North Korea beyond the controls

North Korea - beyond the controls

Little is known about what really goes on inside the DPRK. The few glipses that people outside the country get, tend to be focused on the machinations of power in Pyongyang, often seen in the West as a political themepark. Access to places beyond Pyongyang is severely restricted but in September 2013 I embarked on a tour that opened up the country and its inhabitants to the camera lens - perhaps for the first time in 60 years. My trip revealed a staggeringly beautiful unspoilt landscape of mountains, valleys and rivers. I discovered people who were simply getting on with their lives, not afraid to engage with the camera .and allowing themselves to follow their natural curiosity.

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Street scene in Pyongyang	Revolutionary poster
Children in the city of Hamhung	Boys in Hamhung
School party in Hamhung	A guide in the city of Hamhung
Hamhung - street	Street scene in Hamhung
Hamhung street scene	Fertiliser factory in Wonsan
Woman in Wonsan	The view from the train
En route to Wonsan	Country traveller
Country traveller	Pyongyang railway staff
Pyongyang - museum guide	Children in Pyongyang
Kims highlighted in PY	Required reading This is from a book shop in Pyongyang where every book is related to the Juche idea and/or written by one of the Kim family
Metro The metro is apparently the deepest underground railway in Asia. The great leader had blast doors installed and doubles up as a very large nuclear bunker	Gathering the news in PY
Travellers On their way apparently to help construction with a large ski resort.	PY street scene The pyramidal structure is apparently one of the tallest buildings in Asia - its a hotel, 102 floors, unused and still under construction. It reminds me of the early Flash Gordon series with Buster Crabbe.
Workers building a retaining wall	Beautiful landscapes
Catching dinner in Wonsan	Station protector
Wonsan rally This appeared to be a mass gathering for enthusiastic school children	Extolling the virtues of science This poster adorned the wall of a fertiliser factory in Hamhung
the Manager This is the manager of the Fertiliser factory who explained how productive they were. The yellow bags of fertiliser demonstrate the production efficiency	Village near Wonsan
Valley and mountains	Wash day We passed many people literally washing their dirty clothes in public.
Highland scenery	Girls on a train Near the town of Hamju I captured the interest of two young women!
Pyongyang cityscape The view from the hotel Koryo looks down upon what is described as the forbidden city. It allegedly houses only those who are loyal to the Kim family and access is prohibited to anyone else.	Pyongyange before the storm broke
Industry and endeavour	Children near Hyangsang Most kids were uninhibited and waved enthusiastically
children in Hyangsang	DPRK countryside
Children in Hyansang	Outskirts of Pyongyang
Young men in Pyongyang	Country road
Roller skating in Pyongyang	Guarding the North Korean railways
Land worker The small watchtower is actually the land worker's home whilst out in the fields	A group of land workers
Land girls! The DPRK's impassive face cracks a little the further one goes from Pyongyang	DPRK family
The daily commute	A wood burning truck
After work, rest and contemplation.	Miles to go!
Farmer and oxen	DPRK children's day out
Child labour	Two women
Railway track worker He wasn't quite sure whether to scowl or wave.	Five year old child He was about to point his stick at us and berate us!
DPRK countryside	DPRK countryside
Soldier guarding a railway tunnel	On the way to market Railway tracks are used as pedestrian highways
Hand washing in the river	DPRK provincial town
Guarding the trains	The school run
Skyscraper construction	Railway guard Our minder was just about to berate me for taking this photo
Soldiers on leave	Soldier on leave Pyongyang railway
Landworkers	Farmer with scythe
Temple guide	Fertiliser factory
Traveller	Travellers
Land girls	Troop train
Tram driver and conductress Pyongyan The stars on the tram each denote 50,000km without incident	Hand washing clothes in river
Pyongyang station staff	Roller skating in front of flame
North Korean national team