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North Korea - footage of life (33 photos)
Last September, North Korea, the last Stalinist state in the world, celebrated its sixtieth anniversary. In this closed society dominated by an extreme degree of totalitarianism and for the citizens it is very difficult, and may even be completely impossible to receive news from the outside world. It is also almost impossible to get objective information about how people live in this country. Most of the photos of North Korea, which fall in the media or produces itself a totalitarian system, or approved by it (all the people who visit the DPRK are limited in moving around the country). However, considering all these photos, you can get a glimpse of life in present-day North Korea. The selection, in addition to photo provided by the North Korean news agencies, also has pictures taken at the border, and the famous photographer Eric Laforgue, who recently visited North Korea, and held there for some time, shares his impressions.
View of the North Korean village, used for propaganda purposes, from the observatory Yeolsoe 62 kilometers north of Seoul August 27 2008. (REUTERS / Jo Yong-Hak)
Man grimeet by boat along the bank of the Yalu River. On the background can be seen one of the ruined bridge that once linked China and North Korea. Picture taken September 12, 2008 near the town of Qing Cheng, 50 km north of the Chinese border city of Dandong. (REUTERS / David Gray)
The girl-soldier goes on a rural road. Photographer Eric Lafforgue: "I do not know how and where they go and what they do, but when I was in the countryside, then met a lot of strolling soldiers ...". (© Eric Lafforgue)
Houses along the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea. Picture taken 10 September 2008. (AP Photo / Yonhap, Baek Seung-yul)
The boat carrying North Korean soldiers floating in the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, 50 km north of the Chinese border city of Dandong. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Amateur Athlete of the "Association of the Yalu River swimmers" floating near the border town of Sinuiju on the Chinese border September 12, 2008. In the warmer months, every day hundreds of Chinese swimmers swim in a narrow Yalu River, which separates their country from North Korea. Many of them cross the 500 meter river and rest on the shore of the Korean. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Korean down the stairs. On the background can be seen the abandoned industrial complex on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. Picture taken 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Girl soldiers patrolling the shore of the Yalu River, looks out from behind a tree. Picture taken near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, near the Chinese border city of Dandong September 12 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
These photos taken from a tourist boat, you can see North Korean soldiers sitting at the army barracks. The shore of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong from 13 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Eric Lafforgue: "Freeway in North Korea - a huge and neglected. They are so wide that there could land the plane. You can often see children playing right in the middle of the road. Founded issue here - is security, because as children and elderly people are not used to seeing cars, they can cross the road in the most unexpected places, not looking around. But highways travels exclusively military transport. Quite often, these machines break down and stand by the roadside. Occasionally at high speed rush novёhonkie Mercedes belonging to high-ranking North Korean officials. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Two North Korean soldiers look towards South Korea in the village of Panmunjom, located in the demilitarized zone. Picture taken in the Thursday, 11 September 2008. (AP Photo / Lee Jin-man)
Three North Korean girls walk past his house on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. September 12, 2008. In August 2008 the UN World Food Programme called for the country to separate the political concepts of the concepts of humanitarian assistance and to collect 60 million. Dollars. United States, to help North Korea avoid the biggest with 1990 food crisis. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Korean woman washes in the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Military Family rides a scooter along the shore of the Yalu River near the town of Qing Cheng. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Eric Lafforgue: "View of Pyongyang Hotel Yanggakdo. You can find the famous photo of the Korean Peninsula, made from the satellite at night, which shows the difference in luminance between the north and south. In North Korea, there is no street lighting, and the house lights people use very low power. During the day the capital of North Korea looks as surreal as the night. Because of the fuel crisis, there is almost no nightlife. Sanctifies only monuments during public holidays. Every hour, from 6 am to midnight, from the speakers comes the patriotic song. Tourists are strictly forbidden to leave the hotel and walk around the city, despite the fact that Pyongyang is a safe city. Those are the rules. " (© Eric Lafforgue)
View streets of Pyongyang. On the horizon in the center of the photo is visible Ryugyong Hotel, Venue skyscraper 330 meters, whose construction was suspended in 1992. Eric Lafforgue: "On Sundays in Pyongyang traffic prohibited, except vehicles belonging to the army and the government. Officials claim that this is necessary to prevent environmental pollution. "
Senior North Korean officials are taking part in a rally to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the DPRK. Photo courtesy of the official news agency of North Korea on September 8, 2008. On a huge national flag and the portrait of the founder of the "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung. On the right side the inscription: "Let's celebrate the 60th anniversary." North Korea Foundation Day - September 9th. (REUTERS / KCNA)
North Korean civilian and military at the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of North Korea in Pyongyang, September 9, 2008. Photo courtesy of the official news agency of North Korea 10 September 2008. (REUTERS / KCNA)
In this photo provided by the Chinese news agency "Xinhua", female soldiers marching at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, while civilians are bright garlands, forming a large-scale painting. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)
North Korean military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
Female calculation of anti-aircraft installation during the parade at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
Thousands of North Koreans gathered to watch and participate in the military parade on the main square of Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
The group of North Korean soldiers at rest. Eric Lafforgue: "Shoot a smiling soldier - not an easy task! (a play on words in the sentence: "shoot» - shoot and shoot.) & quot; (© Eric Lafforgue)
Military talking to a woman during the mass games in Pyongyang on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
More than 100 thousand people participated in the Mass Games in Pyongyang on August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
Female gymnasts are involved in the mass games in Pyongyang on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
Hundreds of young women involved in the mass games in Pyongyang on September 12 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Eric Lafforgue: "A ray of light during Mass Games" Hail and prosper our country. " I think more people participated in presentation than watching him! It was an amazing sight. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Also Mass Games in North Korea and held a mass dance. The photo - a girl participant in the mass dance on April 15, 2008. Eric Lafforgue: "More than 100,000 dancers were standing on a giant square. The audience was invited to join them. Live music was played. The show lasted for an hour and then turned off the light, and less than 5 minutes the square was empty, and everyone went home through the dark streets of Pyongyang. " (© Eric Lafforgue)
The girl takes the patriotic songs during a concert in the school Mangyongdae. 17 April 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
A child on the background of a residential building in Pyongyang. April 12, 2008. Eric Lafforgue: "In fact, all children with their parents participated in the rehearsals of mass games. Therefore, all the houses and streets were completely empty. It looked very unusual ... ". (© Eric Lafforgue)
Korean young people holding colored books card, through which formed the background picture during Mass Games September 12 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
View of the North Korean village, used for propaganda purposes, from the observatory Yeolsoe 62 kilometers north of Seoul August 27 2008. (REUTERS / Jo Yong-Hak)
Man grimeet by boat along the bank of the Yalu River. On the background can be seen one of the ruined bridge that once linked China and North Korea. Picture taken September 12, 2008 near the town of Qing Cheng, 50 km north of the Chinese border city of Dandong. (REUTERS / David Gray)
The girl-soldier goes on a rural road. Photographer Eric Lafforgue: "I do not know how and where they go and what they do, but when I was in the countryside, then met a lot of strolling soldiers ...". (© Eric Lafforgue)
Houses along the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea. Picture taken 10 September 2008. (AP Photo / Yonhap, Baek Seung-yul)
The boat carrying North Korean soldiers floating in the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, 50 km north of the Chinese border city of Dandong. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Amateur Athlete of the "Association of the Yalu River swimmers" floating near the border town of Sinuiju on the Chinese border September 12, 2008. In the warmer months, every day hundreds of Chinese swimmers swim in a narrow Yalu River, which separates their country from North Korea. Many of them cross the 500 meter river and rest on the shore of the Korean. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Korean down the stairs. On the background can be seen the abandoned industrial complex on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. Picture taken 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Girl soldiers patrolling the shore of the Yalu River, looks out from behind a tree. Picture taken near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, near the Chinese border city of Dandong September 12 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
These photos taken from a tourist boat, you can see North Korean soldiers sitting at the army barracks. The shore of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong from 13 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Eric Lafforgue: "Freeway in North Korea - a huge and neglected. They are so wide that there could land the plane. You can often see children playing right in the middle of the road. Founded issue here - is security, because as children and elderly people are not used to seeing cars, they can cross the road in the most unexpected places, not looking around. But highways travels exclusively military transport. Quite often, these machines break down and stand by the roadside. Occasionally at high speed rush novёhonkie Mercedes belonging to high-ranking North Korean officials. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Two North Korean soldiers look towards South Korea in the village of Panmunjom, located in the demilitarized zone. Picture taken in the Thursday, 11 September 2008. (AP Photo / Lee Jin-man)
Three North Korean girls walk past his house on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. September 12, 2008. In August 2008 the UN World Food Programme called for the country to separate the political concepts of the concepts of humanitarian assistance and to collect 60 million. Dollars. United States, to help North Korea avoid the biggest with 1990 food crisis. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Korean woman washes in the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Military Family rides a scooter along the shore of the Yalu River near the town of Qing Cheng. 12 September 2008. (REUTERS / David Gray)
Eric Lafforgue: "View of Pyongyang Hotel Yanggakdo. You can find the famous photo of the Korean Peninsula, made from the satellite at night, which shows the difference in luminance between the north and south. In North Korea, there is no street lighting, and the house lights people use very low power. During the day the capital of North Korea looks as surreal as the night. Because of the fuel crisis, there is almost no nightlife. Sanctifies only monuments during public holidays. Every hour, from 6 am to midnight, from the speakers comes the patriotic song. Tourists are strictly forbidden to leave the hotel and walk around the city, despite the fact that Pyongyang is a safe city. Those are the rules. " (© Eric Lafforgue)
View streets of Pyongyang. On the horizon in the center of the photo is visible Ryugyong Hotel, Venue skyscraper 330 meters, whose construction was suspended in 1992. Eric Lafforgue: "On Sundays in Pyongyang traffic prohibited, except vehicles belonging to the army and the government. Officials claim that this is necessary to prevent environmental pollution. "
Senior North Korean officials are taking part in a rally to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the DPRK. Photo courtesy of the official news agency of North Korea on September 8, 2008. On a huge national flag and the portrait of the founder of the "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung. On the right side the inscription: "Let's celebrate the 60th anniversary." North Korea Foundation Day - September 9th. (REUTERS / KCNA)
North Korean civilian and military at the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of North Korea in Pyongyang, September 9, 2008. Photo courtesy of the official news agency of North Korea 10 September 2008. (REUTERS / KCNA)
In this photo provided by the Chinese news agency "Xinhua", female soldiers marching at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, while civilians are bright garlands, forming a large-scale painting. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)
North Korean military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
Female calculation of anti-aircraft installation during the parade at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
Thousands of North Koreans gathered to watch and participate in the military parade on the main square of Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung. 9 September 2008. (AP Photo / Kyodo News)
The group of North Korean soldiers at rest. Eric Lafforgue: "Shoot a smiling soldier - not an easy task! (a play on words in the sentence: "shoot» - shoot and shoot.) & quot; (© Eric Lafforgue)
Military talking to a woman during the mass games in Pyongyang on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
More than 100 thousand people participated in the Mass Games in Pyongyang on August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
Female gymnasts are involved in the mass games in Pyongyang on Wednesday, August 13, 2008. (AP Photo / Wally Santana)
Hundreds of young women involved in the mass games in Pyongyang on September 12 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Eric Lafforgue: "A ray of light during Mass Games" Hail and prosper our country. " I think more people participated in presentation than watching him! It was an amazing sight. (© Eric Lafforgue)
Also Mass Games in North Korea and held a mass dance. The photo - a girl participant in the mass dance on April 15, 2008. Eric Lafforgue: "More than 100,000 dancers were standing on a giant square. The audience was invited to join them. Live music was played. The show lasted for an hour and then turned off the light, and less than 5 minutes the square was empty, and everyone went home through the dark streets of Pyongyang. " (© Eric Lafforgue)
The girl takes the patriotic songs during a concert in the school Mangyongdae. 17 April 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
A child on the background of a residential building in Pyongyang. April 12, 2008. Eric Lafforgue: "In fact, all children with their parents participated in the rehearsals of mass games. Therefore, all the houses and streets were completely empty. It looked very unusual ... ". (© Eric Lafforgue)
Korean young people holding colored books card, through which formed the background picture during Mass Games September 12 2008. (© Eric Lafforgue)
