28 Illegal Photos of North Korea that Kim Doesn’t Want You To See

A daring photographer has risked detention to smuggle a series of stunning illegal photos of North Korea that Kim Doesn’t want you to see.

Michal Huniewicz captured the illegal photos of North Korea he knew Kim Jong-un would not want you to see during a trip to the North Korea, before sneaking them out on hidden memory cards.

Michal Huniewicz evaded his minder’s watchful eye to take these photographs, which give a unique glimpse into North Koreans’ everyday lives. Some are pictured working in the fields, while others are seen working in the squeaky-clean capital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
In another image, street cleaners sweep pavements under the watchful eye of a soldier in one of Pyongyang’s parks, and others reveal waitresses working in restaurants where propaganda images are broadcast around the clock on television.

Authority – military is present everywhere in Pyongyang

The difference between North Korea (left) and China (right) is staggering

And it becomes even more apparent at night

You have several of these to fill in on your way in

First, the photo I took in North Korea. Photography from this train is illegal

People waiting to sell human waste to be used as fertiliser

“(The Korean Workers’) Party is never going to forget the comrades of Rakwon [city]”

North Koreans can only travel within the country when they receive a permit

North Korean soldiers

Dignity

Arrival in Pyongyang. I believe this was staged, as there were no other trains that day, so those elegant looking travellers had no reason to be there

Pyongyang – we were intercepted by our guides, who we could not leave during the entire stay, and who’d tell us when to sleep and when to wake up

North Korean street photography

Brutalist architecture of Pyongyang

28 Illegal Photos of North Korea that Kim Doesn’t Want You To See

Cityscape from the Yanggakdo hotel

The hotel officially has no floor 5, and you can only reach it by stairs

We did not get to interact with the locals almost at all. Most waitresses seemed slightly terrified of us

Kim Il-Sung’s square. This is one of the places they want you to photograph

Those allowed to live in Pyongyang are privileged and wear a badge that is impossible to buy (you can get a fake one in China)

You are only allowed to photograph these statues if both bodies are featured in their entirety. There was an endless stream of North Koreans bringing flowers and bowing

I had 15 seconds to take this picture. This shop is for the locals only, and I was kicked out of it by my guide soon after taking this photo, but he didn’t see me taking it

Some of the souvenirs you can buy

The city is clear of rubbish

There was hardly any traffic, but they took our passports away and forbid us to go anywhere on our own in case we participate in a car accident…

Workers

The city was clean and elegant, but then I saw this

Socialist murals

Finally, people commuting to work