Were you guided the whole trip while you were there? Its awesome you got to see the place, thx for the pics!

I am just curious if you were out and about on your own or with NK watching you. I once read a blog about 2 guys who went into NK by train from russia, and that was the only way they could get in without having it be a "tour". It was a great blog, no idea where it is tho D: lots of pics.

How were people looking at you when you walked around? or did they just ignore the fact? =o would be such a interesting trip to go on.

tyCe

Australia2542 Posts

October 12 2011 08:08 GMT

#22

Amazing. I'm so envious.

Can you tell us a little more about your trip?

Meet any NK buddies?

Primadog

United States4411 Posts

October 12 2011 08:09 GMT

#23

I have seen major news organizations that still features dated image of that triangular hotel. Yours is truly impressive!

rolfe

United Kingdom1266 Posts

October 12 2011 08:13 GMT

#24

awesome blog

there was an amazing tv show in britain years ago called holidays in the axis of evil i think where this guy travelled to all of the 'axis of evil' countries and ever since i've been a little fascinated by these places. have you (or anyone else) read the aquariums of pyongyang? i've heard its wonderful and thinking of getting it

procyonlotor

Italy473 Posts

October 12 2011 08:20 GMT

#25

Very nice, Op, you privilege us with your post. I'm sure there are any number of news organizations who would be happy to take those photos off your hands. Do you do freelance work, journalism?

Grettin

42415 Posts

October 12 2011 08:29 GMT

#26

Damn this is amazing blog. Would like to visit NK some time. 5/5 and thanks for sharing.

Was it hard to get there? Could you tell us how did you "book" the trip, how much it costs, what to take into consideration and all that? I assume it was pretty guided trip?

CoolSea

United States236 Posts

October 12 2011 08:33 GMT

#27

This is amazing. I've always had a huge interest in the DPRK, and have read several books about the war, the people, their ideology, and the daily life of North Koreans. Recent pictures of the country are extremely hard to come by so it is very nice to see these. I especially like the one of the man riding his bike under the Juche Tower. It must have been a life changing experience visiting there, sadly as a US citizen it will be virtually impossible for me to ever travel there. Thanks a bunch for sharing these with us.

Asha

United Kingdom38257 Posts

October 12 2011 08:41 GMT

#28

On October 12 2011 17:06 actionbastrd wrote:
I am just curious if you were out and about on your own or with NK watching you. I once read a blog about 2 guys who went into NK by train from russia, and that was the only way they could get in without having it be a "tour". It was a great blog, no idea where it is tho D: lots of pics.

http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/

Really great read.

===

Amazing blog Borny, some really stunning photos =)

29 fps

United States5725 Posts

October 12 2011 08:48 GMT

#29

how did u get permission to take pictures?　or did you sneak them?

and good idea with the memory cards thing. i will remember that if i ever go!

Synwave

United States2803 Posts

October 12 2011 09:12 GMT

#30

Really curious what that last photo is of with all the boomboxes. A class of some sort but if so why the gear?

Neat pictures and a tiny little window into N. Korea, thank you for this.

Kiett

United States7639 Posts

October 12 2011 09:32 GMT

#31

Wow, I can't believe you actually had a chance to go into North Korea. I think to most of the world, the place is quite a paradox, a mystery. It looks modernized, and yet we hear so much about poverty. I've previously seen photos of university students going on the internet at the library, and it genuinely confused me. The concept of internet is freedom of information, connecting the world together. If they block every website originating from outside of NK, does that not defeat the purpose of having internet altogether? I just cant fathom what it must be like to live within a veil of propaganda and censorship. Did the citizens not stop and ask you what life was like outside of the borders? Do they ever wonder if there's something more? It's just so fascinating. Thank you for these photos.

DNB

Finland995 Posts

October 12 2011 09:36 GMT

#32

Hello, as a beginner Korean learner myself, I managed to translate some of the propaganda posters and just thought to share a few of them — The others I could not fully read due to the text extending out of the photo or just small font.

위대한 어머니당에 최대의 영광을!
Literally: The biggest honor for the great Labor Party!

일심단결을 더욱 강화하자!
Let's keep strengthening our unity!

1st poster (second line): 세계적인 도시로 훌륭히 꾸리자!
Lit: Let's gloriously pack up for the global city (Not sure about the first line since I could not translate 평잉)

2nd poster: 혁명의 수뇌부(를/들) 중심으로 천만군인이 일심단결하자!
This one was more difficult, literally something along the lines of: Let's unify our tens of millions of people by the very heart of our revolutionary leading members of the government!

I tried translating posters 3 and 4 but they came off as too vague and 5th was too small to read clearly. Maybe someone fluent in Korean can clarify.

Edit: Also a question, what kind of a job are you engaging in in China, and how did you get it?

Ryo

8787 Posts

October 12 2011 09:50 GMT

#33

On October 12 2011 18:32 seraphe wrote:
Wow, I can't believe you actually had a chance to go into North Korea. I think to most of the world, the place is quite a paradox, a mystery. It looks modernized, and yet we hear so much about poverty. I've previously seen photos of university students going on the internet at the library, and it genuinely confused me. The concept of internet is freedom of information, connecting the world together. If they block every website originating from outside of NK, does that not defeat the purpose of having internet altogether? I just cant fathom what it must be like to live within a veil of propaganda and censorship. Did the citizens not stop and ask you what life was like outside of the borders? Do they ever wonder if there's something more? It's just so fascinating. Thank you for these photos.

The pictures are just Pyongyang. The countrysides would be different.

Game

3191 Posts

October 12 2011 10:02 GMT

#34

This is beyond awesome. Just the photos draw appreciation, seeing something of the country. Would like to hear an unbiased tale of the trip, and then what you actually thought of it.

zatic

Zurich15366 Posts

October 12 2011 10:27 GMT

#35

I call bull shit on on your ass.

The pictures you posted from the Arirang Festival are from 2005 and 2007 and available on many major stock photo sites like this one http://www.superstock.com/stock-photography/North Korea and this one http://www.massgames-pictures.com/pictures_04_e.htm . It's also painfully obvious that all these pictures have been taken with different cameras.

This year's Arirang Festival also ended September 1st, so that doesn't check out too if you were there last week as you said.

If you want to post pictures from North Korea just do it and don't make up stories about being there.

Edit: OP explained this, I retract my statement.

GTR

51691 Posts

October 12 2011 11:13 GMT

#36

T0fuuu

Australia2275 Posts

October 12 2011 11:41 GMT

#37

On October 12 2011 16:38 tok wrote:
[image loading]

I really like this picture, makes the country look less scary. Also I think you're really lucky to see what you did. Hopefully some day Korea will just be Korea.

It looks pretty scary to me. Notice how there are no cars? Its the same with every other city shot, theres almost no vehicles on 8 lane roads and only a handful of pedestrians. Pretty quiet...

Bunn

Estonia934 Posts

October 12 2011 11:54 GMT

#38

On October 12 2011 20:41 T0fuuu wrote:
It looks pretty scary to me. Notice how there are no cars? Its the same with every other city shot, theres almost no vehicles on 8 lane roads and only a handful of pedestrians. Pretty quiet...

There's one.

borny

China481 Posts

October 12 2011 11:55 GMT

#39

On October 12 2011 19:27 zatic wrote:
I call bull shit on on your ass.

The pictures you posted from the Arirang Festival are from 2005 and 2007 and available on many major stock photo sites like this one http://www.superstock.com/stock-photography/North Korea and this one http://www.massgames-pictures.com/pictures_04_e.htm . It's also painfully obvious that all these pictures have been taken with different cameras.

This year's Arirang Festival also ended September 1st, so that doesn't check out too if you were there last week as you said.

If you want to post pictures from North Korea just do it and don't make up stories about being there.

I sent you a PM with proof of me going to North Korea. Once you have read it and are convinced, remove your slanderous post as it hurts my feelings :'(

Edit: Also, I should have made clear that all the photos are not taken by me. A majority aren't. It is my group of friends who took those pictures together and I just picked the ones I liked the most. I never wanted to take credit for others photos, just share an amazing experience.

Edit2: Read under "recent news" on this website and you will see that the Mass Games were extended to October 10 in 2011. And you guys do realize the Mass Games are pretty much the same every year?

Velr

Switzerland10950 Posts

October 12 2011 12:39 GMT

#40

On October 12 2011 16:41 marttorn wrote:
Ahh I've been wanting to go to North Korea for a long time. It's easier said than done I can imagine. 5/5

A guided tour to North Korea is nothing really "hard/difficult" for most europeans? At least my "lonely planet" said so and tehse are normally right?

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