North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world.
Most images of life in this state that are released in the mainstream media display military exercises and grandiose parades.
British photographer Charlie Crane traveled to Pyongyang, the capital city, and obtained permission to photograph daily life in North Korea.
Despite being chaperoned by a guide, Crane was allowed to photograph passers-by during their daily routine -- a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary North Koreans.
Crane says that the people living in this reclusive country are especially proud of the machinery manufactured in the state (watch out for the photo of a woman posing in front of a digger), and their buildings (the guide was especially excited about the shopping centers and sports arenas Crane photographed.)
My first thought was how everything is just so grey. Its quite amazing, and saddening at the same time.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:51 pm
by NickUndercover
This looks shopped I can tell by the pixels and by having seen quite a few shops in my time.
Seriously is this for real ?
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:53 pm
by noam
yeah its real
you CAN go t N. Korea, its hard but its possible
watch this
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:54 pm
by Alty
Wicked, love seeing things like this. Crazy how wide their roads are, and no one is using them. Also did you see the NASA style space shuttle covered in North Korean insignias lol.
Very eerie feel to everything. The underground does look a hella lot nicer than the London one though!
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:56 pm
by jameshk
Looks... fun.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:57 pm
by oprs
incredible.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 4:57 pm
by kidshuffle
noam wrote:yeah its real
you CAN go t N. Korea, its hard but its possible
watch this
Yeah, you can apply to travel there on their website and everything; I've been debating it for a few years now lol. However, taking pictures, especially pictures of civilians is pretty fucking impossible to do, and its quite rad that he was able to get that kind of access.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:03 pm
by finji
Looks fucked, massive empty six lane motorways? Perfectly set out restaurants, totally devoid of people.. A girl posing with a huge gun, for what?
what do you expect though, they suffer trade embargo's from almost every country in the world, they attempt self-sufficiency and get NOWHERE near what they need to feed and clothe their citizens, that documentary shows a tiny portion of the poverty you can assume hits the rest of the country
such a shame
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:19 pm
by kidshuffle
They also have a leader who has given us the hilarious International Friendship Exhibition and quotes such as this
"I've made up my mind to feed quality bread and french fries to university students, professors and researchers even if we are in (economic) hardship."
Lets just hope his son isn't as much of a moron
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:22 pm
by oprs
kidshuffle wrote:They also have a leader who has given us the hilarious International Friendship Exhibition and quotes such as this
"I've made up my mind to feed quality bread and french fries to university students, professors and researchers even if we are in (economic) hardship."
Lets just hope his son isn't as much of a moron
bah, im more worried for his son..
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:35 pm
by say_whut
noam wrote:yeah its real
you CAN go t N. Korea, its hard but its possible
watch this
Holy shit, that series is brilliant (on part 3) so far. So surreal
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:46 pm
by Gewze
tv cosy
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:48 pm
by exfox
I'm fascinated by those rare informations about North Korea... These Sublime Frequencies recordings from North Korea also come to mind.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 5:55 pm
by jdw
I recommend this and the other clip, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8720870.
The presenter interviews North Korean defectors in South Korea who escaped through China. She also interviews a guy who sends radio broadcasts that can be picked up around the border. It's shame the whole docs not on iplayer any more.
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 6:09 pm
by finji
Yeah I enjoyed that vice guide, poor tea lady...
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 6:35 pm
by jsaxton
pretty crazy...
Re: A Rare Glimpse Into Pyongyang
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 6:41 pm
by say_whut
My mind is blown by this whole thing, never really been compelled to research into a country, but this is fascinating.
It's crazy... pretty much EVERY room they venture into has a picture or some reference to Kim Jong Il.
