This photo of a train station in Pyongyang, North Korea which was taken by a tourist was sanctioned by the government. The photo seems unremarkable at first with many travelers on their way to various destinations.
The funny thing is that all the people in this photo are paid actors. Due to the fact that trains are used mostly for tourism, train stations are only open for a few hours each day. At the time this photo was taken (showing people entering the station) the real trains had already stopped running!
Construction junction
This photo shows a group of North Korean construction workers in Pyongyang on the way to their worksite. The North Korean leadership makes a point of broadcasting the modernity their country has achieved, with no outside help, and visitor tours focus on Pyongyang’s booming construction.
However, not all is as it seems. North Korea has very few skilled architects and qualified craftsman, and their work crews survive mostly on grass. No wonder so few of the new buildings are suitable for habitation.
Tourism
Many cities offer guided tours to visitors, with explanations by the tour guide but also a chance to explore on your own. This is not the case in North Korea.
All sightseeing tours are organized by the regime. Even the people you are allowed to meet have been vetted by the state. And if you have accidentally wandered off, get ready to get to know your tour guide much better. There is a good chance that you two will be cellmates because both wandering off and losing a tourist are punishable by a jail sentence!
Just stay home
Traveling is not part of life in North Korea. Most people in the country do not leave the village they were born in their entire lives. There are military check points at the entrances to many towns and villages and it is very rare to get permission to leave. There is always the risk that even with special permission you will get arrested and charged with trumped up espionage charges. That is why this picture of a bus traveling the countryside is so rare. The bus looks at least 50 years old and probably doesn’t even have air conditioning.
The bus looks at least 50 years old and probably doesn’t even have air conditioning. Talk about traveling in style. This 1960’s era bus traveling the countryside is a rare sight.
0 unemployment
What a marvelous country North Korea must be to have a 0% unemployment rate and a job for every worker. This is surely a sign of a strong economy. An economy so strong, that even the schoolgirls want to pitch in and clean the street from dust.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the whole truth, but with no access to unofficial numbers, we must trust in the government’s unemployment figures. Well, maybe with just the tiniest hint of skepticism.