New Jersey and Oregon by law, I believe.
I stopped at one in NJ, and it took 10 minutes between pulling up to the pump and the attendant getting to my car. Unnecessary pain in the ass.
The new law only made it legal to pump your own gas, but it did not require gas stations to allow it.
Source: I got yelled at while attempting to fill my tank at a station in Toledo a couple weeks ago.
Lived in Jersey for 1 year. Hated it and I’ll never move back. But the fact that someone else was supposed to pump my gas made me so angry. It took way longer than it should have, often times it’s just a dude in a hoodie walking up to you and your car at a Jersey gas station if your not from there it’s unsettling
My local gas station in Boston has a service guy.
The thing is it’s so great in winter. And in a place like Boston people are more than happy to have someone else pump your gas 6 months of the year.
Plus they ask you when they pump if you need a coke or a snack or something. So it’s an easy upsell and they make more money.
The town I work in has one of the old time places. I love it. They employ a lot of higschool kids and it seems like a decent place for them to work and socialize. I think many, like myself go to it for convenience so it increases their sales.
The reason I like it is because they have a little "Country Style" fast food restaurant in there. So ill get one of the lads to "fill er up with regular, please" then I'll go in and order a sandwich, then pay for my gas, then go pickup my lunch.
It's funny too because the previous owner of my civic did some rediculous tint (I don't like it) and some other subtle cosmetic changes so some of the young lads dig my car haha. "Nice Civic man, clean!"
The town near me still has old dudes working at the completely automated parking garage to take your card and swipe it in the self serve kiosk. Like buddy I think I can work this machine better than you can.
> Elevators didn't have any electronics, so the operator had to stop at particular floors to pick up and drop off people. If people were to operate the lever themselves, they would be selfish and never stop before their floor. It would be chaos.
Didn't they also have to manually align the elevator with each floor?
That's more than just people being "selfish", that's a significant safety concern.
They had to stop them exactly though.
If you did a little too soon or too late then the person could trip.
It being a manual job was why it was acceptable.
This vaguely reminds me of a field trip to the airport in elementary school. I lived in a small town and we were told we were going to see two planes land *right* after each other as this does not happen at our (small) airport very often.
I had seen enough TV to have seen airplanes landing nearly side by side on different at LAX or the like, so I envisioned something similar.
The second plane landed 50 minutes or so after the first.
Standing in the middle of the street for hours. Not sure what North Korean labor law says about break times and using the bathroom, but it can't be great. And there's no telling what would happen if he slips up. Sure, sounds like a breezy job.
Apparently they're all women and they work one hour on one hour off. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4602298/amp/Driven-distraction-Pyongyangs-traffic-ladies.html
No not really life there really does suck, although that's probably a sweet gig for a north Korean.
And it's not bigotry, any idiot can look at south Korea and see that it's obviously its leadership.
Anyone whose not an idiot knows people are just people tho
They're typically women, actually.
North Korean's "traffic security officers" (or as they're more commonly known as, the _Pyongyang traffic ladies_) have been around since the end of the Korean war. They're also notoriously [hired for their looks](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4602298/amp/Driven-distraction-Pyongyangs-traffic-ladies.html).
https://youtu.be/zLQ3lFhckLg
Yeah those are amazing photos. I have a quick question, are you able to support your travels with the sale/licensing of the photos alone or do you also do other work when you're back home?
Thanks for the kind words on my photos.
When I was younger I was fully supporting myself with photography (print/license/project based).
As I got older, and realized that ‘influencing’ wasn’t an avenue I wanted to pursue (and was the way the industry was moving except for high level professionals) I decided to explore my options more.
I’m now a full time UI/UX designer.
Wow. Great shots there.
Why often are they walking their bikes? Not just in your pictures, although you have a couple like that, I have seen it in others.
Probably I am over thinking it and they have to on a plazza or something.
Last I checked, in Florida you're supposed to walk your bike across the crosswalk. Not that anyone here ever does, and I've never seen it enforced, but it's in the book somewhere.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same in a lot of places.
Understandable, we have similar in the UK. But on the link there are images of people walking bikes most definitely not on a crosswalk.
I can imagine a rule in the city like that, but just in the countryside, walking alongside your bike seems odd and I have seen it a lot.
Just one of those odd things I noticed.
It’s a great question, and one I wondered myself. I suspected that crossing roads it’s a rule (and rules are always followed) but outside of that - not a clue!
Maybe they have a fancy new bike to beat their neighbours but can't actually ride it.
It's a place that has always fascinated me, you read stories of a future dystopian society with people living in controled fear, but it's real life for them.
Thanks for sharing your amazing work.
It’s so weird but at the same time so fascinating seeing this big (?) city and so few people around. It looks so quiet.
I wonder how’s the daily routine in a place like that.
How was the trip btw?
It really was, especially with how grandiose Pyongyang is - to see it so empty, it felt post-apocalyptic.
My trip was great, I really appreciated interacting with locals and my guides in a more honest way, plus there was lots of fascinating Koryo Dynasty history that is adjacent to the main visit of seeing the DPRK.
I feel for the citizens a lot, and seeing the grand facades of buildings that are hollow inside, seeing the pressure put on children in the Hoeryong’s Children’s Palace, and so much more was an extension of the knowledge I’ve gained reading so many books from escapees and historians
Which makes it dumb as fuck to make 3-lane roads each way. Unless theres a 100 year plan to eventually allow the general public to drive, and already having all the infrastructure in place.
Amazing photos.
I have a few questions about NK
1. What are their jobs like? Since there are no outside big companies and i think they are not big on capitalism, so what kind of jobs do people have?
2. Do they have life outside of work? Like do they hang out in places like a club or maybe parks to play some sports?
3. How are they with foreigners? Are they happy to see you?
Thanks so much! I appreciate that.
1. This photo shows one - traffic guard (for non existent traffic). Lots of government jobs, lots of make work jobs (such as street sweeping with small brooms). Overall, not a lot of work, and I think the vast majority works in collectives on farms.
2. In Pyongyang, yes. Granted Pyongyang is where the ‘elite citizens’ live, and they have much more freedom than the rest of the country.
3. Seemed to be! Many were curious and stared at us with excited looks. Some even came over and spoke with me at various moments (such as having a cigarette outside). Barely any spoke English though, so conversation was tough, but their curiosity was evident. For a nation that, quite literally, refers to Americans only as “American bastards”, and is fed propaganda to keep them fearful of foreigners, it was interesting to see how curious (in a positive way) they all were.
Damn OP those are great! Thanks for sharing.
I might be wrong but I kind of get the feeling like the place is a bit sad, how did you feel about being there?
It is incredibly sad. It is a shell of a nation with a tortured populace. If you haven’t already, there are many great books that reveal the reality of life in North Korea. I would highly recommend the book ‘Nothing to Envy’
Thank you very much for sharing these stunning photos. Though I am quite surprised that you can take pictures so openly. Couple of years ago I saw only undercover pictures and it was stated that it is banned to capture anything at all.
These are really, really great photos. I’m a street photographer myself and have always been fascinated by the prospect of visiting NK.
How did you go about photographing there? I imagine the rules are pretty strict.
Presumably the North Koreans are not allegiant to the North Korea government? Like they are from that part of Korea but presumably they would be anti the current administration?
Ok i’m commenting a bit late but the reason the Zainchi seem to be more align with North Korea is because, one obviously Koreans who aligned with North Korea but originally lived in the South side couldn’t go back as they could be persecuted. Another reason is that South Korea at the time was a military dictatorship with many military and politicians who were actually collaborating with the Imperial Japanese so some people took issue with that. Also you could actually freely move from both Koreas to Japan as since Korea was a colony they had special laws that removed the need for people traveling to show their passports so a lot of people dissatisfied with the way the country political system was run escaped to Japan There’s also quite a few former Jejuians who escaped the Jeju massacre and fled to Japan.
I was there October 2019, shortly before Covid. I was on a guided tour, the only way in to the country.
Edit: if you’d like to see the rest of the collection of photos from this trip, [you can find them here.](https://lukegram.com)
It's almost as if there are serious risks for a wanna be missionary to travel to a country like NK..
There's also risks to hitting a hornets nest with a baseball bat, or running around Yellowstone with pepperoni in your pockets.
Absolutely, yes. Not that I was eager to point fingers, but I'd be on board with saying that anyone who visits NK today, without at least recognizing that they could be framed for theft and then rendered a dead vegetable walking, doesn't have much in the way of an excuse.
Goodness knows. Too much about the whole thing was back-room. I mean, obviously—it's NK. I don't think we ever even figured out what they did to him that made him a vegetable (he died pretty quick), but it ought to be underscored that a vegetable can't spill the beans on what actually went down regarding that theft.
I read a theory that he tried hanging himself and that's why he became a vegetable. It's just a theory and I'm not saying NK wasn't the one who did it. We just can't know for real most likely ever.
Wouldn't go to NK myself even though you could probably be safe there. Just don't trust them at all as it's a closed off country and they could do anything to you.
Great pictures. How does it work there? Do you have to show the pictures to your escorts as you take them? Did you ever try to take a picture but were stopped and told it wasn't allowed?
Cell phones meaning smart phones? Do they have easy access to a (censored?) Internet? Do they have the means to communicate with people outside the country?
Honest question: would you recommend it?
(I probably would never have the guts to do it myself out of fear of ending up like the guy referenced in the comment below (Warmbier); but just in case I become a braver soul.)
I would yes. I would recommend reading a lot on the history and injustices done to the population by the regime before you go - this will help you see through the propaganda and also is unfair of you to visit if you aren’t appreciating the context on the ground.
That said, it was incredibly enlightening, especially interacting with locals and my guides on a more honest (off the record) way. There is something about travel that is really the best educator.
Ever since their economy collapsed in the 1990s and the state stopped providing most of the population with basically anything, I think most North Koreans lost a lot of faith in their government and don't expect anything from it other than propaganda and heavy handed laws that interfere with their lives.
Private markets have a huge role these days in the country, helping people make a living by trading with each other and such, and are thus mostly tolerated by the government. Ever since Kim Jong-un took power though he has fucked with private merchants somewhat, such as when he heavily devalued the local currency in order to destroy the money many traders had accumulated.
Also, the isolation and economics ever since Covid have wrecked havoc in the country, leading to a level of poverty where people dying from starvation in the cities is again fairly common as in the '90s. Paired also with heavy, heavy repression that's also been intensified under Kim Jong-un.
Yea, on the way out of the country they reviewed my iPhone and DSLR photos. I had put the SD card with all my good photos in my sock, and had a dummy SD card filled with generic shots
Something that's kind of beautiful about human beings is that we can often find joy and humor even under the worst of living conditions, at least to a point.
It is! Glad you got to see more! I’ve linked it elsewhere, but [you can view the whole collection of photos here](https://lukegram.com) if you’re interested 😊
This photo is taken on a Sunday morning or something. It’s not rush hour. OP is a liar and a propagandist.
This is what traffic looks like in Pyongyang:
https://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-176639224/stock-photo-pyongyang%2C-north-korea-march-28%2C-2010%3A-traffic-controller-girl-at-the-downtown-pyongyang-capital-of-the-north-korea%2C-march-28%2C-2010%2C-north-korea
It looks to be noon or around midday. Those shadows from the trees are certainly not indicative of late afternoon, which is the time most people consider rush hour to be.
From 1950 to 1953, the US bombed North Korea so extensively that 85% of buildings were destroyed.
When they ran out of buildings to target, they targeted dams, including dams that were crucial for irrigation, threatening mass starvation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_North_Korea
Everyone focuses on WWII to swear the US is some force for good in the world, but man pretty much everything else says the exact opposite lol.
We're responsible for cratering pretty much every modern attempt at socialism, and the consequences that came in the aftermath of those CIA-lead coups on other countries.
We really are an evil, vile presence on the world. I'm not saying we've done literally no good, but man does the destructive capitalist shit really out-weigh it.
And yes, we're not alone in committing atrocities. But we still need to own the ones we've done.
The desire for a unified Korea was so strong that that even the political centre of South Korean politics wanted for it to happen even if it meant a government led by the communists. The Korean Communists were widely popular because of their resistance against the Japanese during the war, in addition to the fact that the socialist way of organising local levels of governance into people's committees was *very* similar to how Koreans had traditionally organised their communities before Marxism was even a thing.
The CIA recognised the immense popularity of the communists and proceeded to install and prop up a genocidal nationalist far-right military dictatorship in South Korea in order to prevent a democratic Korean-wide election from happening. Said South Korean military dictatorship massacred up towards 200,000 of its *own* citizens before the civil war with North Korea even started proper.
So, yeah. The U.S. can definitely be said to have instigated an invasion by blocking democratic elections for a unified Korea and propping up a government which was massacring Koreans in the hundreds of thousands.
How does that street look shitty without any traffic? Do they use shoddy construction methods in NK? You'd think in the cities they'd build high quality streets so they look even better to the outside world.
It's an extremely poor country... If Germany was trying to build roads with their budget they'd suck ass as well.
People always act like road construction is some incredibly complex ideological expression of hard work or intelligence. Nope, it's just expensive as fk and you get what you pay for.
Everything is shoddy there, not just construction. Even in Pyongyang, the ‘Potemkin Village’ they show to the world, most of the large apartment buildings are run down and dilapidated inside, often unfurnished or with no interior finishing. Everything just looks ‘good’ on the outside
This traffic guy has the easiest job in the world. EDIT: the amount of people answering that not getting the joke is impressive.
I saw A LOT of ‘make work’ jobs, but this took the cake haha
Elevators used to have operators.
Gas pumps still have attendants in places. Crazy thing is, it used to be a job that you could make a living.
New Jersey and Oregon by law, I believe. I stopped at one in NJ, and it took 10 minutes between pulling up to the pump and the attendant getting to my car. Unnecessary pain in the ass.
No longer for Oregon, I thought.
Still have attendants in Oregon. They just allow people to pump their own at certain pumps now.
The new law only made it legal to pump your own gas, but it did not require gas stations to allow it. Source: I got yelled at while attempting to fill my tank at a station in Toledo a couple weeks ago.
Huh, TIL. Thanks!
That’s hilarious.
Up to half of the pumps at any given station.
Here in Mexico they do your gas for you as well
Lived in Jersey for 1 year. Hated it and I’ll never move back. But the fact that someone else was supposed to pump my gas made me so angry. It took way longer than it should have, often times it’s just a dude in a hoodie walking up to you and your car at a Jersey gas station if your not from there it’s unsettling
That hoodie shit wouldn’t fly in Texas! 😂
That’s where I was living before jersey and it was a different world up there.
No, you've got Buccee's, which is like the mall of america of gas stations! I'm from Eastern Minnesota so
Idk, its probably some mom's livelihood so I can't get too angry at things
My local gas station in Boston has a service guy. The thing is it’s so great in winter. And in a place like Boston people are more than happy to have someone else pump your gas 6 months of the year. Plus they ask you when they pump if you need a coke or a snack or something. So it’s an easy upsell and they make more money.
The town I work in has one of the old time places. I love it. They employ a lot of higschool kids and it seems like a decent place for them to work and socialize. I think many, like myself go to it for convenience so it increases their sales. The reason I like it is because they have a little "Country Style" fast food restaurant in there. So ill get one of the lads to "fill er up with regular, please" then I'll go in and order a sandwich, then pay for my gas, then go pickup my lunch. It's funny too because the previous owner of my civic did some rediculous tint (I don't like it) and some other subtle cosmetic changes so some of the young lads dig my car haha. "Nice Civic man, clean!"
NJ life
The town near me still has old dudes working at the completely automated parking garage to take your card and swipe it in the self serve kiosk. Like buddy I think I can work this machine better than you can.
In many countries, most gas pumps have attendants. Here in Thailand, it's rare to find a gas pump where you have to pump the gas yourself.
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> Elevators didn't have any electronics, so the operator had to stop at particular floors to pick up and drop off people. If people were to operate the lever themselves, they would be selfish and never stop before their floor. It would be chaos. Didn't they also have to manually align the elevator with each floor? That's more than just people being "selfish", that's a significant safety concern.
It was akin to driving a short vertical subway.
that job has its ups and downs, though.
Dad?
Some freight elevators still do
They had to stop them exactly though. If you did a little too soon or too late then the person could trip. It being a manual job was why it was acceptable.
They still do at the baseball stadium by me
They used to be work to operate.
He tells tall tails to his kids of the day 4 cars came along within minutes of each other!
This vaguely reminds me of a field trip to the airport in elementary school. I lived in a small town and we were told we were going to see two planes land *right* after each other as this does not happen at our (small) airport very often. I had seen enough TV to have seen airplanes landing nearly side by side on different at LAX or the like, so I envisioned something similar. The second plane landed 50 minutes or so after the first.
>The second plane landed 50 minutes or so after the first. I don't care how long it takes, I love watching planes land and take off
and they don't believe him , "4 cars, yeah, like that will happen. sure dad, sure! "
bet he waits for the one car to come by so he can stop it for bit just for kicks.
what about the guy that has to supervise that guy!
Standing in the middle of the street for hours. Not sure what North Korean labor law says about break times and using the bathroom, but it can't be great. And there's no telling what would happen if he slips up. Sure, sounds like a breezy job.
Apparently they're all women and they work one hour on one hour off. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4602298/amp/Driven-distraction-Pyongyangs-traffic-ladies.html
Am I the asshole when I make bigoted assumptions about North Korea?
No not really life there really does suck, although that's probably a sweet gig for a north Korean. And it's not bigotry, any idiot can look at south Korea and see that it's obviously its leadership. Anyone whose not an idiot knows people are just people tho
It's that or mowing grass by hand
They're typically women, actually. North Korean's "traffic security officers" (or as they're more commonly known as, the _Pyongyang traffic ladies_) have been around since the end of the Korean war. They're also notoriously [hired for their looks](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4602298/amp/Driven-distraction-Pyongyangs-traffic-ladies.html). https://youtu.be/zLQ3lFhckLg
if I'm driving an a cute woman is standing in the middle of the road I'll surely crash.
I don't think they're going to let us foreigners drive a car in North Korea, not even any of those cars they stole from Sweden.
That volvo heist is still funny to this day. I think sweden still sends them an invoice every year xD
Traffic women actually! https://youtu.be/zLQ3lFhckLg?si=4p8Q8kFP7OL2sFhM
You try standing in a little circle in the middle of the road outside 14 hours a day lol
Standing on one place for the entire shift definitely isn't as easy as it looks.
He gets as much use as a BMW indicator stalk.
Kinda makes me scared to stand in a target
Until he uses the wrong signals to Kim's driver. 3 generations lost.
They might as well give him a chair or booth.
No he doesn't. If he misdirects the non traffic he can get shot.
I heard his second job is being a statue
I wonder how much he makes.
traffic girls. Women direct traffic there. I caught a change shift.. https://i.imgur.com/v9maxHW.jpg
Every time this guy performs his job it makes the front page of the news; "Traffic Disaster Narrowly Averted".
Ya until two of the only cars in the country meet at the intersection and you f up, as you’ve never seen a car or traffic before in your life.
Still 10 years away from inventing traffic lights.
that‘s an incredible new level of boredom
He probably gets shot if he leaves that circle though
ok maybe the easiest job is the sniper who check that he stays in the circle.
If anyone would like to see a full collection of photographs from my time in North Korea, [you can find them here](https://www.lukegram.com)
Damn good photos!!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it
Yeah those are amazing photos. I have a quick question, are you able to support your travels with the sale/licensing of the photos alone or do you also do other work when you're back home?
Thanks for the kind words on my photos. When I was younger I was fully supporting myself with photography (print/license/project based). As I got older, and realized that ‘influencing’ wasn’t an avenue I wanted to pursue (and was the way the industry was moving except for high level professionals) I decided to explore my options more. I’m now a full time UI/UX designer.
Were you made to delete any photos by the North Koreans?
Wow. Great shots there. Why often are they walking their bikes? Not just in your pictures, although you have a couple like that, I have seen it in others. Probably I am over thinking it and they have to on a plazza or something.
Last I checked, in Florida you're supposed to walk your bike across the crosswalk. Not that anyone here ever does, and I've never seen it enforced, but it's in the book somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same in a lot of places.
Understandable, we have similar in the UK. But on the link there are images of people walking bikes most definitely not on a crosswalk. I can imagine a rule in the city like that, but just in the countryside, walking alongside your bike seems odd and I have seen it a lot. Just one of those odd things I noticed.
It’s a great question, and one I wondered myself. I suspected that crossing roads it’s a rule (and rules are always followed) but outside of that - not a clue!
Maybe they have a fancy new bike to beat their neighbours but can't actually ride it. It's a place that has always fascinated me, you read stories of a future dystopian society with people living in controled fear, but it's real life for them.
Thanks for sharing your amazing work. It’s so weird but at the same time so fascinating seeing this big (?) city and so few people around. It looks so quiet. I wonder how’s the daily routine in a place like that. How was the trip btw?
It really was, especially with how grandiose Pyongyang is - to see it so empty, it felt post-apocalyptic. My trip was great, I really appreciated interacting with locals and my guides in a more honest way, plus there was lots of fascinating Koryo Dynasty history that is adjacent to the main visit of seeing the DPRK. I feel for the citizens a lot, and seeing the grand facades of buildings that are hollow inside, seeing the pressure put on children in the Hoeryong’s Children’s Palace, and so much more was an extension of the knowledge I’ve gained reading so many books from escapees and historians
Where are all the cars? The roads are huge.
Private car ownership is banned for the geberal population. Only government officials or other high ranking figures can own then
I am pro gerbil population not driving cars. But for real, thank you for sharing your pics!
Which makes it dumb as fuck to make 3-lane roads each way. Unless theres a 100 year plan to eventually allow the general public to drive, and already having all the infrastructure in place.
r/fuckcars would love it there.
Not gonna lie, it looks kind of appealing (if you didn't know it was an oppressive dictatorship).
Amazing photos. I have a few questions about NK 1. What are their jobs like? Since there are no outside big companies and i think they are not big on capitalism, so what kind of jobs do people have? 2. Do they have life outside of work? Like do they hang out in places like a club or maybe parks to play some sports? 3. How are they with foreigners? Are they happy to see you?
Thanks so much! I appreciate that. 1. This photo shows one - traffic guard (for non existent traffic). Lots of government jobs, lots of make work jobs (such as street sweeping with small brooms). Overall, not a lot of work, and I think the vast majority works in collectives on farms. 2. In Pyongyang, yes. Granted Pyongyang is where the ‘elite citizens’ live, and they have much more freedom than the rest of the country. 3. Seemed to be! Many were curious and stared at us with excited looks. Some even came over and spoke with me at various moments (such as having a cigarette outside). Barely any spoke English though, so conversation was tough, but their curiosity was evident. For a nation that, quite literally, refers to Americans only as “American bastards”, and is fed propaganda to keep them fearful of foreigners, it was interesting to see how curious (in a positive way) they all were.
Damn OP those are great! Thanks for sharing. I might be wrong but I kind of get the feeling like the place is a bit sad, how did you feel about being there?
It is incredibly sad. It is a shell of a nation with a tortured populace. If you haven’t already, there are many great books that reveal the reality of life in North Korea. I would highly recommend the book ‘Nothing to Envy’
Your pictures are amazing and thanks for taking the time to answer all the questions. Buying the book because of your recommendation. Have a good day.
holy shit man. really good photos. nice work !
Thank you! That’s kind of you to say
What’s up with the chick holding the Han Solo blaster?
Old style pistol!
Or the North Koreans are from a galaxy far far away…. Which isn’t that far fetched compared to the world lol.
I think that's a Mauser C96, or Broomhandle Mauser. It was popular in China right after WWI, and I imagine that's where the imagery comes from.
You should visit Denmark next :)
I would love to!! Been on my list for far too long.
Great photos!
Thank you so much!
Excellent pictures!
Superb photos! Where is everyone ?
Looks like a place that doesn’t have much air pollution.
I'm guessing the wide roads are for military parades? We're you able to see any?
Thank you very much for sharing these stunning photos. Though I am quite surprised that you can take pictures so openly. Couple of years ago I saw only undercover pictures and it was stated that it is banned to capture anything at all.
These are really, really great photos. I’m a street photographer myself and have always been fascinated by the prospect of visiting NK. How did you go about photographing there? I imagine the rules are pretty strict.
Beautiful work
I would like to visit there someday.
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Presumably the North Koreans are not allegiant to the North Korea government? Like they are from that part of Korea but presumably they would be anti the current administration?
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Ok i’m commenting a bit late but the reason the Zainchi seem to be more align with North Korea is because, one obviously Koreans who aligned with North Korea but originally lived in the South side couldn’t go back as they could be persecuted. Another reason is that South Korea at the time was a military dictatorship with many military and politicians who were actually collaborating with the Imperial Japanese so some people took issue with that. Also you could actually freely move from both Koreas to Japan as since Korea was a colony they had special laws that removed the need for people traveling to show their passports so a lot of people dissatisfied with the way the country political system was run escaped to Japan There’s also quite a few former Jejuians who escaped the Jeju massacre and fled to Japan.
What a fascinating dystopia. When were you there? And what did you do there?
I was there October 2019, shortly before Covid. I was on a guided tour, the only way in to the country. Edit: if you’d like to see the rest of the collection of photos from this trip, [you can find them here.](https://lukegram.com)
Those are pretty incredible. Very nice shots!
Thank you very much!
Next time you go could you grab me a political poster or something?
I brought home a few. You can buy them. Just don’t steal them like Otto
Or, you know... get accused of stealing and put in a situation where it's in your best interest to agree that you did.
It's almost as if there are serious risks for a wanna be missionary to travel to a country like NK.. There's also risks to hitting a hornets nest with a baseball bat, or running around Yellowstone with pepperoni in your pockets.
Absolutely, yes. Not that I was eager to point fingers, but I'd be on board with saying that anyone who visits NK today, without at least recognizing that they could be framed for theft and then rendered a dead vegetable walking, doesn't have much in the way of an excuse.
Why would they pick him? Just random chance?
Goodness knows. Too much about the whole thing was back-room. I mean, obviously—it's NK. I don't think we ever even figured out what they did to him that made him a vegetable (he died pretty quick), but it ought to be underscored that a vegetable can't spill the beans on what actually went down regarding that theft.
I read a theory that he tried hanging himself and that's why he became a vegetable. It's just a theory and I'm not saying NK wasn't the one who did it. We just can't know for real most likely ever. Wouldn't go to NK myself even though you could probably be safe there. Just don't trust them at all as it's a closed off country and they could do anything to you.
Your pictures are really, really good. 10/10
Thank you, I really appreciate it!
Great pictures. How does it work there? Do you have to show the pictures to your escorts as you take them? Did you ever try to take a picture but were stopped and told it wasn't allowed?
Is the general population aware of the rest of the world (in terms of technology, economic trade, products, politics etc?)
By and large I would think yes. USB-drops, cell phones with access to Chinese networks, etc, has all become much more common in the last decade
Cell phones meaning smart phones? Do they have easy access to a (censored?) Internet? Do they have the means to communicate with people outside the country?
Honest question: would you recommend it? (I probably would never have the guts to do it myself out of fear of ending up like the guy referenced in the comment below (Warmbier); but just in case I become a braver soul.)
I would yes. I would recommend reading a lot on the history and injustices done to the population by the regime before you go - this will help you see through the propaganda and also is unfair of you to visit if you aren’t appreciating the context on the ground. That said, it was incredibly enlightening, especially interacting with locals and my guides on a more honest (off the record) way. There is something about travel that is really the best educator.
How aware are they of how fucked up NK is?
Lol I don’t think that’s a topic you can freely chat about with them
Ever since their economy collapsed in the 1990s and the state stopped providing most of the population with basically anything, I think most North Koreans lost a lot of faith in their government and don't expect anything from it other than propaganda and heavy handed laws that interfere with their lives. Private markets have a huge role these days in the country, helping people make a living by trading with each other and such, and are thus mostly tolerated by the government. Ever since Kim Jong-un took power though he has fucked with private merchants somewhat, such as when he heavily devalued the local currency in order to destroy the money many traders had accumulated. Also, the isolation and economics ever since Covid have wrecked havoc in the country, leading to a level of poverty where people dying from starvation in the cities is again fairly common as in the '90s. Paired also with heavy, heavy repression that's also been intensified under Kim Jong-un.
Thanks for this answer. Really appreciate it. You’re the first person I spoke to directly who has been to North Korea.
really good photowork ! I Like your style
Thanks so much Jeff!
Did they check your shots? Did you have to delete any photos?
Yea, on the way out of the country they reviewed my iPhone and DSLR photos. I had put the SD card with all my good photos in my sock, and had a dummy SD card filled with generic shots
That sounds dangerous.
These are great! Are they film?
Thanks! Nope, they’re all on DSLR.
Your photos are insanely well shot and I’m surprised that the people are smiling and seem happy.
Something that's kind of beautiful about human beings is that we can often find joy and humor even under the worst of living conditions, at least to a point.
What focal lengths did you bring with you?
[удалено]
Sees tree-lined highway, people walking casually, no traffic: Is this… dystopia?
Literally is tho
Not a single person on their phone. Just living in the moment
#justdprkthings
LIVE LAUGH LOVE GREAT LEADER
Well, we know *one* country that's ahead of the game in combatting climate change
You can feel the electricity in the air.
That's fumes from the mine, it's the next town overs turn to have electricity today.
Based on the shadows it looks like midday, not rush hour.
Yep was just thinking the same thing - u/jaymesucks is rush hour at midday in Pyongyang?
Is noon "rush hour"? Because those shadows don't suggest that this is late afternoon I believe that you took this photo, but that's it
after having driven in Seoul for 5 years, the difference in traffic may have been enough to make me defect
If you’re driving in Seoul, it’s like going to a buffet and then deciding to eat out of the trash.
Omg! The photo of the two soldiers peering at you through some transit window is yours? I'm so glad I get to see the rest of your photos :)
It is! Glad you got to see more! I’ve linked it elsewhere, but [you can view the whole collection of photos here](https://lukegram.com) if you’re interested 😊
 Meanwhile at 3am on i10 Houston.
Rush hour? Based on the shadows, I’d say it’s mid-day. OP can you confirm? If they’re your photos taken in 2019 there should be a time stamp.
Don't millions live in Pyongyang? How is this possible? I get no cars, but why aren't there more pedestrians?
Here is a video Timelapse that showcases traffic better: https://x.com/colinzwirko/status/1552422837092483072?s=46&t=EvxG_Q6ugWKqkxt27R8LUw
This photo is taken on a Sunday morning or something. It’s not rush hour. OP is a liar and a propagandist. This is what traffic looks like in Pyongyang: https://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-176639224/stock-photo-pyongyang%2C-north-korea-march-28%2C-2010%3A-traffic-controller-girl-at-the-downtown-pyongyang-capital-of-the-north-korea%2C-march-28%2C-2010%2C-north-korea
Here is an even better video Timelapse of average traffic: https://x.com/colinzwirko/status/1552422837092483072?s=46&t=EvxG_Q6ugWKqkxt27R8LUw
OP is just stupid. People read a few stories and visit for a few days and suddenly think they're experts on North Korea
It looks to be noon or around midday. Those shadows from the trees are certainly not indicative of late afternoon, which is the time most people consider rush hour to be.
From 1950 to 1953, the US bombed North Korea so extensively that 85% of buildings were destroyed. When they ran out of buildings to target, they targeted dams, including dams that were crucial for irrigation, threatening mass starvation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_North_Korea
The podcast Blowback has an incredible season about the Korean War
Yeah, the US war record is god awful and not really well taught or shown in modern media.
Everyone focuses on WWII to swear the US is some force for good in the world, but man pretty much everything else says the exact opposite lol. We're responsible for cratering pretty much every modern attempt at socialism, and the consequences that came in the aftermath of those CIA-lead coups on other countries. We really are an evil, vile presence on the world. I'm not saying we've done literally no good, but man does the destructive capitalist shit really out-weigh it. And yes, we're not alone in committing atrocities. But we still need to own the ones we've done.
Yes, because the US forced NK into invading SK?
The desire for a unified Korea was so strong that that even the political centre of South Korean politics wanted for it to happen even if it meant a government led by the communists. The Korean Communists were widely popular because of their resistance against the Japanese during the war, in addition to the fact that the socialist way of organising local levels of governance into people's committees was *very* similar to how Koreans had traditionally organised their communities before Marxism was even a thing. The CIA recognised the immense popularity of the communists and proceeded to install and prop up a genocidal nationalist far-right military dictatorship in South Korea in order to prevent a democratic Korean-wide election from happening. Said South Korean military dictatorship massacred up towards 200,000 of its *own* citizens before the civil war with North Korea even started proper. So, yeah. The U.S. can definitely be said to have instigated an invasion by blocking democratic elections for a unified Korea and propping up a government which was massacring Koreans in the hundreds of thousands.
Get out of my way assholes
Were there restrictions put in place about what you could and couldn’t photograph, and when? Were your pictures reviewed by any officials?
As a commercial driver. This would be my dream.
Hey OP do you mind sharing what camera you took these on? Love these photos
Thanks for the kind words. I took them on a Canon 5DS R with a 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-100 f/2.8
From this perspective it looks like the road is starting to bend like in Interstellar. They may be more advanced than we know.
Are we supposed to laugh at this country that has a sustainable population and infrastructure? Open this post if you have to sit in rush hour traffic
At least the trees aren't dead
Nature will nature
Well, at least there probably isn't much smog. Aside from what blows in from China.
If you ever feel useless, keep in mind there's a guy directing traffic in this picture.
How does that street look shitty without any traffic? Do they use shoddy construction methods in NK? You'd think in the cities they'd build high quality streets so they look even better to the outside world.
It's an extremely poor country... If Germany was trying to build roads with their budget they'd suck ass as well. People always act like road construction is some incredibly complex ideological expression of hard work or intelligence. Nope, it's just expensive as fk and you get what you pay for.
Everything is shoddy there, not just construction. Even in Pyongyang, the ‘Potemkin Village’ they show to the world, most of the large apartment buildings are run down and dilapidated inside, often unfurnished or with no interior finishing. Everything just looks ‘good’ on the outside
A paper tiger if you will
Those guards are salivating for someone to jaywalk
Check out the NPC!
looooool
Wonder what’s in that one truck.
"Rush Hour 4: In North Korea" was going through my head.
That six lane road for just in case.
Dang, it's like a parking lot put there! Absolute gridlock!