Photos from our contributor Todor Merdjanov from his months spent in North Korea reveal a more local view of life in North Korea, a country so off limits to the rest of the world that citizens’ daily lives appear mysterious, strange, an exhibit in a museum. These images, sometimes eerily quiet, or sometimes full of life, hopefully give a refreshing glimpse into life in the DPRK.
A Day in the Life
Portraits of the two former leaders overlooking the square in front of Pyongyang Department Store
Korean families enjoying a dip in the sea despite the cloudy weather at the beach near Wonsan
Observing people casually strolling around at Kim Il-sung Square and students rehearsing their marching skills in the background
The Pyongyang Zoo brimming with life, civilians interacting with an elephant
After a walk in the rain, we enjoy freshly cooked clams near the docks in Wonsan
Cityscape
Apartment buildings under construction, demonstrating a newer, less Soviet style architecture
Kim Il-sung Stadium near the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang
Newly built, high-class residential buildings in downtown Pyongyang
Yanggakdo Hotel, another international hotel in Pyongyang with a revolving observation restaurant on the top floor
A bird’s eye view of Pyongyang with Koryo Hotel in the distance
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il
City lights in downtown Pyongyang at night
At the Songdowon International Children Summer Camp
Softer Edges
A rainy morning walk on the bridge leading to the lighthouse island in Wonsan
The lake at the premises of the Songdowon International Children Summer Camp, equipped with rowboats and waterslides
A performance hall at the Songdowon International Children Summer Camp, empty at the time.
People are casually having a chat in the late afternoon in front of the April 25 House of Culture (April 25th is the Military Foundation Day in North Korea)
A view to the Taedong River with the Juche Tower in the background, symbolizing the North Korean socio-political ideology
Sunset in Pyongyang with the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in the distance, the biggest stadium in the world (114,000 people capacity)
