Is Taking Pictures of North Korea Illegal?
What Happens If You Take a Photo of North Korea?
Taking pictures in the DMZ is easy, but they stop you if you come too close to the soldiers.
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.
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.
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.
Man bathing in a river near his town.
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!
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.