Friday, March 9, 2018

21 photos of North Korea that Kim Jong Un wouldn't want you to see

Kim Jong Un — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un keeps a close watch over the media in his country, controlling much of what citizens know of the outside world, and vice versa.

Though Kim has fought to present the Hermit Kingdom to the world as a bastion of military might, nuclear power, and anti-West sentiment, the reality of daily life is grim.

Much of the country lives in poverty, tens of thousands of people are held as political prisoners, and the government tightly controls most aspects of life.

Here's what Kim's North Korea looks like:

Day-to-day life in North Korea can be bleak.

Day-to-day life in North Korea can be bleak. — A young girl playing on a safety rail at the carpark in front a department store in Pyongyang.

Source: Business Insider

The Hermit Kingdom, one of the most closed-off places in the world, has experienced increasingly severe food shortages in recent years.

The Hermit Kingdom, one of the most closed-off places in the world, has experienced increasingly severe food shortages in recent years.

Source: Business Insider

Childhood in North Korea can be difficult. Many children in rural areas have to work on farms, and forced labor drives much of the country's economic output.

Childhood in North Korea can be difficult. Many children in rural areas have to work on farms, and forced labor drives much of the country's economic output. — A boy in a cornfield in an area damaged by floods and typhoons in the Soksa-Ri collective farm in North Korea's South Hwanghae province in September 2011.

Sources: Business Insider, Human Rights Watch

Malnutrition affects a shocking number of North Korean children — roughly 28% of kids under 5 have stunted growth.

Malnutrition affects a shocking number of North Korean children — roughly 28% of kids under 5 have stunted growth. — A South Korean man holds photos of what he says are starving North Korean children in December 2009.

Source: New York Times

Poverty and hunger are most acute in North Korea's countryside. An estimated 41% of the population, or 10.5 million people, are believed to be undernourished.

Poverty and hunger are most acute in North Korea's countryside. An estimated 41% of the population, or 10.5 million people, are believed to be undernourished. — A North Korean woman rests by the Pothong River in July.

Sources: Business Insider, New York Times

Xiaolu Chu, a Getty photographer who traveled through North Korea by train in 2015, said he noticed scores of people in rural villages begging for money. He shared some of his photos with Business Insider.

Xiaolu Chu, a Getty photographer who traveled through North Korea by train in 2015, said he noticed scores of people in rural villages begging for money. He shared some of his photos with Business Insider. — A boy begs for food on a Hamhung Railway Station platform in Hamhung, North Korea, in August 2015.

"There are nearly no fat people in North Korea," Chu told Business Insider. "Everyone looks very thin."

People cool down at a train carriage door in North Korea in August 2015.

But even North Koreans in cities face poor living conditions. Many live in densely packed high-rise apartments and often experience electricity shortages and elevator breakdowns.

But even North Koreans in cities face poor living conditions. Many live in densely packed high-rise apartments and often experience electricity shortages and elevator breakdowns. — An apartment block in Pyongyang.

Source: Business Insider

And there's not much access to the internet — people make do with a closed-off computer network system accessible in only a handful of places, like this library in Pyongyang.

And there's not much access to the internet — people make do with a closed-off computer network system accessible in only a handful of places, like this library in Pyongyang. — People at the Grand People's Study House.

Source: BBC

One of the most telling aspects of North Korean life is its military. The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, loves to show off its military might, holding flashy parades and distributing propaganda photos of vast armies of marching soldiers.

One of the most telling aspects of North Korean life is its military. The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, loves to show off its military might, holding flashy parades and distributing propaganda photos of vast armies of marching soldiers.

But it's rarer to capture photos that show the flipside of military life. North Korean soldiers are often malnourished or ill because of rigorous training and a lack of food.

But it's rarer to capture photos that show the flipside of military life. North Korean soldiers are often malnourished or ill because of rigorous training and a lack of food. — A North Korean soldier kicks a goat on the banks of the Yalu River in July 2009.

As one soldier defected last year, others shot him five times. Surgeons in South Korea then made a shocking discovery as they rushed to treat his wounds: He was riddled with parasites.

As one soldier defected last year, others shot him five times. Surgeons in South Korea then made a shocking discovery as they rushed to treat his wounds: He was riddled with parasites.

Source: Business Insider

The parasitic worms, some of which were 11 inches long, illustrate the poor conditions in North Korea. The country still uses human excrement to fertilize its crops, a practice that can spread parasites.

The parasitic worms, some of which were 11 inches long, illustrate the poor conditions in North Korea. The country still uses human excrement to fertilize its crops, a practice that can spread parasites. — The defector's surgeon presents his findings.

Sources: New York Times, Business Insider

Defections aren't uncommon, though the number of people who did so dropped by 21% last year, to 1,127.

Defections aren't uncommon, though the number of people who did so dropped by 21% last year, to 1,127. — A North Korean soldier keeps watch in front of a guard post next to a spot where a soldier defected.

Source: Quartz

South Korea attributes the falling number in part to tighter border security. North Korean soldiers are ruthless when they see people escaping — here are bullet holes from when they tried to shoot a defector in November.

South Korea attributes the falling number in part to tighter border security. North Korean soldiers are ruthless when they see people escaping — here are bullet holes from when they tried to shoot a defector in November.

Another disturbing aspect of life in North Korea is the country's notorious prison camps, where citizens — some of whom were found to have committed minor infractions that wouldn't be considered crimes in other countries — can face appalling conditions.

Another disturbing aspect of life in North Korea is the country's notorious prison camps, where citizens — some of whom were found to have committed minor infractions that wouldn't be considered crimes in other countries — can face appalling conditions. — The Jongori prison camp in North Korea.

Source: Washington Post

Prisoners in these so-called re-education camps are often starved and forced to do hard labor. Some survivors have reported harsh interrogations and even torture. Though there aren't photos of the camps, they're visible on Google Earth.

Prisoners in these so-called re-education camps are often starved and forced to do hard labor. Some survivors have reported harsh interrogations and even torture. Though there aren't photos of the camps, they're visible on Google Earth. — The Kaechon "re-education" camp in North Korea.

Source: Washington Post

The international community has long condemned North Korea's human-rights record. The US too has highlighted victims of especially egregious brutality, like Ji Seong-ho, who attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in January.

The international community has long condemned North Korea's human-rights record. The US too has highlighted victims of especially egregious brutality, like Ji Seong-ho, who attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in January. — Ji holds up his crutches during Trump's speech.

Source: Business Insider

Ji left his homeland in 2006. He says he crossed thousands of miles on crutches after enduring years of hunger, grievous injuries from falling on train tracks, and torture at the hands of North Korean police.

Ji left his homeland in 2006. He says he crossed thousands of miles on crutches after enduring years of hunger, grievous injuries from falling on train tracks, and torture at the hands of North Korean police. — Ji gives an interview in the White House briefing room in January.

Source: New York Times

"I understand you still keep those crutches as a reminder of how far you have come," Trump said during his State of the Union speech, adding: "Seong-ho's story is a testament to the yearning of every human soul to live in freedom."

Ji's crutches, which he used when he defected.

Source: White House

That freedom is far from reality for many still in Kim's North Korea.

That freedom is far from reality for many still in Kim's North Korea. — A schoolgirl walks by as students and volunteers work to repair the water supply system in Haeju, North Korea, which was hit by floods and typhoons in October 2011.

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