A 26-year-old American was recently granted a visa to travel to North Korea for four days. Taylor Pemberton of Minneapolis flew into Pyongyang, North Korea, from Beijing, China, because there are no direct flights from the United States to the secretive military state.
The young traveler documented his experience in the seclusive country in a series of incredible photographs that he uploaded to popular photo-sharing site Instagram.
Though he was continuously monitored 24/7, Pemberton was able to capture fascinating photos of daily life in the dictator state. He was granted the visa a week before he entered the nation.
Before I go any further, I feel it’s important to preface the content I’m about to share. With a country/topic like North Korea, I’d like to be as honest with my observations as possible. Many people have asked me how you gain access to a country that is so restricted. It’s pretty easy, even as an American. What you’ll need is simply time and money. This image is the visa that I was granted about a week before my flight. I flew from Beijing to Pyongyang, while non-Americans were able to cross the border from Dandong by rail. I got this visa because I applied via the various tourism companies that service North Korea. My trip was 4 days, and we had two guides: one male, one female. It’s also important to note that you are NOT able to roam free at any given time. You follow a strict itinerary and you are on a tight schedule to see what North Korea allows. You stay in a hotel that is isolated on an island, and you are strictly informed when it is okay/not okay to take photos. However! with thousands of visitors each year, the fabric loosens, and that’s where things start to get interesting. You’re able to witness the the imperfections, the infinite nuances… the hiccups that reveal why some foreigners have become so obsessed and return year after year to live with what exists behind the curtain. I’ll admit, it was a tough decision to fork over the money to travel to North Korea. There are serious things to consider, not all of which I’m comfortable supporting. I’ve been debating this trip for over 9 months, and it wasn’t until 4 weeks ago that I finally pulled the trigger. The flight in from Beijing was short, and when we touched down in Pyongyang, I was nervous. In fact, I don’t think I was ever fully at ease. I’m not by any means the first to visit North Korea. There were other foreigners all visiting Pyongyang when I was there. I was lucky to get paired with an insightful and intelligent group of 6 other travelers, ranging from 25 to 71 years old. My family was worried, so were my friends, but I went because the DPRK is so complicated. It was ultimately a tough decision, but one that was so so worth it. #contrateur A photo posted by Taylor Pemberton (@pemberton) on Aug 19, 2015 at 5:27am PDT
As protocol, tourists arriving in the country must declare any communication devices, art, literature and food.
North Korea considers itself a self-reliant socialist state. One of the benefits, they proclaim, is the subsidizing of core necessities: housing, healthcare, education, food, general commodities, etc. One of the things I noticed right away is that clothing choices appear standardized. Men generally wear slacks, dress shoes, and collared shirts. There are no consumer brands, no logos, no advertisements. There is most definitely nothing provocative or alluring worn or presented in public. It reminded me of simpler times, perhaps the early 20th century (minus the hats). After asking about this, I was told there are very few options to choose from, almost a ’rationing’ of sorts. It was tough to get a clear answer, and I think the mere curiosity seemed confusing to begin with. One thing you can always expect to see, however, is the pin displayed near the breast pocket… this time, a dual representation of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. #contrateur
A photo posted by Taylor Pemberton (@pemberton) on Aug 19, 2015 at 8:19am PDT
The young American told Newsbeat: “My cameras, memory cards, and phones were screened on entry.”
The rules by which tourists are allowed to visit North Korea are severely strict as well.
“You are told when to wake up, when meals are available, and when your day is coming to an end.
“Each night you’re granted “leisure time” but you’re limited to roaming inside your hotel that’s strategically placed on an island.”
The conditions for interacting with locals and taking photos are also incredibly stringent. One of the main conditions that travelers are obligated to adhere to is to refrain from photography military personnel in any circumstance.
Pemberton admitted that he tries to respect these restraints as much as he can during his journey, but he also hopes overstepping boundaries will shed light on more important parts of North Korean life.
A striking difference between North Korea and the rest of the world is their limited access to free information and the internet. Pemberton explained to Newsbeat that locals simply were not aware of the concept of an open world wide web.
Though the tour guides who interact with foreigners have some idea of the internet, they “are basically unaware of the magnitude that internet brings to popular culture.”
Instead, the people of North Korea rely on an “intranet” of resources provided by the government as their source of information.
He strategically planned his travel days around Liberation Day, a massive celebration that features a series of choreographed dances and festivities.
Even with the ongoing celebrations and festivities, Pemberton sighted evidence of poverty among the citizens:
“The food provided to us was luxury compared to the boiled rice and cabbage which I was told is common in even privileged life.”
When he attempted to interact with locals, he was greeted with silence or coldness:
“I felt ignored when trying to wave, smile, or interact with locals. Some people reciprocate but it was nothing like other far away cultures.”
Another surprising disparity Pemberton discovered was North Korea’s different time zone.
Even with the cultural and world differences that Pemberton encountered in North Korea, he seems to do his best to remain objective.
In doing so, it allows him to see the similarities that all people share.
“When all that melts away, and you are able to see the substance in the humanity, it’s amazing.”
