) districts are full of LIES, which I find disgusting and infuriating as a local. We're supposed to be all modern and european, instead of a grimy, run-down waste of formerly-impressive architecture, and everyone's time... Everything is just so half-arsed these days, it's just WRONG.
Pyongyang is supposed to showcase North Korea, so building exteriors are carefully maintained. But the bleak truth becomes apparent when you get a rare chance to look inside.
#46
Anne Glassman 6 years ago
Shortly after this picture was taken, Daniel Losinger died of starvation
I went to Chongjin, a city in the north that suffered greatly from hunger a few years ago. My camera was confiscated for the duration of the bus trip. Once at the hotel, I understood why when I saw the people on the street.
#47
Kathy Prendergast 6 years ago
I saw people washing clothes in rivers in China; it's a free source of water and many still don't have washing machines or even running water in their homes, and can't afford to go to laundromats. Never washing themselves though, although I'm sure some still do...would be nasty as most of the waterways are so polluted.
Man bathing in a river near his town.
#48
Kimberly Robinson 6 years ago
I interpret it as forced labor because it is. They know they can't refuse. "I have a headache" or "I want to stay home and read a book" isn't going to cut it as an excuse.
Every year, people from the town go to the country to help out in public projects. On this day, they repainted milestones. Before, the government regarded shots like these as positive, but now they understand that we can interpret this as forced labor.
Money is a taboo topic of conversation in North Korea. It’s very difficult to understand how much people earn, the cost of living, etc. When I took this picture of the cashier of the brand new fun fair counting a lot of money, it was not a good idea!
#50
M O'Connell 6 years ago
This truck probably runs on a wood-gas generator, and the driver is waiting for the gas to build back up so he can continue on.
You can see trucks loaded with coal on the highways since North Korea has a big problem getting oil, like during WW2.
A Visual Tale
You might have seen some North Korea satellite images. But, this virtual tour of the mysterious country provides us with some rarely seen glimpses of the daily lives of North Koreans. Photographer Eric Lafforgue has portrayed both the good and the bad aspects of the country. What did you think about it? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Pictures of North Korea: FAQs
How Many North Korea Stock Photos Are There?
There are around 16,500+ Stock photos of North Korea.
Did a Magnum Photographer Get Access to North Korea?
Yes, a Magnum photographer got unprecedented access to North Korea where he captured images of the country.
Can I Take Photos of North Korean Soldiers?
No. Taking photos of North Korean soldiers is strictly prohibited.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Jyri Hakola 6 years ago
Mixed feeling when looking these images. It's probably good to show the reality of life in North Korea but can't help thinking what consequences this kind of photos could cause 1st to people shown in the photos (and doing silly things under the portraits of "belowed leaders" ) and then to those guides whose task have been preventing of taking these photos. Happy camping and lot's of hard work ?
Suburbs 6 years ago
I agree. I fear for the safety of many of the people in these photos.
Load More Replies... Zero 6 years ago
This person refused to takedown photos when the North Korean government asked him to. He might have seen himself as a photographer shining a light in the darkness of the unknown, but he may very well have endangered the lives of everyone he took a clear photo of. Yes letting people know about what's going on is important, but showing people's faces so clearly, places all those people who shared their stories with him in danger. I cannot condone someone who places his personal agenda above the lives and well being of the already oppressed people he photographed. No matter the personal risk he took to get this, he places an even greater risks on the people who took photos of. What other journalists who cover North Korea do is take photos that protect their identities and or write about rather than photography it. That would have been less risky an endeavor than this and still served it's purpose of educating the world. The ends don't justify the means.
Karen Ang 6 years ago
I wonder if the photographer will even feel guilty if the subjects of his photos gets imprisoned or even killed for what he did here
Load More Replies...
Nia Loves Art 6 years ago
Most of these are cool, but the ones that show people's faces makes me very concerned, especially if they are of people doing forbidden things.
KULJEET SINGH 6 years ago
I am worried about the people in these pictures.. someone may loose their life because he accidentally left the broom next to the statue of the "great leader". Is it worth putting innocent lives at risk for s few pics...not that anyone is going to do anything to ease their suffering..
Tiffany 6 years ago
That is the picture you are worried about??? That was like the ONLY picture that showed something forbidden that someone did that had no one in the picture!! How is someone supposed to lose their life for leaving a broom, when you don't know who did it?
Load More Replies...
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
So many things forbidden. I think I got that word imprinted now when thinking of North Korea :/ All this makes you wonder, how it's even possible that a country like that exists...
Echo 6 years ago
There a lot of examples in history that have shown us that this type system is all to easy to exist and continue existing.
Load More Replies...
Kc Nordquist 6 years ago
I definitely think you should have blurred the faces of these people. Who knows what kind of retribution they might face if the government should see these?
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Stanimira Deleva I have grown up in socialism. Yes, we have had restrictions on travel outside the country.Yes, for the elite in the state there were many extras,but the people worked and earned a decent salary to live a dignified life.We had free education, inc free university.Free healtcare too...90% had their own homes too.Now we live in democracy. Only the rich live a normal life...no more than 30-40%. About 25% people really travel around the world but to work for miserable money to help their famalies home.Besause they,most of them maybe 40% of all of our people live in misery, total misery. Minimal salary 200 dollars and pension-120.So my dear,dont lie,come back home and see the reality
Load More Replies...
Hayley Lightcap 6 years ago
I don't understand why he treats his people this way. That's probably an incredibly naive thing to say with the whole absolute power corrupts absolutely but still.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Im grown up behind the the iron curtain guys and i can tell you one thing.I dream we were not received your democracy...let me say why: We were on 16th place according to the UN standard of living.Super-developed economy and agriculture. Free education and medical care for absolutely all..work for all, and even import labor from China and Vietnam.every single person was important and protected, except for the rioters working against the power.But it was something that western democracy does not understand. So,they came and told us how to live in a democratic way ,they helped us to change the laws and the constitution.... Let me tell you the result:from 100% economy and agriculture - 5-10% left, high unemployment, many homeless, big criminality and corruption.You have transformed my homeland from paradise into a Third World country :(
Load More Replies...
Kristy Ledington 5 years ago
I usually Don’t share my thoughts after reading articles on the Internet but I am going to share because I live in the United States of America and I am blessed to have freedom of speech. And blessed to be American These pictures and the other articles I have read about north Korea describing the laws they have to follow are set by A deranged liter my thought has been why is the rest of the world turning their backs on such cruelty and sadness I cannot understand why all the world leaders let a dictator that this deranged and narcissistic with his opinions and thoughts and Sick controlling laws allow this Individual and his regime exist in our world why would somebody want to negotiate or deal with someone like this there has got to be some sniper some army that won’t take this individual out and set these people free we have no problem doing it with Afghanistan Iran or other third world countries why would the rest of the world allow this to exist ?
Noelle Wille 6 years ago
Blurring the faces would have definitely diminished the impact, hopefully the journalist/photographer is 100% confident that the individuals will not be possible to trace.
Silent 6 years ago
What surprises me is the lack of follow-through my said guys after they demanded a picture be deleted. I would just have expected that they would have made sure these were deleted. And if it is the case that these are the few that slipped through the cracks.... Then what content was most guarded from our eyes? Sounds a lot like Gilead.
Paul Osborne 6 years ago
I know someone who has visited North Korea and it's really nothing like you see in the media.
Jyri Hakola 6 years ago
Mixed feeling when looking these images. It's probably good to show the reality of life in North Korea but can't help thinking what consequences this kind of photos could cause 1st to people shown in the photos (and doing silly things under the portraits of "belowed leaders" ) and to guides whose task have been preventing of taking these photos. Happy camping and lot's of work ?
Daria B 6 years ago
"Photographer Smuggles Illegal Photos Out Of North Korea, And Kim Jong Un Doesn’t Want You To See Them" I won't doubt or criticize this title, but.... If that's true, do I risk getting called by the police for clicking on this article? Because seriously, there is contents out there on the internet about N. Korea that are illegal and blocked in the South.
TheKnightOwl 6 years ago
Who the hell downvoted this? Daria B lives in South Korea, her comment is completely justified! What is wrong with Bored Panda lately, you can't have a slightly different opinion without being downvoted into oblivion.
Load More Replies...
Danny Dubois Qi 4 years ago
How the hell did you not get kicked out? You keep mentioning how you got shouted at many times from taking pictures you weren't supposed to do, yet you managed to take them. Didn't they get annoyed at some point to threat you to kick you out or what lol?
Danny Dubois Qi 4 years ago
How the hell did you not get kicked out? You keep saying how you're not supposed to take these kind of pictures and often got shouted at for doing it, yet you managed to do it still lol.
Gerald E. Rotko 6 years ago
I'd refer to North Korea as a Sh-thole but the democrats would p**s and moan because that's their plan For the U.S.A.
Christian Lindgr 6 years ago
Non of the photos here is illegal, I have traveled to North Korea myself, and most of my photos Is exactly like yours..
Christian Lindgr 6 years ago
I've been to North Korea, and non of this photos is illegal.. I got almost exactly the same photos
Karla Thompson 6 years ago
My mom served in the Navy and did several drills in South Korea on the border of North Korea. She said it was like a dream, that there’s no way a country could be that backward and have such control over its people with the use of fear. She said she couldn’t believe her ears and eyes seeing the DMZ and knowing that beyond it was thousands of starving and impoverished citizens
Bradley Auerbach 6 years ago
Is it even legal to look at these photos in the US? I always clear my history after viewing these posts.
Belinda Short 6 years ago
Yes it's legal. It's referred to as freedom of the press. While being a US in the DRPK could get you in trouble, looking at banned images here make no difference as they are not banned in the US.
Load More Replies...
Novi Dwi Prasetya 6 years ago
Someone needs to build some home-made long duration drones and get some secret footage of the place
Anika Barr 6 years ago
Just a heads up but the ritchlist youtube channel just stole your photos and are using them in a video
Kit 6 years ago
None of the photos show anything meaningful. The captions are needed to tell us this is for some reason "bad": a kid on a country road, a man painting a pretty picture, a boy and girl laughing as she touches his clothes, a train tunnel station with a number of well-dressed people on their way to work or school icluding a couple of healthy lokking schoolgirls holding hands... That malnutrition picture--his skin is clear, his lips are plump, his teeth look fine... he's just young and still growing, like many boys in their twenties. I could easily re-caption these and make it an article called: A Day In The Life Of [insert generic ethnically asian placename here] and show why this is a lovely place/ And Bored Panda would publish it happily.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Have a look here guys..See what Ukraine does in Donbass.in its own country in a part inhabited by ethnic Russians. Why American politicians continue to support the Nazi regime in Ukraine and to arm it.This is in Europe right now guys.Do you know why? Can you guess? The Horrors of the war on Donbass. The whole truth is uncensored...... https://www.facebook.com/100004740162798/videos/939155466252450/
Sam Brightbart 6 years ago
I know this is picky and beside the point but I don't understand why you used a capital letter at the start of each word in each caption. It made it difficult to read for me.
Wayne Willson 6 years ago
Largely propaganda, I would advise researching this article and taking it with a pinch of salt.
Kerry Ericksson 6 years ago
The Whole country looks pretty bleak and depressing.The only colorful vibrant person I saw was the Lady in Pink shopping,but then she was privileged.
Elizabeth Gardner 6 years ago
Thanks go to the photographer, it is a shocking regime that spends on its armaments but will not feed its people. It is an appalling way to live and to treat those people, The upper class should be ashamed but I guess they are not just glad it is not them. What is the age that they live too? going on the skin of some of the young men and the size of the children I am sure that starvation is manifest in the entire country.
Andrew Gill 6 years ago
Believe nothing the media tells you, only believe what you see with your own eyes, this article is utter c**p, just more BS so the American military have the support of the outraged brainwashed public to invade a country that has done no harm to anyone except refuse a central bank, same as Iran, Iraq, Syria etc etc
Jess Vaughn 4 years ago
The fact that you have to blame America for your sad, sad, pathetic country means I feel bad for you. If only you could be born with freedom to enjoy life with happiness, you would see that your life absolutely sucks SO bad!! We just want to help you people. You’re brainwashed and your lives SUCK!!
Load More Replies...
Brenda Torres 6 years ago
Yes, I have mixed feelings too....Because I grew up in the 40's and I, also, saw similar struggles here in America! I call them 'The Unseen'...
Jennifer Voss 6 years ago
If Otto Warbier (American college student) was sentenced to years of hard labor for taking a poster, how did these photos get out of NK? This is the most horrible country. Young girls are taken to be Kim's sexy slaves at the age of 13, They imprison 3 generations of a family when anyone is suspected of political crimes (which can be anything) and worked for 16 hours a day and fed only corn. Kim should be hunted down and killed like the criminal he is!!!!!!
Daria B 6 years ago
The Otto Warber's case cannot be compared because what he has done was theft. He stole the poster. Sure, nobody deserves to be killed for stealing a poster, but it's far different from taking pictures with your own camera.
Load More Replies... zef rose 6 years ago
Interesting how these photographs are described and commented on. Each of them has a US equivalent. There are many places in the US where you can get arrested, or fined, or even beaten mercilessly by police for taking a picture. Hundreds of people resting on benches in the US actually are homeless. Buildings abound in every city, reduced to ruins. It is also illegal in this country to photograph military activities, banks and public buildings. Americans forget that only 60 years ago, the US bombed North Korea literally to dust, killed a full third of its population, and leveled punishing sanctions to further cripple this country. Nonetheless, they have completely rebuilt their country, their lives, and their culture. This is worthy of laud not ridicule. How many countries has NK invaded, and how many has the US invaded? The answers are zero and 139. Nukes? NK - 1, US - millions. Yet the comments on this article dutifully reflect the accepted party line. "Must hate North Korea."
Evgeny Smetanin 6 years ago
Recently I visited China on the border with North Korea. It was possible to photograph the Korean coast. Very beautiful nature! I would like to visit North Korea next time.
Anna Salerno 6 years ago
Everything seems to be forbidden in this drab country. I didn't see many smiling faces nor did I see flowers except for one picture there was a few wild flowers. How depressing for these lovely people. Come on now, to have computers but, then to have no electricity to use them. That short fat Rocket man needs to be eliminated and this country needs to come into the 21st century!!
A from Austria-Europe 6 years ago
Last sentence fits also for the dumb moron who is the President of the US.
Load More Replies...
Svet Mirkovic 6 years ago
These pictures were taken 5-6 years ago? Your explanations for the images #2 and #3 are very unconvincig to me.
Jefri Pon 6 years ago
In USA there are many people homeless, jobless, malnutrition and etc, which need to be photograph and need help. All country has its own way.
Juha Yläoja 6 years ago
The problem with NK is that that is no choice to choose the leadership at all. which is why it is difficult to claim that it has its own way. This is imposed on people, not something they have chosen. USA may have its problems such as the fact the rich do have more power/influence but the living standards in general, as well as liberties are of much higher magnitude. The people in USA have ways to deal with these problems, none of this will ever fully happen in a system that is governed by a very small portion of the population. Perestroika now! Even the leaders should understand that they make things worse even for themselves by insisting on outdated Juche ideology.
Load More Replies... Echo 6 years ago
I kind of wonder to myself. What if South Korea just packed up along the border and just stopped guarding it. Would North Korea still stand their posts and Guard their side when no one else is there? Would they try to take advantage of the situation? Would they themselves just stop guarding as well. Could tensions be softened by such an action. To be honest what does having a few hundred people standing around at a border do against any real force that might attempt something. In the end Humans are so stupid as a group. So many issues we face that can so easily be resolved but we let things of our own creation hold us back. Like money, grudges, and sometimes governments.
Daria B 6 years ago
I wish it were as simple as just leaving the patrol, or abolishing the compulsory military service law itself, but no. Sadly, someone would take advantage, whether it's N. Korea, China, Russia, or any other country involved. The Korean conflict is politically a very international conflict in reality. Anyway, even with the boarders constantly guarded, the North does attack every now and then. Causing tensions, then diplomats go to work, and peace is restored. In 2011, if I remember correctly, there was an attack on civillians at an island nearby, in S. Korea. The most recent one was a couple of years ago, for the S. Korean speakers shouting propaganda into the boarders of the North. A deal was reached, but cca. a year later, the North broke the deal. I'd explain in further details, but there's not enough space left in the comment. Anyway, you get the picture.
Load More Replies...
Shannon McKee 6 years ago
The bad thing is, Kim Jong Un is fully aware of the state of his country but instead of improving it and turning it into a country he can truly be proud of, he just forbids pictures that show it in a negative light.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Michael Evans,i am not in USA lol.I read news from all the world ,i read in bulgarian,russian and english and what i see doesnt make dream to live in USA. Sileny Kralik, i bet you are from Poland...Do you remember the time when you used to come to my country for vacation?In Varna... it was a paradise for you. I still remember the little things my mother bought me from polish tourists ...they usually sell small things sitting on the sidewalk but this is in the past i like your politics right now Now you doing it much much better then we.This is what makes me very sad...when ii remember the past and see the reality right now
Alex Brokov 6 years ago
I hate my life as a single so much and then I go to comment and see the old broad on the cover and am snapped back to reality.
Ana T. 6 years ago
first of all mexico is not a country under a dictatorship , there are people that cant get jobs because of disability , in mexico sadly people dont get money for disability so they have to do things like selling on the streets, but many of street vendors are indigenous people that dont speak spanish and have recently migrate to the city, is nobody fault is their believes some dont even send their kids to school because they dont velive on education or cant affort education, education in mexico is not free like in usa , you have to pay a basic fee for your kid to get a spot at school and at high school you have to buy the books, we are talking about people that live in extreme poverty homeless,without family an a disability. in mexico people is allow to get a permit to sell in the street. is not a black market. USA too have homeless and selling on the street is not allow without permit and everyone critics and dont like the view of homeless so lets not be so hypocritical
Phillip Rowan 6 years ago
Photos can be taken in any country to show you what the photographer wants you to see. Even in the "West" ! , and most definitely USA who probably paid the photographer
Belinda Short 6 years ago
Can you please explain your comment? The person who wrote this article is not from the US, and they weren't showing necessarily bad things in all the photos just things that were against the rules.
Load More Replies...
Belinda Short 6 years ago
Your reaction to these photos isn't really helpful in any way. Of course it's possible to show people starving. The point is that in the DRPK more then 80% of the populace is starving and working poor. People are generally rural there and most of us do not want to have a war with North Korea. I don't know why you assume that is the point of these photos. If anything it would make us less likely to want to kill these soldiers who are clearly just doing their jobs. Have a little compassion and maybe a smidgeon of tact.
Load More Replies... 
Bob 2.0 6 years ago
Uh... what? This article is trying to show just how bizarre the situation the people of North Korea have to endure is. And why do you think we aren't living in freedom?
Load More Replies...
Jyri Hakola 6 years ago
Mixed feeling when looking these images. It's probably good to show the reality of life in North Korea but can't help thinking what consequences this kind of photos could cause 1st to people shown in the photos (and doing silly things under the portraits of "belowed leaders" ) and then to those guides whose task have been preventing of taking these photos. Happy camping and lot's of hard work ?
Suburbs 6 years ago
I agree. I fear for the safety of many of the people in these photos.
Load More Replies... Zero 6 years ago
This person refused to takedown photos when the North Korean government asked him to. He might have seen himself as a photographer shining a light in the darkness of the unknown, but he may very well have endangered the lives of everyone he took a clear photo of. Yes letting people know about what's going on is important, but showing people's faces so clearly, places all those people who shared their stories with him in danger. I cannot condone someone who places his personal agenda above the lives and well being of the already oppressed people he photographed. No matter the personal risk he took to get this, he places an even greater risks on the people who took photos of. What other journalists who cover North Korea do is take photos that protect their identities and or write about rather than photography it. That would have been less risky an endeavor than this and still served it's purpose of educating the world. The ends don't justify the means.
Karen Ang 6 years ago
I wonder if the photographer will even feel guilty if the subjects of his photos gets imprisoned or even killed for what he did here
Load More Replies... Nia Loves Art 6 years ago
Most of these are cool, but the ones that show people's faces makes me very concerned, especially if they are of people doing forbidden things.
KULJEET SINGH 6 years ago
I am worried about the people in these pictures.. someone may loose their life because he accidentally left the broom next to the statue of the "great leader". Is it worth putting innocent lives at risk for s few pics...not that anyone is going to do anything to ease their suffering..
Tiffany 6 years ago
That is the picture you are worried about??? That was like the ONLY picture that showed something forbidden that someone did that had no one in the picture!! How is someone supposed to lose their life for leaving a broom, when you don't know who did it?
Load More Replies... Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
So many things forbidden. I think I got that word imprinted now when thinking of North Korea :/ All this makes you wonder, how it's even possible that a country like that exists...
Echo 6 years ago
There a lot of examples in history that have shown us that this type system is all to easy to exist and continue existing.
Load More Replies... Kc Nordquist 6 years ago
I definitely think you should have blurred the faces of these people. Who knows what kind of retribution they might face if the government should see these?
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Stanimira Deleva I have grown up in socialism. Yes, we have had restrictions on travel outside the country.Yes, for the elite in the state there were many extras,but the people worked and earned a decent salary to live a dignified life.We had free education, inc free university.Free healtcare too...90% had their own homes too.Now we live in democracy. Only the rich live a normal life...no more than 30-40%. About 25% people really travel around the world but to work for miserable money to help their famalies home.Besause they,most of them maybe 40% of all of our people live in misery, total misery. Minimal salary 200 dollars and pension-120.So my dear,dont lie,come back home and see the reality
Load More Replies... Hayley Lightcap 6 years ago
I don't understand why he treats his people this way. That's probably an incredibly naive thing to say with the whole absolute power corrupts absolutely but still.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Im grown up behind the the iron curtain guys and i can tell you one thing.I dream we were not received your democracy...let me say why: We were on 16th place according to the UN standard of living.Super-developed economy and agriculture. Free education and medical care for absolutely all..work for all, and even import labor from China and Vietnam.every single person was important and protected, except for the rioters working against the power.But it was something that western democracy does not understand. So,they came and told us how to live in a democratic way ,they helped us to change the laws and the constitution.... Let me tell you the result:from 100% economy and agriculture - 5-10% left, high unemployment, many homeless, big criminality and corruption.You have transformed my homeland from paradise into a Third World country :(
Load More Replies... Kristy Ledington 5 years ago
I usually Don’t share my thoughts after reading articles on the Internet but I am going to share because I live in the United States of America and I am blessed to have freedom of speech. And blessed to be American These pictures and the other articles I have read about north Korea describing the laws they have to follow are set by A deranged liter my thought has been why is the rest of the world turning their backs on such cruelty and sadness I cannot understand why all the world leaders let a dictator that this deranged and narcissistic with his opinions and thoughts and Sick controlling laws allow this Individual and his regime exist in our world why would somebody want to negotiate or deal with someone like this there has got to be some sniper some army that won’t take this individual out and set these people free we have no problem doing it with Afghanistan Iran or other third world countries why would the rest of the world allow this to exist ?
Noelle Wille 6 years ago
Blurring the faces would have definitely diminished the impact, hopefully the journalist/photographer is 100% confident that the individuals will not be possible to trace.
Silent 6 years ago
What surprises me is the lack of follow-through my said guys after they demanded a picture be deleted. I would just have expected that they would have made sure these were deleted. And if it is the case that these are the few that slipped through the cracks.... Then what content was most guarded from our eyes? Sounds a lot like Gilead.
Paul Osborne 6 years ago
I know someone who has visited North Korea and it's really nothing like you see in the media.
Jyri Hakola 6 years ago
Mixed feeling when looking these images. It's probably good to show the reality of life in North Korea but can't help thinking what consequences this kind of photos could cause 1st to people shown in the photos (and doing silly things under the portraits of "belowed leaders" ) and to guides whose task have been preventing of taking these photos. Happy camping and lot's of work ?
Daria B 6 years ago
"Photographer Smuggles Illegal Photos Out Of North Korea, And Kim Jong Un Doesn’t Want You To See Them" I won't doubt or criticize this title, but.... If that's true, do I risk getting called by the police for clicking on this article? Because seriously, there is contents out there on the internet about N. Korea that are illegal and blocked in the South.
TheKnightOwl 6 years ago
Who the hell downvoted this? Daria B lives in South Korea, her comment is completely justified! What is wrong with Bored Panda lately, you can't have a slightly different opinion without being downvoted into oblivion.
Load More Replies... Danny Dubois Qi 4 years ago
How the hell did you not get kicked out? You keep mentioning how you got shouted at many times from taking pictures you weren't supposed to do, yet you managed to take them. Didn't they get annoyed at some point to threat you to kick you out or what lol?
Danny Dubois Qi 4 years ago
How the hell did you not get kicked out? You keep saying how you're not supposed to take these kind of pictures and often got shouted at for doing it, yet you managed to do it still lol.
Gerald E. Rotko 6 years ago
I'd refer to North Korea as a Sh-thole but the democrats would p**s and moan because that's their plan For the U.S.A.
Christian Lindgr 6 years ago
Non of the photos here is illegal, I have traveled to North Korea myself, and most of my photos Is exactly like yours..
Christian Lindgr 6 years ago
I've been to North Korea, and non of this photos is illegal.. I got almost exactly the same photos
Karla Thompson 6 years ago
My mom served in the Navy and did several drills in South Korea on the border of North Korea. She said it was like a dream, that there’s no way a country could be that backward and have such control over its people with the use of fear. She said she couldn’t believe her ears and eyes seeing the DMZ and knowing that beyond it was thousands of starving and impoverished citizens
Bradley Auerbach 6 years ago
Is it even legal to look at these photos in the US? I always clear my history after viewing these posts.
Belinda Short 6 years ago
Yes it's legal. It's referred to as freedom of the press. While being a US in the DRPK could get you in trouble, looking at banned images here make no difference as they are not banned in the US.
Load More Replies... Novi Dwi Prasetya 6 years ago
Someone needs to build some home-made long duration drones and get some secret footage of the place
Anika Barr 6 years ago
Just a heads up but the ritchlist youtube channel just stole your photos and are using them in a video
Kit 6 years ago
None of the photos show anything meaningful. The captions are needed to tell us this is for some reason "bad": a kid on a country road, a man painting a pretty picture, a boy and girl laughing as she touches his clothes, a train tunnel station with a number of well-dressed people on their way to work or school icluding a couple of healthy lokking schoolgirls holding hands... That malnutrition picture--his skin is clear, his lips are plump, his teeth look fine... he's just young and still growing, like many boys in their twenties. I could easily re-caption these and make it an article called: A Day In The Life Of [insert generic ethnically asian placename here] and show why this is a lovely place/ And Bored Panda would publish it happily.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Have a look here guys..See what Ukraine does in Donbass.in its own country in a part inhabited by ethnic Russians. Why American politicians continue to support the Nazi regime in Ukraine and to arm it.This is in Europe right now guys.Do you know why? Can you guess? The Horrors of the war on Donbass. The whole truth is uncensored...... https://www.facebook.com/100004740162798/videos/939155466252450/
Sam Brightbart 6 years ago
I know this is picky and beside the point but I don't understand why you used a capital letter at the start of each word in each caption. It made it difficult to read for me.
Wayne Willson 6 years ago
Largely propaganda, I would advise researching this article and taking it with a pinch of salt.
Kerry Ericksson 6 years ago
The Whole country looks pretty bleak and depressing.The only colorful vibrant person I saw was the Lady in Pink shopping,but then she was privileged.
Elizabeth Gardner 6 years ago
Thanks go to the photographer, it is a shocking regime that spends on its armaments but will not feed its people. It is an appalling way to live and to treat those people, The upper class should be ashamed but I guess they are not just glad it is not them. What is the age that they live too? going on the skin of some of the young men and the size of the children I am sure that starvation is manifest in the entire country.
Andrew Gill 6 years ago
Believe nothing the media tells you, only believe what you see with your own eyes, this article is utter c**p, just more BS so the American military have the support of the outraged brainwashed public to invade a country that has done no harm to anyone except refuse a central bank, same as Iran, Iraq, Syria etc etc
Jess Vaughn 4 years ago
The fact that you have to blame America for your sad, sad, pathetic country means I feel bad for you. If only you could be born with freedom to enjoy life with happiness, you would see that your life absolutely sucks SO bad!! We just want to help you people. You’re brainwashed and your lives SUCK!!
Load More Replies... Brenda Torres 6 years ago
Yes, I have mixed feelings too....Because I grew up in the 40's and I, also, saw similar struggles here in America! I call them 'The Unseen'...
Jennifer Voss 6 years ago
If Otto Warbier (American college student) was sentenced to years of hard labor for taking a poster, how did these photos get out of NK? This is the most horrible country. Young girls are taken to be Kim's sexy slaves at the age of 13, They imprison 3 generations of a family when anyone is suspected of political crimes (which can be anything) and worked for 16 hours a day and fed only corn. Kim should be hunted down and killed like the criminal he is!!!!!!
Daria B 6 years ago
The Otto Warber's case cannot be compared because what he has done was theft. He stole the poster. Sure, nobody deserves to be killed for stealing a poster, but it's far different from taking pictures with your own camera.
Load More Replies... zef rose 6 years ago
Interesting how these photographs are described and commented on. Each of them has a US equivalent. There are many places in the US where you can get arrested, or fined, or even beaten mercilessly by police for taking a picture. Hundreds of people resting on benches in the US actually are homeless. Buildings abound in every city, reduced to ruins. It is also illegal in this country to photograph military activities, banks and public buildings. Americans forget that only 60 years ago, the US bombed North Korea literally to dust, killed a full third of its population, and leveled punishing sanctions to further cripple this country. Nonetheless, they have completely rebuilt their country, their lives, and their culture. This is worthy of laud not ridicule. How many countries has NK invaded, and how many has the US invaded? The answers are zero and 139. Nukes? NK - 1, US - millions. Yet the comments on this article dutifully reflect the accepted party line. "Must hate North Korea."
Evgeny Smetanin 6 years ago
Recently I visited China on the border with North Korea. It was possible to photograph the Korean coast. Very beautiful nature! I would like to visit North Korea next time.
Anna Salerno 6 years ago
Everything seems to be forbidden in this drab country. I didn't see many smiling faces nor did I see flowers except for one picture there was a few wild flowers. How depressing for these lovely people. Come on now, to have computers but, then to have no electricity to use them. That short fat Rocket man needs to be eliminated and this country needs to come into the 21st century!!
A from Austria-Europe 6 years ago
Last sentence fits also for the dumb moron who is the President of the US.
Load More Replies... Svet Mirkovic 6 years ago
These pictures were taken 5-6 years ago? Your explanations for the images #2 and #3 are very unconvincig to me.
Jefri Pon 6 years ago
In USA there are many people homeless, jobless, malnutrition and etc, which need to be photograph and need help. All country has its own way.
Juha Yläoja 6 years ago
The problem with NK is that that is no choice to choose the leadership at all. which is why it is difficult to claim that it has its own way. This is imposed on people, not something they have chosen. USA may have its problems such as the fact the rich do have more power/influence but the living standards in general, as well as liberties are of much higher magnitude. The people in USA have ways to deal with these problems, none of this will ever fully happen in a system that is governed by a very small portion of the population. Perestroika now! Even the leaders should understand that they make things worse even for themselves by insisting on outdated Juche ideology.
Load More Replies... Echo 6 years ago
I kind of wonder to myself. What if South Korea just packed up along the border and just stopped guarding it. Would North Korea still stand their posts and Guard their side when no one else is there? Would they try to take advantage of the situation? Would they themselves just stop guarding as well. Could tensions be softened by such an action. To be honest what does having a few hundred people standing around at a border do against any real force that might attempt something. In the end Humans are so stupid as a group. So many issues we face that can so easily be resolved but we let things of our own creation hold us back. Like money, grudges, and sometimes governments.
Daria B 6 years ago
I wish it were as simple as just leaving the patrol, or abolishing the compulsory military service law itself, but no. Sadly, someone would take advantage, whether it's N. Korea, China, Russia, or any other country involved. The Korean conflict is politically a very international conflict in reality. Anyway, even with the boarders constantly guarded, the North does attack every now and then. Causing tensions, then diplomats go to work, and peace is restored. In 2011, if I remember correctly, there was an attack on civillians at an island nearby, in S. Korea. The most recent one was a couple of years ago, for the S. Korean speakers shouting propaganda into the boarders of the North. A deal was reached, but cca. a year later, the North broke the deal. I'd explain in further details, but there's not enough space left in the comment. Anyway, you get the picture.
Load More Replies... Shannon McKee 6 years ago
The bad thing is, Kim Jong Un is fully aware of the state of his country but instead of improving it and turning it into a country he can truly be proud of, he just forbids pictures that show it in a negative light.
Fani Kirilova 6 years ago
Michael Evans,i am not in USA lol.I read news from all the world ,i read in bulgarian,russian and english and what i see doesnt make dream to live in USA. Sileny Kralik, i bet you are from Poland...Do you remember the time when you used to come to my country for vacation?In Varna... it was a paradise for you. I still remember the little things my mother bought me from polish tourists ...they usually sell small things sitting on the sidewalk but this is in the past i like your politics right now Now you doing it much much better then we.This is what makes me very sad...when ii remember the past and see the reality right now
Alex Brokov 6 years ago
I hate my life as a single so much and then I go to comment and see the old broad on the cover and am snapped back to reality.
Ana T. 6 years ago
first of all mexico is not a country under a dictatorship , there are people that cant get jobs because of disability , in mexico sadly people dont get money for disability so they have to do things like selling on the streets, but many of street vendors are indigenous people that dont speak spanish and have recently migrate to the city, is nobody fault is their believes some dont even send their kids to school because they dont velive on education or cant affort education, education in mexico is not free like in usa , you have to pay a basic fee for your kid to get a spot at school and at high school you have to buy the books, we are talking about people that live in extreme poverty homeless,without family an a disability. in mexico people is allow to get a permit to sell in the street. is not a black market. USA too have homeless and selling on the street is not allow without permit and everyone critics and dont like the view of homeless so lets not be so hypocritical
Phillip Rowan 6 years ago
Photos can be taken in any country to show you what the photographer wants you to see. Even in the "West" ! , and most definitely USA who probably paid the photographer
Belinda Short 6 years ago
Can you please explain your comment? The person who wrote this article is not from the US, and they weren't showing necessarily bad things in all the photos just things that were against the rules.
Load More Replies... Belinda Short 6 years ago
Your reaction to these photos isn't really helpful in any way. Of course it's possible to show people starving. The point is that in the DRPK more then 80% of the populace is starving and working poor. People are generally rural there and most of us do not want to have a war with North Korea. I don't know why you assume that is the point of these photos. If anything it would make us less likely to want to kill these soldiers who are clearly just doing their jobs. Have a little compassion and maybe a smidgeon of tact.
Load More Replies... Bob 2.0 6 years ago
Uh... what? This article is trying to show just how bizarre the situation the people of North Korea have to endure is. And why do you think we aren't living in freedom?
Load More Replies... 
Related on Bored Panda
![“[Am I The Jerk] For Telling My Mom That It Was Very Obvious They Never Liked Me?”](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/mom-relationship-drama-coverimage.jpg)