North Korea is notoriously challenging to access, making the rare images capturing everyday life within the secretive nation all the more intriguing. While many people around the globe can travel freely, North Korean citizens face significant restrictions on leaving their country.
Conversely, entering North Korea poses its own challenges. Officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it has been governed by The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) since its establishment in 1948.
Under the leadership of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, the country has long been known for its stringent entry policies. These restrictions intensified during the pandemic. However, a select few have managed to enter North Korea in recent years, capturing and documenting their experiences within its borders.
Entry into North Korea comes with strict conditions. Visitors must adhere to numerous regulations, and any actions that could negatively portray the country are strictly prohibited.
For instance, visitors are generally limited to photographing public tourist sites. Capturing images outside of these areas may result in severe consequences, such as imprisonment.
Photographer Pedro Pardo ventured to the border between China and North Korea, capturing snapshots of life within the totalitarian state.
Pardo accessed the border in China’s Jilin province to take pictures of the controversial nation, with images dating from February 26 to March 1, 2024.
The images provide a glimpse into daily life, such as a photo of Chunggang, showcasing rows of uniform houses. Additionally, a large sign facing China reportedly translates to “My country is the best!”
Another image, taken from Tumen in China, features North Korean soldiers at the border and a government building in Namyang.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea has implemented “expanded fences, guard posts, strict enforcement, and new rules, including a standing order for border guards to shoot on sight,” according to a stark report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released in March last year.
The report, titled “A Sense of Terror, Stronger than a Bullet: The Closing of North Korea 2018–2023,” highlights these measures. HRW analyzed satellite images, revealing that North Korea constructed 482km of new fencing between 2020 and 2023 and reinforced an additional 260km of existing primary fencing.