News stories about North Korea have been quite frequent recently, with their test launch of a rocket over Japan, withdrawal from nuclear disarmament talks coupled with a threat to restart their nuclear program, reports that their nuclear attack capabilities may be larger than previously thought - and their recent arrest and indictment of two U.S. reporters on its border with China. Even with all this attention, photographs from North Korea are still restricted and hard to come by. One way around that has been for photographers to peer inside from across the border, a pastime that has also spurred a level of curious tourism in both neighboring South Korea and China. Collected here are a some recent photographs, looking into reclusive North Korea from the outside - and some of the reactions these observations induce. (previously: Recent sc! enes from North Korea) (37 photos total)
North Korean soldiers walk in an early morning mist with their rifles and spades along the North Korean-Chinese border near the Chinese city of Dandong on April 5, 2009. (REUTERS/ Nir Elias)
A man on a Yalu River touring boat uses binoculars for a closer glimpse of life in the North Korean border town of Sinuiju on April 5, 2009, across the river from Dandong in northeast China. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
North Korean border guards pause on the bank of the Yalu River at the border with China near the North Korean city of Hyesan on April 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #
This picture taken on April 3, 2009 from a boat close to the Chinese town of Dandong, China, shows a North Korean farmer collecting water along the the banks of the Yalu River near the town of Qingzhouli, North Korea. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A North Korean soldier plays a guitar on the banks of the Yalu River near the town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese city of Dandong on April 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer) #
Fishing vessels are docked on the banks of the Yalu River in the North Korean border town of Sinuiju on April 6, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A woman views North Korea from China in a watchtower on Tiger Mountain Great Wall, the eastern starting point of the Great Wall that stretches across northern China and forms part of China's border with North Korea, overlooking the Yalu River. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
Smokestacks line a hazy riverfront as a North Korean border patrol speedboat anchors in the middle of the Yalu River and a Chinese tour boat passes by, offshore of the town of Siniuju on April 4, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
North Korean boys throw stones at a passing boat from the riverbank of the Yalu River northeast of Siniuju on April 3, 2009, across from Dandong, China. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A North Korean soldier plays with his spade as he and his companions walk away from the North Korean-Chinese border near Dandong, China on April 5, 2009. (REUTERS/Nir Elias) #
A visitor walks on "Broken Bridge" in Dandong on March 23, 2009 which used to connect China and North Korea before it was bombed by the US during the Korean war and is now a tourist attraction on the Yalu River. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) #
Dusk falls over the Yalu River on April 3, 2009, which seperates the North Korean town of Siniuju (opposite) from the Chinese city of Dandong, as lights are turned on along the Yalu River bridge, also known as the no-name bridge. The full-length bridge built right beside the no-name bridge remains busy during the day time as trucks, trains and other vehicles transport goods back and forth. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
North Korean men ride on a truck as they pass a military guardpost on the banks of the Yalu River near the town of Qingzhouli, North Korea. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A North Korean officer gestures upon seeing his soldiers chatting with local Chinese over the North Korean-Chinese border near the city of Dandong on April 4, 2009. (REUTERS/ Nir Elias) #
North Korean women work in front of a building with a picture of late leader Kim Il-sung in the city of Hyesan on April 5, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #
Workers smile as Chinese visitors wave to them from a passenger boat while soldiers, in the background, look on at the waterfront of the Yalu River at the North Korean town of Sinuiju on Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #
A soldier looks on as she stands guard along the waterfront of the Yalu River at the North Korean side, opposite the Chinese border town of Hekou on Monday, March 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #
North Korean border guards throw stones towards the photographer as they work on a field at the Yalu River near the city of Hyesan on April 6, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #
A North Korean border guard reacts to the photographer as he walks along the banks of the Yalu River in Hyesan, North Korea on April 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #
A woman pushes her wheelbarrow across a dry landscape on the banks of the Yalu River, 60 km northeast of Dandong, China on April 3, 2009. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A woman cycles on a bridge along the waterfront of the Yalu River on the North Korean side, opposite the Chinese town of Hekou on Monday, March 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #
False artillery emplacements, built with stones and branches, are seen along the waterfront of the Yalu River on the North Korean side, opposite the town of Hekou, China on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #
Words reading "If (our) party decides, we will do it!" are seen on a field near Hyesan, North Korea on April 6, 2009. North Korea had fired a long-range rocket over Japan the day before. (REUTERS/Reinhard Krause) #
A North Korean soldier points a gun at the photographer on the banks of the Yalu River near Sinuiju, across from Dandong, China on April 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Stringer) #
Displaying only the last 100 comments. You can read all 150 comments over here.
51.
@44 - I think they're TV or radio aerials (yes, they do have TV/radio - but they're almost universally locked into government owned channels - in true totalitarian style)
The pictures are amazing - they show that these are real people living real lives in a hard and harsh environment...
Posted by horuskolApril 24, 09 05:36 PM
52.
I think these images are a little biased: Nort Korea has spring and summer as well.
Posted by MaartenApril 24, 09 05:44 PM
53.
People keep hinting that the photographers are attempting to paint N Korea as dreary. All the the pictures in this set that have dates are less than a month old. Perhaps they are just timely? Maybe the recent missile launch is what drove the attention?
Photographers have a very limited options of what they can photograph (what can be seen from across the border), they have to take pictures at range, and it just happens to be early spring. There may be an agenda... but perhaps it is better to give the benefit of the doubt?
Posted by JimApril 24, 09 05:55 PM
54.
@sara
That was Kim Il Sung, the daddy, I think.
Posted by robertApril 24, 09 05:57 PM
55.
I can understand why everything looks brown in the photos. It is a frickin' cold place for half the year. I was stationed 35 miles south of Seoul and it was horribly cold for half the year and then extremely hot and humid for the other half. I can just imagine how much colder it is way up north by the Yalu.
Posted by robertApril 24, 09 06:01 PM
56.
Photo #35 - I had that happen to me during the May 2000 VCD vendor riots in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Military trucks full of soldiers rushing in were passing me while walking along Jalan MH Thamrin, and one of the soldiers thought it would be 'funny' to point his rifle at me - much to the amusement of his colleagues.
Having no military training whatsoever myself (I've actually never even held a rifle), I can tell you that was quite an unsettling experience.
Posted by MosezApril 24, 09 06:07 PM
57.
Re: 18 & 24 - The antenna type is known as a "null loop" antenna. it can only receive signals from the front and back and has a very quick drop off to either side. Great way to give someone a TV that can only get 1 channel. Also easy to spot if someone is trying to get a signal from a different location.
Can't the UN spend a few Billion and carpet bomb that country with some clothes/toys/food/water purification tablets/and some outside info. Really sad in this day and age to see any country let alone one as old as this to be so backward. TIME FOR A COUP!
Time for a coup!
Posted by ZedApril 24, 09 06:16 PM
60.
@43 Whenever you hear someone who visited the country they tell you, that it's a grey and depressing and unbelievably Orwellian country. Maybe check out the "The Vice guide to North Korea" on vbs.com ( http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1438428757 ) or the amazing graphic novel "Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea" by Guy Delisle ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang_(comic) ). Gives you a great insight in this cursed country.
Posted by SchmierwurstApril 24, 09 06:33 PM
61.
Yes, these pictures are bleak. For lack of sunshine on most. For the time of year. For the landscape chosen. But don't think for a second that NK is not up to the image game. The folks allowed to live by the border are fed better, clothed better, treated better, and given many privileges very few in the country get. There is an image game going on all the time. Count on it that many NK citizens are emaciated -- almost to Somali starvation standards. Count on it that many NK citizens die on the street. We'll have to reckon with that when more is revealed to the whole world
Count on it
Posted by CraigicusApril 24, 09 06:42 PM
62.
It is easy to build a weapon when all you see are threats.
Posted by ChazApril 24, 09 06:55 PM
63.
Looks like the Guards take their job very very serious. Like they are trained to this is the most importend mission - guard the fence to hell ...
Posted by LouisApril 24, 09 06:58 PM
64.
#25 is an amazing shot. Thank you for posting these pictures. Outsiders don't get to see image of N. Korea very often. Good collection.
Posted by Jeremy MoutonApril 24, 09 07:25 PM
65.
I visited Dandong for about five days around 1988, and took a tour boat along the Yalu river. I couldn't visit the North Korea side as I was a US citizen. I remember Chinese people I met telling me that the North Koreans were very very poor.
China has made tremendous economic advances since then -- and even then we could see that coming. North Korea is still so poor as these pictures show. And the part bordering Chinese cities is relatively well-off, as someone mentioned.
Posted by jtApril 24, 09 07:51 PM
66.
Poster #42 - some parts of South Korea are still like that as well. I live in rural Korea, and though I have faster internet than anywhere I've ever lived in the US, there's an open sewer just like the ones in that photo right outside my apartment building, and along most of the streets in my village.
Posted by Kelsey FreemanApril 24, 09 07:54 PM
67.
Kids are kids everywhere.
Posted by JohnApril 24, 09 07:58 PM
68.
I wonder what the North Korean people themselves think of their situation?
Posted by LeoXiaoApril 24, 09 08:30 PM
69.
I spent 2 years in Korea in 1971-73. Amazing how much N. Korea looks like what I saw in South Korea nearly 40 years ago.
Posted by Mr. WallyApril 24, 09 08:34 PM
70.
Evry Body has self protection right. This was the Answer to west threats. We want every thing for us and nothing for OTHERS.
Posted by OmidApril 24, 09 08:46 PM
71.
I have a feeling some day the people of North Korea will decide death is preferable to that kind of life and that will be the end of that teapot dictator.
Posted by EricApril 24, 09 09:18 PM
72.
Tai Gostei? Vou Conhecer Sei L?Quando.
Posted by Paulo Cezar RibeiroApril 24, 09 09:29 PM
South Korea: Population: 48,379,392 GDP: $1.342 trillion (13th) GDP Per capita: $27,646 (32nd) Well known for Samsung, Hyundai, ...
North Korea ?? Population: 22,665,345 (But, the area of N. Korea is larger then S. Korea) GDP: $40.00 (89th) GDP per capita: $1,700 (156th) Well known for .. nuclear weapons?
I simply don't understand what made such huge differences. N. Korea and S. Korea have just same DNA, language, and culture.
Posted by JeanApril 24, 09 10:12 PM
75.
This is just fascinating!
Posted by jayApril 24, 09 10:25 PM
76.
Great images today. Really demonstrates what a strange place North Korea is, and this is just a tiny corner of it.
Posted by Foraggio FotographicApril 24, 09 10:39 PM
77.
@ 74
DPRK needs a new leader. Time for Kim Jong Il to step down, they need a new breed of leader, one more open to the true deam of marxism, democracy! Kind of like Stalin, a leader like that is GREAT for certain amounts of time, but when they overtake their stay, not so great.
Posted by TylerApril 24, 09 11:06 PM
78.
I echo poster #8's congratulations on your award Alan, another great job done in making this presentation available.
Posted by SimonBApril 24, 09 11:09 PM
79.
It looks very much the same as it did in 1951 and 1953 when I was a POW (of the Chinese fortunately) in Camp 1 about 15 miles East of Supung Dam.
Posted by Lloyd RobertsApril 24, 09 11:15 PM
80.
I think a few books need to be read, first about the Korean War (which will make clear why the North Koreans are so defensive in nature), and I've just read an excellent book, 'Meltdown, the inside story of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis' by Mike Chinoy, about the realities of dealing with such a 'kingdom'. And, the stupidity of being inflexible by some western governments...
Also, although this horrendous place is as probably as close to a Stalinist system there is, it's probably more like a religious cult than a political system.
As for the poverty, that is a regular concept in many countries, not just Nth Korea, and that includes many that have received western 'aid' (i.e. military support of dictators for access to the minerals, etc).
Yes, I do very much pity the Nth Koreans.
Posted by paul wApril 24, 09 11:50 PM
81.
Hey listen to this, the soldiers were throwing rocks at the photographers in #23, essentially freeing the stones from the North side. Kim Jong-Il, will be ticked. Those are "the parties" rocks, perhaps if we get the soldiers to throw more rocks onto the Southern side, we could open a souvenir shop, called "Freed Stones of the North". You all are thinking the same thing as me, aren't you, lucrative, lucrative.
Posted by MlApril 25, 09 12:33 AM
82.
#35 gave me the chills. i hope the lens was a super telephoto.
Posted by aaronApril 25, 09 12:54 AM
83.
Thanks for posting this Josh! I had forgotten these were supposed to come out...Hope you're doing well!
Posted by TrishApril 25, 09 01:30 AM
84.
Those were awesome pictures. Thank you for sharing them. I just got back from South Korea a month ago. Thanks again. Awesome!
Posted by DavidApril 25, 09 02:03 AM
85.
crazy boss
Posted by daeheeApril 25, 09 02:05 AM
86.
Wonderful images, every morning the first thing i do is log onto bsoton.com to view this breath taking pictures. Coming back to these series...I agree with what a majority of people have commented. Life has been suppressed to such an extent in North Korea, that people will find it difficult to know what is free air and a free life. I'm an indian and part of the worlds largest democracy. We are an upcoming and vibrant economy with a stable economy. Still half of the time peopl end up taking a dig at the way the system works here. When compared to North Korea I realize how much good has life been to us
Posted by The TravellerApril 25, 09 02:36 AM
87.
As an American living in Seoul, South Korea (a short 26 miles away from the North), I've learned a lot about the South Korean's attitudes towards North Korea. (Generalizations to follow.)
In western media, a crazy amount of attention is dedicated to the North, but if there is anyone who really understands them, it is the South. The best way I have to describe the South's view of the North is that the North is like a little brother - a bit strange and aggressive, but family that needs guidance.
Everyone I've talked to supports unification, with the caveat that the borders shouldn't be opened all at once - the South's economy would be destroyed. Rather, they would like to see a unified two state solution - one democratic government, two states. As borders are already well controlled, moving people back and forth in a controlled fashion would be feasible.
Posted by LamoixApril 25, 09 02:38 AM
88.
We were there in the summer. As grim as the economic situation might be, there were children swimming and playing in the river, waving to the tourists. Photographs always show only the part that the persons that makes the selection wants to show.
Posted by zarApril 25, 09 03:01 AM
89.
Do you think, they are happy ? I don't think so .
Posted by ArdavanApril 25, 09 03:22 AM
90.
#25 looks so backwards, almost surreal and from a movie set.
Posted by medaholicApril 25, 09 03:39 AM
91.
How is the photographer a live? In one of the images, he seems to have got caught by the Military? If he really was in North Korea, he would have been shot or at the very least, get his camera stolen. Anyways, nice images!
Posted by JustinApril 25, 09 03:56 AM
92.
Century 21 ??
Posted by UatioApril 25, 09 03:57 AM
93.
I as well don't understand what made such huge differences
why are South Koreans such American brown nosers in the middle of Asia
Posted by gnevApril 25, 09 04:40 AM
94.
#25 ! Une photo pleine de po?ie
Posted by SamApril 25, 09 04:44 AM
95.
I am startled at the picture of Kimilseong and Wow!, this is very fantastic images~~!!
(I'm a Korean)
Posted by For Dongducheon And GyeongwonRapidApril 25, 09 04:52 AM
#25 is fantastic. NK is scary and fascinating at the same time - so isolated and back wards in many respects.
Posted by JakobApril 25, 09 07:17 AM
101.
Do you seriously expect everyone to believe this country consists only of aggressive soldiers pollution nobody smiles the sun never shines I don't doubt your cameras don't lie, but why does it always have to be such a one sided picture?
Posted by TomApril 25, 09 07:17 AM
102.
#74 They don't have the same culture, and DNA differs for every human being on ths planet. If you're looking for reasons, take a look at history and perhaps plain old randomness.
Posted by AlexanderApril 25, 09 07:34 AM
103.
looks bleak... :(
Posted by louiseApril 25, 09 09:29 AM
104.
Thanks for these fascinating photos. The winter mood seems melodramatic-- what does the country look like in spring, summer or fall? This demonstrates the subjective power of journalism nicely.
Posted by HannonApril 25, 09 11:14 AM
105.
Look at #25 and tell me where the green movement should be working to improve the enviroment. I seems to me that an improvement in this kind of place will yield a much bigger return than a marginal inprovement in the developed countries that have already cleaned up most of thier pollution.
Posted by SnowmanApril 25, 09 01:22 PM
106.
Scaring...
#22 is so representative of sad...
Posted by AnonymousApril 25, 09 02:00 PM
107.
This the success of modern socialism!
Posted by KenApril 25, 09 02:21 PM
108.
Looks like they use wood and coal for heating their homes. That definitely must make the air in the neighborhoods hard to breathe.
Posted by Rick CainApril 25, 09 03:42 PM
109.
I was stationed in Osan, S. Korea and did a DMZ tour. I actually got to cross into N Korea inside the DMZ while in the special building that North and South meet in. NK soliders peered into the windows as we were given the tour. The NKs stood in this wierd, imposing stance on both of the corners on their side of the building while wearing mirrored sunglasses. The SKs told us this was the 'RoK Ready' position intended to intimidate us. Pic #44 really reminded me of this.
Posted by TonyApril 25, 09 04:13 PM
110.
#25 is perfect !
Posted by Bijaoui BalardApril 25, 09 04:18 PM
111.
I've come to look forward to these boston.com pictorals.
Posted by Huey BorkumApril 25, 09 06:34 PM
112.
I'm an indian and part of the worlds largest democracy. We are an upcoming and vibrant economy with a stable economy. Still half of the time peopl end up taking a dig at the way the system works here. Posted by The Traveller
The reason people dig at the way the system works is that millions are still living in dire poverty. Because some are not, does not mean the system is ideal; it can be improved.
Posted by paul wApril 25, 09 08:32 PM
113.
Photos #7 and #27, taken together, are interesting.
Meanwhile, anyone want to get together and donate some paint to North Korea? Their cities seem endlessly gray and depressing. :(
Posted by MattApril 25, 09 08:44 PM
114.
Spectacular pictures to nourish our imagination and fascination with North Korea. Thanks for the link to Eric Laffourge's Flickr album which adds a whole beautiful dimension.
Posted by Liz MitchellApril 25, 09 09:55 PM
115.
probably the worst place on earth to live....
Posted by steveApril 25, 09 09:58 PM
116.
@77 Tyler:
You noted "Kind of like Stalin, a leader like that is GREAT for certain amounts of time"
You might want to take a look at some history books.
Posted by Stanley KruteApril 25, 09 10:26 PM
117.
@74 You can get some information that will help your understanding at www.feedmil.com ... just type out north korea.
Posted by WickedApril 26, 09 02:29 AM
118.
How much must it suck to be stuck in a 1960s parallel of Soviet Russia, while just across the border South Koreans are enjoying a first-world 21st century lifestyle.
But just remember that the mentalities of the two halves of Korea are identical. Seoul is just Pyongyang in drag.
Posted by RhinocerosApril 26, 09 03:56 AM
119.
Number 16. "Separate" not "seperate."
Posted by DPetersonApril 26, 09 07:27 AM
120.
I dont even live in Boston but I read every new big photo column on this page. I love stumble for finding this site for me, these really are some of the coolest pics on the net week after week! this one is a real eye opener about north korea
Posted by John ParkerApril 26, 09 08:34 AM
121.
Great photos. Thanks.
@Rhino (Comment #118) - I think you're wrong. I think S. Korea is N.Korea unfettered. Lots of hope, enthusiasm, optimism and courage there. The North is like a vampire state, sucking the life out of good people.
Posted by Been There, Seen ThatApril 26, 09 11:34 AM
122.
I can draw no conclusion about North Korea from your photographs as they sample a tiny microcosm of little relevance to the people as a whole. As for scary, why don't you attempt to enter a protected US facility and watch the faces of our soldiers and their reactions. I doubt they would be much different. Finally, who is to say that the photographer did not provoke their reactions by his own actions.
Posted by PariahApril 26, 09 11:59 AM
123.
A frightening country.... Good photo's!
Posted by RonaldApril 26, 09 01:09 PM
124.
well, from the pictures I really can't see all that oppression you all talk about. the only thing I see is that they pretty much dislike our curiosity. as if to say: leave us alone. they look poor, but note: most people in the pics (not soldiers, but workers and kids) are smiling/ laughing - is that the propaganda?
Posted by anikoApril 26, 09 02:55 PM
125.
i don't see anything scary here. i think a lot of people are applying what they believe to be true to these photos.
while they do appear to be without many modern conveniences like plumbing, i see kids playing, soliders spending idle time playing a guitar and basketball. and people going to work.
a lot of people need to check how they perceive things.
Posted by daveApril 26, 09 04:36 PM
126.
The photos remind me of the way South Korea looked in 1952 during the war. My last visit there was in 1987 and what a dramatic change. The kids look well-dressed and happy, but that's to be expected from a border area where they're on display to tourists along the river. I have a daughter-in-law from Inchon whose father came from North Korea. She feels nothing but pity for her unknown relatives across the border.
Posted by ChesterApril 26, 09 04:41 PM
127.
i' am south korean
this photo amazing....
amazing north korea...
Posted by SyruApril 26, 09 09:16 PM
128.
Comment #74... "I simply don't understand what made such huge differences. N. Korea and S. Korea have just same DNA, language, and culture."
It's called communism. And to think some in the west still foolishly believe in it...
Posted by Tony RuleApril 26, 09 09:27 PM
129.
Thanks Boss-ton...
Posted by michaelApril 27, 09 03:07 AM
130.
Only if the Americans accepted the fact that some people want to live the way they wish to live and "NOT" the American way.
Great pictures...Thanks for sharing.
Posted by juan aliApril 27, 09 04:13 AM
131.
Image number 25 is absolutely stunning. Beautiful capture.
Posted by Arri KafoorApril 27, 09 04:40 AM
132.
at once, we don't have the tradirionals american comments : amazzzzzzing, so lovelyyyy, so bioutifuuuuuul !!!!
Posted by UaraApril 27, 09 06:11 AM
133.
To Tony @ 109: Sounds as if you got a bit confused. It's the South Korean soldiers who wear sunglasses and stand in aggressive poses, which are supposed to intimidate the North Korean soldiers. The "ROK" in "ROK Ready" stands for "Republic of Korea", the official name of South Korea.
Posted by Gag HalfruntApril 27, 09 07:50 AM
134.
Four years ago, after a week in Pyongyang, I took the train to Shineuiju and crossed over the Yalu river to Dandong in China. The contrast is surreal. All the pictures are superb and describe exactly what life is there.
There are two great books to read for all of you DPRK watchers: The Aquariums of Pyongyang: "Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag by Chol-Wan Kang" and the masterpiece "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" by Bradley K. Martin.
Posted by DPRK watcherApril 27, 09 08:29 AM
135.
Only if idiots like #130 would go live in countries like North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Afghanistan and live the way those people FORCE you to live.
Posted by JackApril 27, 09 10:52 AM
136.
22 is so hot !
Posted by robertApril 27, 09 12:07 PM
137.
3rd picture - directly from Orvell's 1984, directed by Michael Radford
Posted by hideoApril 27, 09 12:11 PM
138.
@99 justin: the photographer is still alive because he (she?) is not in North Korea. As the text at the top of the page indicates, the photos were all taken from just over the border in either South Korea or China (depending on the picture). So the soldier could threaten, but could not act unless the photographer crossed the border.
Posted by Calli ArcaleApril 27, 09 12:17 PM
139.
#32 - I can't help but think of the childhood rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Only in this case the sticks and stones won't hurt me.
CARO DUCK, RETRANSMITO FOTOS DA FRONTEIRA DA KOREA DO NORTE, INCLUSIVE COM ALGUMAS IMAGENS DE NAVIOS QUE N홒 SEI SE SERVIR홒 PARA SEU ARQUIVO. ABRA?S, SIM?S.
Posted by Wanderley DuckApril 28, 09 09:35 AM
143.
J찼 pararam para pensar? A maioria desses pa챠ses que se dizem "fechados", se acham melhores que os outros! Prestem aten챌찾o a alguns detalhes!!!! Eles s찾o TOTALMENTE DEPENDENTES DE N횙S! Algu챕m ai conseguiu ver alguma folha verde em alguma daquelas 찼rvores secas? Ou no meio daquela fuma챌a toda? Eles deveriam agradecer, ajudar pa챠ses como o Brasil que sustenta com nossa Amaz척nia pessoas assim. Iguais mas que se julgam diferentes.
Posted by Andr챕 JamaApril 28, 09 09:47 AM
144.
Pa? infeliz, com pessoas que n? conhecem outra coisa que n? aquilo que lhes ?"mostrado". Perspectivas de qu?
Posted by DalvanApril 28, 09 10:18 AM
145.
These are great photos, and I didn't think everything looked "dreary" as most commenters here implied. Most of the photos, excluding guards, of the villagers and landscape look peaceful. The river looks clean (#26, #31), and the kids look healthy (#33 - btw, I really like that photo -- kind of reminds me of Cartier Bresson's photo.
Posted by Anne H.April 28, 09 10:56 AM
146.
Great pics, though sad, wintery, socialist-y or rather totalitarist-y grey and sad... Make me shiver.
Posted by GalinaApril 28, 09 11:07 AM
147.
I can see the draw to communism, the idea that everyone contributes for the greater good of everyone. Sounds nice.
However, those pesky lazy cogs always end up in the system and tear the entire machine down. Although there may be an inspirational leader who actually is considerate of his people and strives to make society better, eventually his bastard brother/cousin/son gets into power and mucks everything up.
Also, it is a very naive thought to think the USA would be any better off if Regan/Clinton/Bush/Obama was given the same unchecked power Kim Jong-Il has.
Communism works for everyone except Humans.
Posted by DougApril 28, 09 11:24 AM
148.
Mostrado n?, que so conhecem aquilo que lhes permitem ver. O Socialismo/Comunismo ?escravid? em massa, cercada de mis?ia e sofrimento por todos os lados. A Koreia do Norte da America Latina chama-se CUBA.
Posted by SandraApril 28, 09 11:42 AM
149.
@138: If you check the captions you'll see all these photos were taken from China. The only North Korean settlement visible from South Korea, as far as I know, is the propaganda village - Gijeongdong.
@44 - I think they're TV or radio aerials (yes, they do have TV/radio - but they're almost universally locked into government owned channels - in true totalitarian style)
The pictures are amazing - they show that these are real people living real lives in a hard and harsh environment...
I think these images are a little biased: Nort Korea has spring and summer as well.
People keep hinting that the photographers are attempting to paint N Korea as dreary. All the the pictures in this set that have dates are less than a month old. Perhaps they are just timely? Maybe the recent missile launch is what drove the attention?
Photographers have a very limited options of what they can photograph (what can be seen from across the border), they have to take pictures at range, and it just happens to be early spring. There may be an agenda... but perhaps it is better to give the benefit of the doubt?
@sara
That was Kim Il Sung, the daddy, I think.
I can understand why everything looks brown in the photos. It is a frickin' cold place for half the year. I was stationed 35 miles south of Seoul and it was horribly cold for half the year and then extremely hot and humid for the other half. I can just imagine how much colder it is way up north by the Yalu.
Photo #35 - I had that happen to me during the May 2000 VCD vendor riots in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Military trucks full of soldiers rushing in were passing me while walking along Jalan MH Thamrin, and one of the soldiers thought it would be 'funny' to point his rifle at me - much to the amusement of his colleagues.
Having no military training whatsoever myself (I've actually never even held a rifle), I can tell you that was quite an unsettling experience.
Re: 18 & 24 - The antenna type is known as a "null loop" antenna. it can only receive signals from the front and back and has a very quick drop off to either side. Great way to give someone a TV that can only get 1 channel. Also easy to spot if someone is trying to get a signal from a different location.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_antenna
Awesome photo journalism
Can't the UN spend a few Billion and carpet bomb that country with some clothes/toys/food/water purification tablets/and some outside info.
Really sad in this day and age to see any country let alone one as old as this to be so backward.
TIME FOR A COUP!
Time for a coup!
@43 Whenever you hear someone who visited the country they tell you, that it's a grey and depressing and unbelievably Orwellian country. Maybe check out the "The Vice guide to North Korea" on vbs.com ( http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1438428757 ) or the amazing graphic novel "Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea" by Guy Delisle ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang_(comic) ). Gives you a great insight in this cursed country.
Yes, these pictures are bleak. For lack of sunshine on most. For the time of year. For the landscape chosen.
But don't think for a second that NK is not up to the image game. The folks allowed to live by the border are fed better, clothed better, treated better, and given many privileges very few in the country get.
There is an image game going on all the time.
Count on it that many NK citizens are emaciated -- almost to Somali starvation standards. Count on it that many NK citizens die on the street. We'll have to reckon with that when more is revealed to the whole world
Count on it
It is easy to build a weapon when all you see are threats.
Looks like the Guards take their job very very serious. Like they are trained to this is the most importend mission - guard the fence to hell ...
#25 is an amazing shot.
Thank you for posting these pictures. Outsiders don't get to see image of N. Korea very often. Good collection.
I visited Dandong for about five days around 1988, and took a tour boat along the Yalu river. I couldn't visit the North Korea side as I was a US citizen. I remember Chinese people I met telling me that the North Koreans were very very poor.
China has made tremendous economic advances since then -- and even then we could see that coming. North Korea is still so poor as these pictures show. And the part bordering Chinese cities is relatively well-off, as someone mentioned.
Poster #42 - some parts of South Korea are still like that as well. I live in rural Korea, and though I have faster internet than anywhere I've ever lived in the US, there's an open sewer just like the ones in that photo right outside my apartment building, and along most of the streets in my village.
Kids are kids everywhere.
I wonder what the North Korean people themselves think of their situation?
I spent 2 years in Korea in 1971-73. Amazing how much N. Korea looks like what I saw in South Korea nearly 40 years ago.
Evry Body has self protection right. This was the Answer to west threats. We want every thing for us and nothing for OTHERS.
I have a feeling some day the people of North Korea will decide death is preferable to that kind of life and that will be the end of that teapot dictator.
Tai Gostei? Vou Conhecer Sei L?Quando.
This collection is totally incomplete without reference to Eric Laffourge's spectacular work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/sets/72157604812751507/
What a sad..
South Korea:
Population: 48,379,392
GDP: $1.342 trillion (13th)
GDP Per capita: $27,646 (32nd)
Well known for Samsung, Hyundai, ...
North Korea ??
Population: 22,665,345 (But, the area of N. Korea is larger then S. Korea)
GDP: $40.00 (89th)
GDP per capita: $1,700 (156th)
Well known for .. nuclear weapons?
I simply don't understand what made such huge differences. N. Korea and S. Korea have just same DNA, language, and culture.
This is just fascinating!
Great images today. Really demonstrates what a strange place North Korea is, and this is just a tiny corner of it.
@ 74
DPRK needs a new leader. Time for Kim Jong Il to step down, they need a new breed of leader, one more open to the true deam of marxism, democracy! Kind of like Stalin, a leader like that is GREAT for certain amounts of time, but when they overtake their stay, not so great.
I echo poster #8's congratulations on your award Alan, another great job done in making this presentation available.
It looks very much the same as it did in 1951 and 1953 when I was a POW (of the Chinese fortunately) in Camp 1 about 15 miles East of Supung Dam.
I think a few books need to be read, first about the Korean War (which will make clear why the North Koreans are so defensive in nature), and I've just read an excellent book, 'Meltdown, the inside story of the North Korean Nuclear Crisis' by Mike Chinoy, about the realities of dealing with such a 'kingdom'. And, the stupidity of being inflexible by some western governments...
Also, although this horrendous place is as probably as close to a Stalinist system there is, it's probably more like a religious cult than a political system.
As for the poverty, that is a regular concept in many countries, not just Nth Korea, and that includes many that have received western 'aid' (i.e. military support of dictators for access to the minerals, etc).
Yes, I do very much pity the Nth Koreans.
Hey listen to this, the soldiers were throwing rocks at the photographers in #23, essentially freeing the stones from the North side. Kim Jong-Il, will be ticked. Those are "the parties" rocks, perhaps if we get the soldiers to throw more rocks onto the Southern side, we could open a souvenir shop, called "Freed Stones of the North". You all are thinking the same thing as me, aren't you, lucrative, lucrative.
#35 gave me the chills. i hope the lens was a super telephoto.
Thanks for posting this Josh! I had forgotten these were supposed to come out...Hope you're doing well!
Those were awesome pictures. Thank you for sharing them. I just got back from South Korea a month ago. Thanks again. Awesome!
crazy boss
Wonderful images, every morning the first thing i do is log onto bsoton.com to view this breath taking pictures. Coming back to these series...I agree with what a majority of people have commented. Life has been suppressed to such an extent in North Korea, that people will find it difficult to know what is free air and a free life. I'm an indian and part of the worlds largest democracy. We are an upcoming and vibrant economy with a stable economy. Still half of the time peopl end up taking a dig at the way the system works here. When compared to North Korea I realize how much good has life been to us
As an American living in Seoul, South Korea (a short 26 miles away from the North), I've learned a lot about the South Korean's attitudes towards North Korea. (Generalizations to follow.)
In western media, a crazy amount of attention is dedicated to the North, but if there is anyone who really understands them, it is the South. The best way I have to describe the South's view of the North is that the North is like a little brother - a bit strange and aggressive, but family that needs guidance.
Everyone I've talked to supports unification, with the caveat that the borders shouldn't be opened all at once - the South's economy would be destroyed. Rather, they would like to see a unified two state solution - one democratic government, two states. As borders are already well controlled, moving people back and forth in a controlled fashion would be feasible.
We were there in the summer. As grim as the economic situation might be, there were children swimming and playing in the river, waving to the tourists. Photographs always show only the part that the persons that makes the selection wants to show.
Do you think, they are happy ? I don't think so .
#25 looks so backwards, almost surreal and from a movie set.
How is the photographer a live? In one of the images, he seems to have got caught by the Military? If he really was in North Korea, he would have been shot or at the very least, get his camera stolen. Anyways, nice images!
Century 21 ??
I as well don't understand what made such huge differences
why are South Koreans such American brown nosers in the middle of Asia
#25 ! Une photo pleine de po?ie
I am startled at the picture of Kimilseong
and
Wow!, this is very fantastic images~~!!
(I'm a Korean)
Communist dictatorships are not much fun.
Poor people. Waht a scary place to live
췻陝擾?壯 裔佚? 賊壯惟. (cyrillic)
This Blog might be interesting for you: http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/ (they spent about 36 hours without guides)
The interesting part begins here: http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/2008/09/tumangan-north-korean-border-station.html
#25 is fantastic. NK is scary and fascinating at the same time - so isolated and back wards in many respects.
Do you seriously expect everyone to believe this country consists only of
aggressive soldiers
pollution
nobody smiles
the sun never shines
I don't doubt your cameras don't lie, but why does it always have to be such a one sided picture?
#74 They don't have the same culture, and DNA differs for every human being on ths planet. If you're looking for reasons, take a look at history and perhaps plain old randomness.
looks bleak... :(
Thanks for these fascinating photos. The winter mood seems melodramatic-- what does the country look like in spring, summer or fall? This demonstrates the subjective power of journalism nicely.
Look at #25 and tell me where the green movement should be working to improve the enviroment. I seems to me that an improvement in this kind of place will yield a much bigger return than a marginal inprovement in the developed countries that have already cleaned up most of thier pollution.
Scaring...
#22 is so representative of sad...
This the success of modern socialism!
Looks like they use wood and coal for heating their homes. That definitely must make the air in the neighborhoods hard to breathe.
I was stationed in Osan, S. Korea and did a DMZ tour. I actually got to cross into N Korea inside the DMZ while in the special building that North and South meet in. NK soliders peered into the windows as we were given the tour. The NKs stood in this wierd, imposing stance on both of the corners on their side of the building while wearing mirrored sunglasses. The SKs told us this was the 'RoK Ready' position intended to intimidate us. Pic #44 really reminded me of this.
#25 is perfect !
I've come to look forward to these boston.com pictorals.
I'm an indian and part of the worlds largest democracy. We are an upcoming and vibrant economy with a stable economy. Still half of the time peopl end up taking a dig at the way the system works here.
Posted by The Traveller
The reason people dig at the way the system works is that millions are still living in dire poverty. Because some are not, does not mean the system is ideal; it can be improved.
Photos #7 and #27, taken together, are interesting.
Meanwhile, anyone want to get together and donate some paint to North Korea? Their cities seem endlessly gray and depressing. :(
Spectacular pictures to nourish our imagination and fascination with North Korea.
Thanks for the link to Eric Laffourge's Flickr album which adds a whole beautiful dimension.
probably the worst place on earth to live....
@77 Tyler:
You noted "Kind of like Stalin, a leader like that is GREAT for certain amounts of time"
You might want to take a look at some history books.
@74
You can get some information that will help your understanding at www.feedmil.com ... just type out north korea.
But just remember that the mentalities of the two halves of Korea are identical. Seoul is just Pyongyang in drag.
Number 16. "Separate" not "seperate."
I dont even live in Boston but I read every new big photo column on this page. I love stumble for finding this site for me, these really are some of the coolest pics on the net week after week! this one is a real eye opener about north korea
Great photos. Thanks.
@Rhino (Comment #118) - I think you're wrong. I think S. Korea is
N.Korea unfettered. Lots of hope, enthusiasm, optimism and courage there.
The North is like a vampire state, sucking the life out of good people.
I can draw no conclusion about North Korea from your photographs as they sample a tiny microcosm of little relevance to the people as a whole. As for scary, why don't you attempt to enter a protected US facility and watch the faces of our soldiers and their reactions. I doubt they would be much different. Finally, who is to say that the photographer did not provoke their reactions by his own actions.
A frightening country.... Good photo's!
well, from the pictures I really can't see all that oppression you all talk about. the only thing I see is that they pretty much dislike our curiosity. as if to say: leave us alone.
they look poor, but note: most people in the pics (not soldiers, but workers and kids) are smiling/ laughing - is that the propaganda?
i don't see anything scary here. i think a lot of people are applying what they believe to be true to these photos.
while they do appear to be without many modern conveniences like plumbing, i see kids playing, soliders spending idle time playing a guitar and basketball. and people going to work.
a lot of people need to check how they perceive things.
The photos remind me of the way South Korea looked in 1952 during the war. My last visit there was in 1987 and what a dramatic change. The kids look well-dressed and happy, but that's to be expected from a border area where they're on display to tourists along the river. I have a daughter-in-law from Inchon whose father came from North Korea. She feels nothing but pity for her unknown relatives across the border.
i' am south korean
this photo amazing....
amazing north korea...
Comment #74... "I simply don't understand what made such huge differences. N. Korea and S. Korea have just same DNA, language, and culture."
It's called communism. And to think some in the west still foolishly believe in it...
Thanks Boss-ton...
Only if the Americans accepted the fact that some people want to live the way they wish to live and "NOT" the American way.
Great pictures...Thanks for sharing.
Image number 25 is absolutely stunning. Beautiful capture.
at once, we don't have the tradirionals american comments :
amazzzzzzing, so lovelyyyy, so bioutifuuuuuul !!!!
To Tony @ 109:
Sounds as if you got a bit confused. It's the South Korean soldiers who wear sunglasses and stand in aggressive poses, which are supposed to intimidate the North Korean soldiers. The "ROK" in "ROK Ready" stands for "Republic of Korea", the official name of South Korea.
Four years ago, after a week in Pyongyang, I took the train to Shineuiju and crossed over the Yalu river to Dandong in China. The contrast is surreal. All the pictures are superb and describe exactly what life is there.
There are two great books to read for all of you DPRK watchers: The Aquariums of Pyongyang: "Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag by Chol-Wan Kang" and the masterpiece "Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" by Bradley K. Martin.
Only if idiots like #130 would go live in countries like North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Afghanistan and live the way those people FORCE you to live.
22 is so hot !
3rd picture - directly from Orvell's 1984, directed by Michael Radford
@99 justin: the photographer is still alive because he (she?) is not in North Korea. As the text at the top of the page indicates, the photos were all taken from just over the border in either South Korea or China (depending on the picture). So the soldier could threaten, but could not act unless the photographer crossed the border.
#32 - I can't help but think of the childhood rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Only in this case the sticks and stones won't hurt me.
http://www.tema.ru/travel/north-korea-1/
http://www.tema.ru/travel/north-korea-2/
http://www.tema.ru/travel/north-korea-3/
http://www.tema.ru/travel/north-korea-4/
http://www.tema.ru/travel/north-korea-5/
More photos with comments in Russian.
@136. robert, if you liked that, you'll like this even more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22931262@N07/sets/72157606593147742/detail/
CARO DUCK,
RETRANSMITO FOTOS DA FRONTEIRA DA KOREA DO NORTE, INCLUSIVE COM ALGUMAS IMAGENS DE NAVIOS QUE N홒 SEI SE SERVIR홒 PARA SEU ARQUIVO.
ABRA?S, SIM?S.
J찼 pararam para pensar? A maioria desses pa챠ses que se dizem "fechados", se acham melhores que os outros! Prestem aten챌찾o a alguns detalhes!!!! Eles s찾o TOTALMENTE DEPENDENTES DE N횙S! Algu챕m ai conseguiu ver alguma folha verde em alguma daquelas 찼rvores secas? Ou no meio daquela fuma챌a toda?
Eles deveriam agradecer, ajudar pa챠ses como o Brasil que sustenta com nossa Amaz척nia pessoas assim. Iguais mas que se julgam diferentes.
Pa? infeliz, com pessoas que n? conhecem outra coisa que n? aquilo que lhes ?"mostrado". Perspectivas de qu?
These are great photos, and I didn't think everything looked "dreary" as most commenters here implied. Most of the photos, excluding guards, of the villagers and landscape look peaceful. The river looks clean (#26, #31), and the kids look healthy (#33 - btw, I really like that photo -- kind of reminds me of Cartier Bresson's photo.
Great pics, though sad, wintery, socialist-y or rather totalitarist-y grey and sad...
Make me shiver.
I can see the draw to communism, the idea that everyone contributes for the greater good of everyone. Sounds nice.
However, those pesky lazy cogs always end up in the system and tear the entire machine down. Although there may be an inspirational leader who actually is considerate of his people and strives to make society better, eventually his bastard brother/cousin/son gets into power and mucks everything up.
Also, it is a very naive thought to think the USA would be any better off if Regan/Clinton/Bush/Obama was given the same unchecked power Kim Jong-Il has.
Communism works for everyone except Humans.
Mostrado n?, que so conhecem aquilo que lhes permitem ver. O Socialismo/Comunismo ?escravid? em massa, cercada de mis?ia e sofrimento por todos os lados. A Koreia do Norte da America Latina chama-se CUBA.
@138: If you check the captions you'll see all these photos were taken from China. The only North Korean settlement visible from South Korea, as far as I know, is the propaganda village - Gijeongdong.
Loved #25... hauntingly beautiful
Thanks for the whole series though!