Kim and get it!

North Korea is not the easiest place to see or make sense of. Here are 312 photos to prove it. While I can't tell you much about what it is like to actually live there, I still hope I can improve your understanding of what goes on in this part of the world somewhat.

There's already too much sensationalism and simply silly "information" about North Korea making the rounds on the Internet. I will try to stay neutral and just show you the things I saw without speculating too much about what they mean.

These photos are in many cases not up to the standard I usually like to present. Visiting North Korea means you must accept a long list of rules for what you can and can not do, especially when it comes to photography. I generally had no chance to set up photos, I rarely got more than one chance to capture something, and I often had to shoot from a fast-moving vehicle. Still, because there are so precious few photos from North Korea on-line, I have chosen to show you almost everything I managed to capture. I hope that my captions may somehow make up for what the photos lack in quality.

Thank you for coming along!

(PS: Clicking on an image will take you to the next one.)

 

 

Sånn kan det også gjøres...

Nord-Korea er ikke lett å forstå seg på. Her er 312 bilder som beviser det. Jeg kan på ingen måte fortelle deg hvordan det er å leve i landet, men jeg håper at jeg likevel kan gi deg et mer balansert bilde av forholdene i denne delen av verden enn du antagelig har fra før.

Det finnes altfor mye overdrevet "informasjon" om Nord-Korea på nettet. Folk som har vært der vil gjerne gi inntrykk av at de har vært omtrent på en annen planet. Jeg vil prøve å være mer objektiv og bare vise deg hva jeg så i landet, uten å spekulere altfor mye i hva som ligger bak det.Disse bildene er i mange tilfeller ikke helt så gode som jeg vanligvis vil at de skal være når jeg skal vise frem noe. Å besøke Nord-Korea innebærer at man godtar en mengde regler for hva man får og ikke får lov til å gjøre. Det gjelder særlig fotografering. Jeg fikk sjelden forberedt meg, og vanligvis fikk jeg bare én sjanse til å fange noe. I tillegg måtte jeg for en stor del ta bilder fra buss, bil eller tog i stor fart.Likevel, fordi det finnes så få av denne typen bilder, har jeg valgt å ta med så mye som mulig som jeg føler at kan være med på å forklare hvordan det er å reise i Nord-Korea. Der bildene er dårlige håper jeg at bildetekstene kan hjelpe til med å gi deg noe som er verdt å se på likevel.

Takk for at du blir med!

(PS: Ved å klikke på et bilde går du videre til neste.)

 

DSC00404TheEnemy.JPG DSC00424HappyHolder.JPG DSC00431ReadyToGo.JPG DSC00434InflightEntertainment.JPG
DSC00439VaattOgToert.JPG DSC00446PyongyangRunway.JPG DSC00451ShootingDesperately.JPG DSC00461ArchOfTriumph.JPG
DSC00462PyongyangStadium.JPG DSC00463PyongyangTVTower.JPG DSC00488KoreanChildren.JPG DSC00501BusStop.JPG
DSC00505FullBus.JPG DSC00512SignOfOldTimes.JPG DSC00527PyongyangIndoorSkatingRink.JPG DSC00538RyanggangHotel.JPG
DSC00539RyanggangLobby.JPG DSC00549TheShiningRyanggang.JPG DSC00550HardAsStone.JPG DSC00555.JPG
DSC00560RyanggangGiftShop.JPG DSC00566DarkInTheDark.JPG DSC00577MorningAtRyanggang.JPG DSC00588PyongyangRushHour.JPG
DSC00596KumsusanPalace.JPG DSC00602KumsusanBudeier.JPG DSC00633RevlyMartyrsCemeteryVisitors.JPG DSC00643MartyrsMonument.JPG
DSC00656BronzeMartyrs.JPG DSC00664ThisIsNotHappening.JPG DSC00679SundayInThePark.JPG DSC00685TrafficControlBabe.JPG
DSC00699Messages.JPG DSC00712ShoppingForFlowers.JPG DSC00713MansudaeFountainPark.JPG DSC00721MansudaeMonument.JPG
DSC00740DoingTheBow.JPG DSC00741WeAreThePeople.JPG DSC00746OpenLand.JPG DSC00756MansudaePark.JPG
DSC00757TheyveGotTheLook.JPG DSC00771WarilyWatching.JPG DSC00785FacesOfPyongyang.JPG DSC00796AmusementOnRails.JPG
DSC00803KimIlHome.JPG DSC00824ChildhoodKim.JPG DSC00828SmokingPun.JPG DSC00843MyFavouriteBookshop.JPG
DSC00852TrafficUnderControl.JPG DSC00866RevolutionBlows.JPG DSC00867RollerbladingRevolutionaries.JPG DSC00870HappyFamilyPhoto.JPG
DSC00876KnowYourPlace.JPG DSC00887SymmetryAllOver.JPG DSC00896TimeToPlayTheBall.JPG DSC00897PlayersOfTheBalls.JPG
DSC00902StateOfThe80sArt.JPG DSC00943CrazyHoops.JPG DSC00950SnackBar.JPG DSC00958AmericanAmidstUs.JPG
DSC00963TheOnePercent.JPG DSC00966FinallyASmile.JPG DSC00988LeavingPyong.JPG DSC01004EveningSun.JPG
DSC01044Kaesongbound.JPG DSC01056CautionHotFloor.JPG DSC01061KillingMeSoftly.JPG DSC01066ThatSeventiesGlow.JPG
DSC01088TypicalKaesong.JPG DSC01102KaesongCourtyard.JPG DSC01118TearDownThisWall.JPG DSC01126KaesongStreetLife.JPG
DSC01133KaesongOldAlley.JPG DSC01140KaesongPostOffice.JPG DSC01149KaesongSentrum.JPG DSC01158MarchingWorkers.JPG
DSC01163WalkingToTheFactory.JPG DSC01170TheViewFromKim.JPG DSC01177KaesongMistyMorning.JPG DSC01195KaesongMuseumGuide.JPG
DSC01206KaesongProminentGuest.JPG DSC01212KaesongSparselyLit.JPG DSC01213KaesongMuseumBuilding.JPG DSC01221CameraManAndSpoons.JPG
DSC01238BikesInTheFields.JPG DSC01241PanmunjomUnification.JPG DSC01249PanmujomNegotiationTable.JPG DSC01250CommitmentPinned.JPG
DSC01254PanmunjomMuseum.JPG DSC01271Signaturmonument.JPG DSC01274DMZActionToCome.JPG DSC01276PanmunjomHighTension.JPG
DSC01285SouthKoreanPowerRanger.JPG DSC01315KaesongOxCartOnRoad.JPG DSC01321KingKongminTomb.JPG DSC01336KingKongminStatues.JPG
DSC01374KaesongTypicalVillage.JPG DSC01377KaesongNiceRestStop.JPG DSC01385WalkingInFields.JPG DSC01396KaesongStreetArt.JPG
DSC01407PyongyangEmptyHighway.JPG DSC01428SpringBurning.JPG DSC01469PyongyangBehemoth.JPG DSC01473PyongyangAllIndividuals.JPG
DSC01498JucheTowerBase.JPG DSC01505JucheTowerPower.JPG DSC01526PartyFoundationMonument.JPG DSC01541InsidePartyFoundation.JPG
DSC01555Koreakunst.JPG DSC01563KimsFromAfar.JPG DSC01576JucheByNight.JPG DSC01580BarLife.JPG
DSC01594IntoTheUnderwurlde.JPG DSC01604Metrostasjon1.JPG DSC01620MetroNews.JPG DSC01623UncleSungInTheMetro.JPG
DSC01625MetroMistress.JPG DSC01627MetroWithoutAds.JPG DSC01632SpringtimeInTheMetro.JPG DSC01635KimLovesColours.JPG
DSC01660MetroStation2.JPG DSC01663MetroMosaic.JPG DSC01665TheGoldenSung.JPG DSC01681MightyMetroMap.JPG
DSC01686ThreeRevolutionsMuseum.JPG DSC01688ThreeRevolutionsDolphins.JPG DSC01689MuseumStaff.JPG DSC01694SupersizeKorea.JPG
DSC01709RailwayMuseumMural.JPG DSC01715HappyRailwayChildren.JPG DSC01716KimGoesAbroad.JPG DSC01720RailwayPanorama.JPG
DSC01740SleepingCoach.JPG DSC01758SpringUniform.JPG DSC01762YanggakdoHotel.JPG DSC01765YanggakdoLobby.JPG
DSC01771YanggakdoMissing5.JPG DSC01812PyongyangCityscape.JPG DSC01816GorillaInTheSmog.JPG DSC01827KimKomfyChair.JPG
DSC01829StudyHouseEntrance.JPG DSC01834KimIsOnFireworks.JPG DSC01838GPSStudyHall.JPG DSC01840GPSLibrary.JPG
DSC01841InspiredStudies.JPG DSC01843GPSMorePopularSection.JPG DSC01847GPSByebyeFatso.JPG DSC01849GPSWeHaveTech.JPG
DSC01852IE6OnXP.JPG DSC01865EnglishClass.JPG DSC01871DarkHalls.JPG DSC01880TVAppreciationRoom.JPG
DSC01882MusicAppreciationRoom.JPG DSC01891PyongyangHighrises.JPG DSC01897JucheFromGPS.JPG DSC01924WarMuseumEntrance.JPG
DSC01926PyramidAndTree.JPG DSC01930WarMuseumMonuments.JPG DSC01945USTank.JPG DSC01947USPlane.JPG
DSC01960USHelicopter.JPG DSC01961WarWedding.JPG DSC01977PuebloAtMuseum.JPG DSC01980ClearlyHowItHappened.JPG
DSC02012StreetFoodcarts.JPG DSC02023NoPhotosInParadise.JPG DSC02056PyongsongAloneInTheDark.JPG DSC02058PyongsongEmergencyLight.JPG
DSC02066BarmaidKaraok.JPG DSC02090PyongsongBoulevard.JPG DSC02112PyongsongBikersHighway.JPG DSC02128PyongsongLoneFootballer.JPG
DSC02130PyongsongSuburb.JPG DSC02154PyongsongGivingGuidance.JPG DSC02174ForestUniversityOutside.JPG DSC02177ForestUniversityInside.JPG
DSC02188UnlikelyGallery.JPG DSC02218PyongsongRandomEncounters.JPG DSC02221RuralFactoryland.JPG DSC02230NotWillyWonkas.JPG
DSC02238SteadyProductionLevels.JPG DSC02249PyongsongOffTheMainRoad.JPG DSC02253PyongsongInspiringAtSchool.JPG DSC02259PyongsongExcitement.JPG
DSC02277PyongsongGiftedChildren.JPG DSC02285ScarySeal.JPG DSC02286HittingTheWall.JPG DSC02295HelloKitties.JPG
DSC02296ScarySquirrel.JPG DSC02306OldDeuteronomy.JPG DSC02307LudicrousLynx.JPG DSC02317YourFreedomStopsHere.JPG
DSC02323PyongsongRedYouth.JPG DSC02336HeartbreakHotel.JPG DSC02341StillWaving.JPG DSC02369CowboysInTheWildEast.JPG
DSC02381UnusualMausoleum.JPG DSC02391KimsOnPaekdu.JPG DSC02406VIPArtist.JPG DSC02418QuestioningEyes.JPG
DSC02419LeavingPyongyang.JPG DSC02424FarmlandOnFire.JPG DSC02433RainbowHighway.JPG DSC02442PeopleWalking.JPG
DSC02471VillageInTheEast.JPG DSC02479FarmingInTheSpring.JPG DSC02484RoadsideEntertainment.JPG DSC02507BrokenDownOx.JPG
DSC02535SittingOnTheBank.JPG DSC02541LakeSlush.JPG DSC02551DamYou.JPG DSC02553TreeByDam.JPG
DSC02562BringOnTheMasik.JPG DSC02565MasikAllSlopes.JPG DSC02566MasikHotelByNight.JPG DSC02567MasikBrandNewLobby.JPG
DSC02584MasikWayTooNice.JPG DSC02603MasikCrazyOInBar.JPG DSC02611KimSubstitutes.JPG DSC02627MasikClassyWalls.JPG
DSC02631MasikGreenMoss.JPG DSC02636MasikKoreanPork.JPG DSC02675MasikMainSlope.JPG DSC02691MasikryongHotelAndLift.JPG
DSC02697SarahSlashingSlope.JPG DSC02706AllDownhillFromHere.JPG DSC02731TalkingToLocals.JPG DSC02740UniversityStuds.JPG
DSC02743WhooshingDownTheSlope.JPG DSC02795LiftOccupants.JPG DSC02802StingyOnTheSnow.JPG DSC02913FuzzyHills.JPG
DSC02927IncomingBlizzard.JPG DSC02940SlightlyUnsightly.JPG DSC02941FreshSnowComing.JPG DSC02956HappiestManInMasik.JPG
DSC02988BackToThe1920s.JPG DSC03004AndBubblesToo.JPG DSC03041ManualSnowplowing.JPG DSC03058BeforeLiftsStart.JPG
DSC03073ExtraVirgin.JPG DSC03113SnowInTheMountains.JPG DSC03117SafetyFirst.JPG DSC03134MorningRun.JPG
DSC03161TowardsTheTop.JPG DSC03171CreaturesOfTheNight.JPG DSC03186SunnyFuzziness.JPG DSC03192TreesAllOver.JPG
DSC03204FinallyWinterInMasik.JPG DSC03205AViewToWonsan.JPG DSC03214FriendlyColifter.JPG DSC03241ThisRimesWithEight.JPG
DSC03244WeHaveWinter.JPG DSC03252HangingInThere.JPG DSC03260ViewFromTheTop.JPG DSC03286WaitingForPower.JPG
DSC03287FrozenPattern.JPG DSC03312TryAnotherSlope.JPG DSC03327ActualRealSkiing.JPG DSC03339BreakfastGuyAgain.JPG
DSC03348TheSwarm.JPG DSC03362CloseEncounter.JPG DSC03383JustInCase.JPG DSC03385AnotherVillage.JPG
DSC03396EasternScenery.JPG DSC03418FarmingEverywhere.JPG DSC03442Roadwalkers.JPG DSC03445LifeInTheTunnels.JPG
DSC03451RoadsideSnackbar.JPG DSC03469PlayingTheOxen.JPG DSC03473CrossingTheRiver.JPG DSC03475WoodGasVehicleFront.JPG
DSC03478WoodGasVehicleBack.JPG DSC03482WideLoads.JPG DSC03494EndOfTheTunnel.JPG DSC03502OngoingMarket.JPG
DSC03519HiddenValley.JPG DSC03520BackseatBoys.JPG DSC03524BranchingOff.JPG DSC03535ReadingUpOnNorway.JPG
DSC03542DPRKDuringSunset.JPG DSC03561FlyingHighway.JPG DSC03575Lemmings.JPG DSC03583PyongyangReappearing.JPG
DSC03597ReunificationMonument.JPG DSC03613BicycleLifting.JPG DSC03614RapidDevelopment.JPG DSC03633KoreanBreakfast.JPG
DSC03636Wastelands.JPG DSC03645RailwayStation.JPG DSC03657WaitingForAction.JPG DSC03660WaitingToLeave.JPG
DSC03665YourChinaAwayFromHome.JPG DSC03696RundownTrains.JPG DSC03718Prohinibibyted.JPG DSC03739FourBikes.JPG
DSC03748NiceDayForARide.JPG DSC03765RiverTrawling.JPG DSC03797LoadAcrossTheBridge.JPG DSC03811LaundryDay.JPG
DSC03817LandscapeFromTrain.JPG DSC03826SpringRicePaddies.JPG DSC03831GoatSabotage.JPG DSC03843PublicTransportationIsGreen.JPG
DSC03844NoPhotography.JPG DSC03876EverMoreFields.JPG DSC03886CountrysideHousing.JPG DSC03887StarryMonument.JPG
DSC03890SeriousPlay.JPG DSC03910TheWatershed.JPG DSC03927BackInBeijing.JPG DSC03941DefinitelyBackInBeijing.JPG

 

About the photos:
* Taken with a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V (fixed lens, not an SLR)
* These 312 photos were selected from about 3,500 photos I took during this trip
* Some photos were processed using PaintShop Photo Pro X5 and Nik Color Efex Pro 3

If you enjoy these photos, your experience may continue at http://bjornfree.com/travel/galleries/
(Where you can also download my travel book, One for the Road, for free!)