MUST SEE: Great photos of North Korea

by Bobby McGill on October 19, 2012

Back in 1998 Kim Jong-il vowed that by 2012 North Korea would become a “strong and prosperous country.”

That hasn’t worked out quite as well as promised, but Niall Cavanagh was up north over the summer and writes about it for Haps.

By far most impressive is the collection of photos he brought back from his trip. Great stuff.

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

1 fanwarrior October 19, 2012 at 10:49 pm: would have been nice if the grocery store shot was clearer. Would have liked to see what the prices were.
2 PeterDownUnder October 19, 2012 at 11:20 pm: Surprised to see the variety in the fashion.

Where does this market come from? Chinese goods? kinda expected them to be all wearing state made uniforms but seems theres some form of open market.
3 CactusMcHarris October 20, 2012 at 12:18 am: CBC reported this morning that North Korean threatened to attack if another leaflet drop takes place. Plus la change…
4 CactusMcHarris October 20, 2012 at 12:22 am: Bobby,

And thanks for the post – the pics are something one doesn’t normally see, and your linked photo above is sexy.
5 Bendrix October 20, 2012 at 12:26 am: Hello, foxy lady in the sundress. Let’s put aside our political differences and unite.
6 CactusMcHarris October 20, 2012 at 1:47 am: Does anyone know how he gained access to the countryside? I thought that was offlimits for non-NKs?
7 Brendon Carr October 20, 2012 at 5:52 am: Does anyone know how he gained access to the countryside? I thought that was offlimits for non-NKs?

Don’t tell this guy.

A lot of us are champing at the bit at the legal work which is to come. There is a lot of infrastructure to be built in DPRK and it will have to be bid and financed.

For example, North Korea could get itself a free highway and possibly some revenue by allowing Chinese and South Korean investors to construct a toll road to connect Seoul to Northeastern China for truck transport.
8 platethief October 20, 2012 at 8:48 am: Wow, stunning photos.

Could almost make one believe it’s not a savagely totalitarian, poverty-stricken hell-hole.
9 CactusMcHarris October 20, 2012 at 9:29 am: Uncle B,

Thanks for that link – I’ve seen some of them before, but that’s real helpful (I’ll put it in my favourites). I wonder how he got that access…

Much obliged,

Jeff
10 KrZ October 20, 2012 at 9:30 am: Heyyyyyyy, commie lady.
11 CactusMcHarris October 20, 2012 at 9:31 am: #10,

You had to do that. Back to the sungma is what the voices say…
12 Brendon Carr October 20, 2012 at 1:05 pm: Thanks for that link – I’ve seen some of them before, but that’s real helpful (I’ll put it in my favourites). I wonder how he got that access…

It’s much easier than people think. I’ve managed to go to North Korea four times now, and have seen a lot of countryside, but I’m not a photography guy and take very few pictures. And what pictures I take, I end up misplacing anyhow.

If you want to see the countryside, buy a train ticket and enter overland through Dandong. The Niall Cavanagh pictures look to have been taken during a train trip. It has a few stops of 10-15 minutes’ duration along the way, and the passenger can see a lot of scrubby rural Korea that way. Then, simply ask to see the tourist sites that North Koreans themselves visit — a car will be arranged and then it’s off on a merry drive you go, with all the adventures that attend.
13 Bobby McGill October 20, 2012 at 3:35 pm: @ Brendon. Thanks for the tips. I gotta get up there next summer. No problem for Miguks?
14 Honest_abels March 6, 2013 at 12:03 am: The North Korean mountains and countryside are undeniably beautiful, but simultaneously stained with oppression and violence.