The pictures are nice and interesting, but the text is not really. You are showing anecdotal evidence, and you obviously were even aware that tours were guided. Why should anything be checked if you experience only what is suited for showing? Political believes nonewithstanding, North Korea _is_ totalitarian and human rights _are_ violated.

I understand what you were going for, but I'm having trouble with the flippant tone of this post. You couldn't possibly "empirically experience North Korea" as you were allowed to see limited sites. You probably didn’t see overt oppression or prison camps while you were in Pyongyang. In fact, speaking with locals sans tour guide (pretty routine tourist behavior anywhere but in North Korea) could land you in jail as "attempted espionage." Perhaps some text acknowledging why others are hesitant to give the regime their tourist dollars may help balance the post?

You saw only what they wanted to show you, don't be naive.

are you kidding?! you casually throwing around your thoughts on poverty in asian countries shows how terribly affected by western white privilege you are. one photo-ONE PHOTO--of a north korean labour camp is enough to eclipse any illusion these photos allegedly dispel. you're worse than fake news--you're fake real news. you should be ashamed of yourself.

This article is just working to discredit the work don't by hundreds of aid originations. Good job playing into the hands of the propaganda

Let's take pictures of a country where people are send to camp to be killed with sometimes no reason at all, where millions of people died of starvation, where the leader is threatening the rest of the world to use nuclear weapon, so-called leader who is actually crazy batshit, and let's just say "hey, you know, it's not like they say it is, it's not all about propaganda". I'm sorry, but even if I understand the reason behind this post, it's bloody twisted and it's certainly not respectful at all for all the north korean who have to live on all that c**p day after day... Next time it will be "the places in Aleppo that are not destroyed as much as tv show you" ? I don't know, I think it's actually just bad taste :/

sorry but this is a classic example of 'bury your head in the sand'

@Joanna von Mruff Just stop it already. So ignorant. -.-

Um. This is ONE view of North Korea and you don't seem to realised how controlled and sanitized it might be. You get to walk in and then walk out again. North Koreans don't have this luxury of choice. Your position is rather arrogant.

why to highligh emic VS etic. Your narrative is full of bs. talk to a local. oh that's right. you can't. you are a moron "The main mean of transport is either by foot or by bike. That’s rather eco-friendly and Netherlandish of them, right?" no. no. its simpler that than. they can't afford them. let alone a camera.

How about you move there AND denounce your current citizenship so you have as much possibility to leave the country as NK citizens? As an alternative, may I suggest visiting the House of Terror at Budapest to catch a glimpse at how these wonderful regimes work?

You know your not supposed to take pictures of the North Korean leaders pictures? And why do those people in the picture labeled “A bus stop. The city lacks benches, so Koreans tend to squat” and they have an umbrella in the DAY!?!? And why in the title “I came across a group of children carrying flowers for the dear comrades Kim Ir Sung and Kim Jong Il” do you use “dear comrades” why!!!???And in the title "A typical ‘traffic jam’. Notice the red flags that are waving by the road; it is quite a common view” you want to tell me that a bunch of people on bikes are having a traffic jam when only high up people in North Korea can drive cars!!!!??!? And in the title “These gentlemen not only are just doing the all-so-important job of holding posters in place, but they also closely watch the tourists” they are “ closely watch the tourists” because there is a reason to closely watch the tourist!!! I don’t think if someone visits the UK, Canada, US, etc(except for NK) that they get watched!

Perhaps her tour guide was Dennis Rodman...

I wonder how this even made its way to Bored Panda. Maybe I'm the one who's naive, but I really thought that _everyone_ outside North Korea knew what at horrible regime this is. I recommend watching the excellent Danish documentary on the subject, The Red Chapel or "Kim Jong-Il's Comedy Club" (look it up at IMDB).

These pictures hurt. Why? Because you can feel a certain spirit of depression. Hard to explain, but I was born in East Germany before Germany was reunited and these pictures remind me a lot of my childhood. No, it wasn't bad and we had enough food and it's probably not to compare with North Korea, but still the people were fed up with the system and changed it.

Unbelievable evasion.

Notice how thin those people are? Because of famine caused by mismanagement and corruption by the leadership.

Awesome photos and I hope you enjoyed your travel.

Is this a joke?

This is what I dont understand about tourist bus tourists. Yes, you visited the city and you saw some sites but you never walked outside of what was told to you. Never researched or explored. So you have a limited view of what you are told you should see and nothing more. The difference here is you are not allowed to see outside of the tour bus route. I've been told a million times by many US tourists that New york City is loud, rude and dirty. And yes some are true but if you dont leave midtown / times square then your viewpoint is limited and not complete.

I get your point of propaganda, ours vs theirs but there is no need to seek to defend Kim and his ilk. they live in terrible oppression and even the well off north Koreans are considered poor to the rest of the world. if you commit a crime they can throw your whole family in jail, especially if you ever get the crazy idea of trying to escape. my close friend escaped over 10 years ago. the stuff she went through to get out really made my skin crawl.

Thank you !

There is much to see in these photos: - the line-ups - the absence of traffic - the impression that people have to walk great distances - possibly a lack of photos from "rush" hour - the "kiosk" retail model - the impression of super-tight control on everything - the scarcity of benches and other random stuff (i.e. fire hydrants, signs) At the same time, the photos also ~seem~ to show that the situation is not quite as dire as we might have thought. We just have no way of knowing how much of the surface the photographer was permitted to scratch. It isn't specifically mentioned whether it was possible to go out on your own and explore. A "tight schedule" has never prevented me from going out on my own in any country, including a couple of communist, I've visited. So I think it would have been good if the author could have been more clear about that. Was she strictly prevented from leaving the tour-approved itinerary or leaving the hotel on her own? Did she ask to and get refused?

This world is f****d if you guys really give a s**t about the world's problems do something about it then I like the picks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyqUw0WYwoc

For me, the question is, would you live there as an ordinary citizen (speaking the language, of course)on the economy, subject to the laws?

These pictures are beautiful but they don't support the title. No one ever said N.K. wasn't beautiful.