Massive buildings, spacious, spotless avenues, little traffic, colorful posters, an unassuming but busy population, controlled silence, hardly disturbed by the distant voices of kids rehearsing a choreography... The driver switched off the engine to gather speed on a short downhill; eyes screwed to the window, one doesn't notice this sort of detail, as attention is focused on the unfolding soulless landscape... The capital city of this "rogue state" doesn't intrude upon the visitor's sensibilities...
Pyongyang : a flawless scenography ? Photos and text ŠPVince/LightMediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci -LightMediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
2015-01: Skyline view from the Yanggakdo Hotel. There's hardly any light in the streets and most of the apartments' lights are turned off after midnight.
2015-01: Skyline view from the Yanggakdo Hotel. There's hardly any light in the streets and most of the apartments' lights are turned off after midnight.
2015-02: Kumsusan Memorial Palace is one of the holiest place in North Korea: crowds of North Korean people come from all around the country to pay respect to the corps of Kim Il-Sung, embalmed for
2015-03: A group of female soldiers on a visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace.
2015-04: Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-05: Répétitions en vue des Mass Games /// Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-06: Répétitions en vue des Mass Games /// Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-07: Répétitions en vue des Mass Games /// Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-08: Répétitions en vue des Mass Games /// Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-52: The numerous propaganda posters have an educational goal
2015-09: Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery
2015-10: Fashionable hairstyles
2015-11: Hairdresser
2015-12: Hairdresser
2015-13: Pyongyang Metro: one of the deepest in the world
2015-14: The Pyongyang Metro is elaboratly decorated
2015-15: Most of the trains have been imported from the former East Germany
2015-16: Only two stations of the Pyongyang Metro are open to foreign visitors
2015-08: Children rehearsing for the Mass Games
2015-17: ubiguitous portraits: Kim Il-Sung and his son Kim Jeong-Il
2015-18: A politically biased performance at a model school
2015-19: Waving at the audiance at the end of the performance, school children are also called Pioneers of the Revolution
2015-20: Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum: a guide introduces visitors to the military achievements of Kim Il-Sung (On the background painting, Kim Il-Sung is "leading the Korean people to
2015-21: A monument dedicated to the unity of Korea
2015-22: The Grand People's Study House is the centre of Juche studies. It is also one of the rare moderne building mixing socialist realist architecture and traditional Korean architechture
2015-23: The Grand People's Study House is the centre of Juche studies. Political slogans are ubiguitous in this intellectual centre
2015-24: Grand People's Study House: slogans and giant portraits remind the visitor that Kim Jeong-Il is "the Sun of the 21st Century"
2015-03: A group of female soldiers on a visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace.
2015-25: Grand People's Study House: language lab. No need of foreign lecturers...
2015-26: Grand People's Study House: intellectuals are available for ideological guidance
2015-27: A view of Pyongyang with a portrait of Kim Il-Sung in the middle and the Mass Games Stadium in the background
2015-28: A panoramic view of Kim Il-Sung Square and the Juche Tower across the Taedong River
2015-29: Night view of The Juche Tower
2015-30: A trolley bus drives along Kim Il-Sung Square, under a giant national flag and a slogan saying "Long life the Democratic People's Republic of Korea"
2015-31: The Tower of the Juche Idea bears the name of the national ideology devised by Kim Il-Sung
2015-32: The base of the Juche Tower is ornated with numerous testimonies of uncertain origines but clearly supporting the Juche ideology
2015-25: Grand People's Study House: language lab. No need of foreign lecturers...
2015-54: Workers Party Monument: the hammer stands for industry, the brush for knowledge and the sickle for agriculture
2015-33: Kim il-Sung giant bronze statue on Mansudae Hill
2015-34: Young married couples pay respect to Kim Il-Sung at Mansudae
2015-35: Pyongyang is "famous" for the beauty of its female traffic wardens.
2015-36: B Although a very beautiful and professionnal traffic wardens is positionned at each downtown crossroad, traffic is very light in Pyongyang
2015-37: It is a privilege to be granted an appartment in one these big buildings. Only the most faithfull to the regime can enjoy it.
2015-38: Welcome to the Pyongyang Film Studios!
2015-39: Mock South Korean Street
2015-40: Cutting room and propaganda movie. In North Korea, all arts must serve the national ideaology
2015-18: A politically biased performance at a model school
2015-41: A visit to the Pueblo, an american surveillance vessel seized in 1968
2015-42: A North Korean Navy soldier watches foreigners as they visit the Pueblo
2015-43: Teenagers rehearsing for a military parade
2015-44: Teenagers rehearsing for a military parade
2015-45: Teenagers rehearsing for a military parade
2015-46: The public transport network is comprehensive but notoriously overcrowded
2015-47: The public transport network is comprehensive but notoriously overcrowded
2015-48: The public transport network is comprehensive but notoriously overcrowded
2015-27: A view of Pyongyang with a portrait of Kim Il-Sung in the middle and the Mass Games Stadium in the background
2015-49: Socialist realist architecture
2015-50: The Taedong River, Kim Il-Sung Square and the Grand People's Study House
2015-51: Revolutionary statuary
2015-52: The numerous propaganda posters have an educational goal
2015-53: A squad of teenaggers rehearse for a miltary parade nearby the A Triumphal Arch and the unfinished Ryugyong Hotel in the background.
2015-57: Skyline view from the Yanggakdo Hotel. There's hardly any light in the streets and most of the apartments' lights are turned off after midnight.
2015-55: The unfinished Ryugyong Hotel. With 330 meters, it is one of the highest building in the world. Started in 1987, the hotel was planned to offer 3000 rooms and 7 restaurants. But defects were found in
2015-56: The Yanggakdo Hotel where most of foreign visitors stay. It stands on an island, in the middle of the Taedong River; guests are "free" to walk around the hotel...
2015-34: Young married couples pay respect to Kim Il-Sung at Mansudae
2015-53: A squad of teenaggers rehearse for a miltary parade nearby the A Triumphal Arch and the unfinished Ryugyong Hotel in the background.
2015-47: The public transport network is comprehensive but notoriously overcrowded
Pyongyang : a flawless scenography ? A new perspective on North Korea, the least visited country in the world. For more than 50 years, North Korea has been one of the world's most secretive societies. Between 1950 and 1953, its capital city, Pyongyang, was wiped out by the war, living a tabula rasa for the Great Leader dictatorship to impose his political vision on. Nowadays, despite industrial collapse, famine and impoverishment the city remains clean, orderly and free of the obvious traffic and slums seen in many other Asian cities. But it is an eerie feeling to be in Pyongyang late at night and to look out across a dimly lit, virtually silent city... Massive buildings, spacious, spotless avenues, little traffic, colorful posters, an unassuming but busy population, controlled silence, hardly disturbed by the distant voices of kids rehearsing a choreography.. The driver switched off the engine to gather speed on a short downhill; eyes screwed to the window, one doesn't notice this sort of detail, as attention is focused on the unfolding soulless landscape... The capital city of this "rogue state" doesn't intrude upon the visitor's sensibilities... "Off the beaten track" would be an understatement for a trip to North Korea. The regime's isolationism unerringly gives the intrepid traveler a striking time warp-like experience, back to the most crucial hours of the Cold War. In spite of its dark reputation on the
international diplomatic scene, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been welcoming almost 2000 western visitors a year. As Pyongyang is the showcase city of a regime in dire straits and relying on strict ideological orthodoxy to survive, traveling is highly restricted and groups are carefully controlled by minders, entrusted by the state. The visit remains nonetheless a unique adventure, surprisingly comfortable and safe as long as one follows the rules of the game... Unless one officially applies as a journalist or a photographer, tourist visas are easily granted to most prospective visitors. Anyone visiting the DPRK has the freedom to read the rules of officialdom, and interpret what lies between the lines The tours are brisk and can be divided into two main categories: monuments dedicated to the official ideology, and sites to attest to the well functioning of this model society (subways, model schools, parks, libraries, film studios...). But the excitement and fascination mainly comes from trying to look beyond the surrealistic success of this staging. During visits dedicated to the "unquestionable glory" of the regime, guides do little but praise the system. Paying attention to these speeches and asking well directed questions can gain their confidence. Once the lectures are done, the tour group may be allowed to wander, slightly. These are the only opportunities to meet the eyes of the people, anonymous and involuntary actors of this urban mystery. Guide Transport Independent tourism is not permitted in the DPRK. Tourism is only allowed for groups organized by government approved travel agencies. Most travellers must pass through China on their way to
and from the DPRK. Travel within the DPRK is severely restricted. All visitors must be accompanied by an official guide at all time. Instructions provided by the guide must be adhered to. Accomodation All accomodation in North Korea is in state-run hotels. Tourists have no control over where they stay. Although overpriced, hotels are usually functionnal. A new homestay programme has been started in 2006 by some tour operators. Tour Operators - Asia Pacific Travel, Ltd. - Chicago: http://www.northkorea1on1.com/ - Geographic Expeditions - San Francisco: http://www.geoex.com/adventure-travel/no rth-korea/tours.asp Korea Konsult Stockholm: http://www.koreakonsult.com/ Koryo Group Beijing: http://www.koryogroup.com/ - Regent Holidays - Bristol, UK: http://www.regent-holidays.co.uk/n_skorea itin.html Viatjes Pujol Spain: http://www.coreanorte.com - VNC Asia Travel - Netherlands: http://www.vnctravel.nl/northkorea/ Recommanded reading - Bradt Travel Guide - North Korea - Lonely Planet - Korea - Chris Springer - Pyongyang: The Hidden History of the North Korean Capital - Pyongyang - Guy Delisle Customs Importation of radios, mobile phones and computers is prohibited. Authorities may browse through memory cards of digital cameras upon departure and erase unauthorized shots. Political issues It is not allowed to be critical of the country's political system. Travellers must show respect to current and former leaders, Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung, and
to members of their family.