1-This very picture actually took a huge of risk as the area the photo was taken is reserved for just locals only.
In fact, Michael recalled only having 5 seconds before he was kicked out.
Fortunately, he was able to take the photo without being seen.
2-These 50s-looking buildings are a perfect example of brutal architecture which used to dominate the landscape in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
These gloomy grey buildings might as well be a perfect metaphor for the personal and social well-being of pretty much every suffering North Korean.
3-If you ask Michael, North Korea for him is worse than what they show on the news.
It seemed to him that the officers working at, reportedly, the only foreign tourist entry point in North Korea were rushing about their business when they were arriving. One of the entry points that he witnessed was evidently deserted.
4-CNN reported that tourists who visit North Korea are deeply disappointed by the inability to explore the country on their own.
As every tour is organized and orchestrated by the state-run Korea International Travel Company, photos like this one of their countryside are really rare.We mentioned before that photos of soldiers are against the rule, so again, it’s a wonder how this one of a white pickup truck carrying soldiers slid past the border officers.
5-This is what rural North Korea looks like – miles and miles of green fields and nothingness.
6-What is a better indicator of poverty out there, than seeing unpaved roads, no cars, and peasants cycling and walking with no settlement in sight?
7-Just by looking at this seemingly normal photo we doubt that anyone would suspect it was taken in one of the most oppressed countries in the world
8-Michael recalls playing with fire when deciding to snap this photo of North Korea’s countryside showing villagers next to their bikes waiting for the train to pass.
In spite of photography being encouraged in controlled conditions, it is absolutely prohibited to take photos of uniformed officers such as the one of the picture.
9-Another photo that appears to be normal, shows North Koreans during their daily commute.
10-Michael remembers that all of the places their group was taken seemed to be nice and stage-managed, thus he was surprised to see this weird slum which reminded him of ‘communist-era Eastern Europe’.
The North Koreans on this photo surrounded by a socialist architecture of North Korean leaders are waiting to sell human waste which is used as fertilizer.
11-Why this photo most of us would find staged and ridiculous is because these street cleaners seem to be sweeping paths in of the biggest parks in Pyongyang which are perfectly clean.
There’s also that soldier in the photograph who tourists are not allowed to take photos of.
12-This picture shows North Korean workers on the main road walking and carrying equipment.
13-Michael along with six other people went to a restaurant as part of his tour where he managed to take a photo of this terrified waitress who refused to interact with them apart from taking their order.
14-These well-dressed people would not be considered an unusual sight in any other country, but North Korea is a different story.
15-The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge pictured above is one of the few entry points for foreigners from China into North Korea.
