Kids
Children consume propaganda from birth. The Juche ideology and the leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-un are the spirits of the country and their ideas are sacrosanct. Children learn to hate American and Japanese. They receive free education of four years of elementary school and seven years of middle school, a tour guide said. After two exams, only the top 30 percent can get into a university, another tour guide added. All...
Ground and Sky
By Shan Shan Kao Pyongyang is focused on scale: Statues are huge, monuments are towering and buildings are vast. Instead, this series of photos shows the details of everyday life. by Shan Shan Kao Looking down from the Tower of Juche Idea by Shan Shan Kao The ground of an open space next to Kim Il-sung Square, along the Taedong River. by Shan Shan Kao People using buckets hand water plants on the roadside in North Korea. by Shan Shan...
Fashion
Uniformity is one of the main ideologies in North Korea and it shows up in the fashion. The monotone outfits, with sand, navy blue, grey or black suits with one row of buttons, gives everyday dress the feeling of a military style. The exception is the women’s traditional dress, the choson-ot, usually brightly coloured. Nearly all North Koreans wear red badges above their heart with the portraits of the two late great leaders,...
Transportation
Most people in North Korea travel by public transport or bicycle. Traffic is light with rare private cars, which are gifts to certain people by the government, though it has been increasing lately. The main roads are spacious and manned by traffic police in distinctive blue uniforms. By Annie Lee Cycling is a major form of transport in Pyongyang. There is little private car ownership. Cars are given as rewards for extraordinary...
