Incredible North Korea Hidden Inside Photos #10 is horrifying

Incredible North Korea Hidden Inside Photos #10 is horrifying

Newsweek

On 5/21/18 at 6:56 AM

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.

 

The people seem to go about their ordinary lives just like in any other country in the world, but most of them have either been victims of or know someone who suffered abuse in the form of enslavement, imprisonment, forced abortions and torture.

…so sad

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.

Another photo that appears to be normal, shows North Koreans during their daily commute.

 

Every other country in the world would not find this photo threatening, but Kim’s administration is notorious for being very secretive and does not allow unstaged photos like this one to be taken.

Tourists are encouraged to photograph only “designated places that are well-maintained”.

  

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.

  

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.

This picture shows North Korean workers on the main road walking and carrying equipment.

  

Michael stated that the poverty he encountered was expected and that the lack of technological resources only worsens the oppression.

However, one thing he did not realize is the mental strain on the people there that they had to endure on a daily basis

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.

  

He reports that while they were there the TV was constantly on playing propaganda.

The rest of the guests in the restaurant pretended as though they could not see them and did also not initiate any sort of interaction.

These well-dressed people would not be considered an unusual sight in any other country, but North Korea is a different story.

  

Even though Michael is unable to prove that this particular scene was staged, he strongly believes that it was the case as there were no other trains scheduled to arrive or depart that very same day.

The station also had a waiting room which, of course, is typically empty.

Bringing things into North Korea from the outside world is strictly prohibited.

  

On this photo, Michael has captured the customs declaration form he was given an entry which states that it is illegal to bring in laptops, Korean movies and even guidebooks.

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.

You are probably wondering what are those watchtowers doing there in the middle of nowhere.

  

Well, due to the regime and the poverty many North Koreans are trying to flee to China, but Kim is determined to stop them at all costs.

The hills barren of trees and the guards make it more and more difficult for North Koreans to escape their terrible fate.

China has been described as North Korea’s ‘lifeline’ with the outside world and this picture shows why.

  

Just across the river from the poorly governed and oppressed country lies China with its tall skyscrapers and modern infrastructure.

If there is a picture worth a thousand words, then this is the one.

The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge pictured above is one of the few entry points for foreigners from China into North Korea.

An interesting fact about this country is that it goes completely dark at night, making it easier to spot from the sky nestled between bright South Korea and China.

Driving trucks and cars is unseen and unheard of in North Korea.

Instead, people ride bicycles, walk and ride carriages in the countryside.

  

CNBC report revealed that for women it is again illegal to ride bikes – it seems that Kim Jung Unchanged his mind after he lift the ban off his father’s absurd law last year.

The city of Pyongyang is a complete contrast to rural North Korea.

  

Michael and the rest of the groups saw a number of vehicles and nicely dressed people.

However, they could not talk to any of them as their guides appointed by the country’s Ministry of Tourism closely followed their every move.

Apart from that, they were told when to go to bed and when to wake up too.