The nation closed its borders in 2020. Before that, the few tourists who managed to visit it couldn’t use their phones to photograph whatever they pleased. Photos could only capture tourist sights, as anything beyond that could potentially expose people to legal complications.
HighlightsA Reddit user says he flew a drone into North Korea, capturing images of deserted streets.The photos show less than ten pedestrians on wide, empty streets, with portraits of North Korean leaders on massive buildings.Since the pandemic, North Korea fortified its border against all cross-border movement and humanitarian aid.
However, aReddituser claims to have captured life in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) after flying a drone across the border it shares with China.
The post, which received over 138,000 upvotes, showsa series of photosallegedly depicting the nation’s nearly deserted streets and massive buildings.
A Reddit user claims he flew a drone into North Korea from China, capturing the totalitarian state’s nearly deserted streets and large buildings
Image credits:r/pics
The images show the portraits ofNorth KoreanFounder Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il decorating the outside of a large building.
Meanwhile, other photos capture the wide yet empty streets with less than ten pedestrians in sight.
In the middle of the road, someone dressed in a blue uniform appears to be in charge of controlling the sparse flow of traffic.
Since the start of the pandemic,North Koreahas been using “expanded fences, guard posts, strict enforcement, and new rules, including a standing order for border guards to shoot on sight,” according toa reportfrom the Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on March 7.
By fortifying its northern border with China and Russia, the government has “stopped almost all cross-border movement of people, formal and informal commercial trade, and humanitarian aid,” the report adds.
The images show the portraits of North Korean Founder Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il decorating the outside of a large building
The document describes the human rights abuses that take place within the country, including widespread violations in detention and prisons, routine brutality against anyone considered to pose a threat to North Korea’s political system, widespread use of forced labor, and abductions of foreign nationals.
Perhaps the most bizarre restriction is theprohibition to wear jeans. The ban is part of a larger fight over what’s considered to be the influence of US imperialism in the communist country.
Photos capture the wide yet empty streets with less than ten pedestrians in sight and few vehicles
In 2022, the US government-fundedRadio Free Asiasaid the government was cracking down on “capitalist” fashion and hairstyles, including skinny jeans and T-shirts bearing foreign words, as well as dyed or long hair.
People reacted to the photos on Reddit, expressing confusion about the small number of people and vehicles on the street.
“Am I tripping, or is there no street drainage at all? Definitely no traffic lights. Looks like a concrete model of a city,” someone wrote.
“I’m always amazed at the creepy emptiness going on there,” another person added.
People described the town as “lifeless”
“It’s so lifeless looking. I feel so bad for their people,” a separate Redditor wrote.
A fourth person wondered, “Where are the people? Are they only props that come out whenever the Dear Leader needs his ego stroked?”
“How were you able to fly your drone so deep inside (what’s the flying range)? And didn’t the N. Korean military radars or someone on the ground detect the drone and attack it (to take it down)?” someone else inquired, to which the Redditor who shared the images responded, “The city is just across the border about 2km.”
Others worried for the drone owner’s safety, writing, “That seems not very smart.”
“Guy singlehandedly invaded N. Korea,” somebody else said.
“This won’t create an international incident, but you can be sure both governments will be working to figure out who it was,” another individual suggested.
“That seems like a very dangerous game,” someone pointed out
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