The images Kim Jong Un doesn't want you to see: Haunting pictures inside North Korea... taken by a photographer who has now been banned from the rogue state for life

  • Photographer Eric Lafforgue took the 'banned' images during a visit to North Korea earlier this year
  • Forbidden subjects include malnourished people, child labourers and a man collecting grass to eat
  • Other photos that incurred the wrath of the regime included a shot of soldiers pushing a broken-down bus
  • Lafforgue says poverty is rare in Pyongyang because only the elite live there but things are tough elsewhere

By Ruth Styles

Published: 07:18 EST, 9 May 2014 | Updated: 10:33 EST, 9 May 2014

From children working hard in the fields to a group of soldiers pushing a broken-down bus, these are the photographs that North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, didn't want you to see.

Taken by photographer Eric Lafforgue during what would prove to be his final visit to the rogue state, the images reveal the shocking extent of the deprivation suffered by the people who live there.

Lafforgue, who has now been banned from North Korea, took the pictures while in the company of state-approved guides and was asked to delete each of the images but managed to save them on his memory card.

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Multi-purpose: 'The North Korean army is said to be one of the most important in the world. But if you travel there, you¿ll often see soldiers doing menial tasks.'

Multi-purpose: 'The North Korean army is said to be one of the most important in the world. But if you travel there, you’ll often see soldiers doing menial tasks'

Unamused: 'The North Korean officials hate when you take this kind of picture. Even when I explained that poverty exists all around the world, they still forbade me from taking photos of the poor'

Unamused: 'The officials hate it when you take this kind of picture. Even when I explained that poverty exists everywhere, they still forbade me from taking them'

Child labour: 'When times are hard (as they usually are here), children can be found working for the farming collectives,' explains Lafforgue

Child labour: 'When times are hard (as they usually are here), children can be found working for the farming collectives,' explains Lafforgue

Shocking: 'North Korean officials forbid you to photograph anyone suffering from malnutrition like this man'
Thin: Malnutrition is not uncommon among children, many of whom were born during the famine in the 90s and in the early noughties

Shocking: 'North Korean officials forbid you to photograph anyone suffering from malnutrition like this man or this little boy'

Not allowed: It is forbidden to take pictures of North Korean people if they are not well dressed. For my guide this man was not well dressed enough to be photographed'

Not allowed: It is forbidden to take pictures of North Korean people if they are not well dressed. For my guide this man was not well dressed enough to be photographed'

Scraps: 'I spotted these kids collecting maize grains in the streets near Begaebong,' explains Lafforgue of this surreptitious shot

Scraps: 'I spotted these kids collecting maize grains in the streets near Begaebong,' explains Lafforgue of this surreptitious shot

Fascinatingly, not all show the poverty that the North Korean leadership is so keen to hide. Others offer a glimpse of the country's bomb shelter tube stations, dilapidated buildings and draconian clothing regulation.

Others show children smiling and laughing beneath portraits of Kim Jong Un and his father Kim Jong Il - an act considered incredibly disrespectful by the regime.

'Every visitor is warned not to take photos without the consent of the guides as soon as they arrive in Pyongyang,' explains Lafforgue. 'But in reality, it's impossible for them to monitor everything, especially when travelling with groups.

'They insist that you don't take photos of anything to do with the military and anything that could suggest poverty - even when you explain to them that it exists all over the world and even in France.

'In Pyongyang, as only the elite is allowed to live there, you don't see real poverty but as soon as you get out into the countryside, it's a completely different story.'

Unique: 'A woman standing in the middle of a crowd of soldiers. This picture was not supposed to be taken as officials do not allow pictures of the army'

Unique: 'A woman standing in the middle of a crowd of soldiers. This picture was not supposed to be taken as officials do not allow pictures of the army'

Break-down: North Korea is touchy about images showing the military. 'You see this all the time in North Korea, but aren't allowed to take pictures,' says Lafforgue

Break-down: North Korea is touchy about images showing the military. 'You see this all the time in North Korea, but aren't allowed to take pictures,' says Lafforgue

No photos! 'Taking pictures in the demilitarised zone (between North and South Korea) is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you'

No photos! 'Taking pictures in the demilitarised zone (between North and South Korea) is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you'

Not allowed: Taking photos of soldiers relaxing, such as this photograph of two men enjoying a sneaky cigarette, is not allowed in North Korea

Not allowed: Taking photos of soldiers relaxing, such as this photograph of two men enjoying a sneaky cigarette, is not allowed in North Korea

Bizarre: 'When visiting the dolphinarium in Pyongyang, you are allowed to photograph the animals, but not the soldiers who make up 99 per cent of the crowd!'

Bizarre: 'When visiting the dolphinarium in Pyongyang, you are allowed to photograph the animals, but not the soldiers who make up 99 per cent of the crowd!'

Enraged: The North Korean regime hates photos that show soldiers resting. 'This picture really contributed to me getting banned from the country,' says Lafforgue

Enraged: The North Korean regime hates photos that show soldiers resting. 'This picture really contributed to me getting banned from the country,' says Lafforgue

But even in Pyongyang, signs of poverty are all too apparent. Images that reveal the extent of the regular power shortages, which the regime blames on 'American imperialists', and the crumbling interiors of the outwardly well-maintained apartment blocks speak clearly of deprivation.

In the countryside, the sight of people picking grass and children working in the fields are regular occurrences. 'The guides tell you that they [the children] work in the fields in the same way that teenagers here have summer jobs,' adds Lafforgue.

'The difference is that in Europe they are paid, while in North Korea, it is a collective duty. I must say that they always seemed "happy" and didn't appear to be miserable. But the gap between poverty and patriotic enthusiasm is a narrow one.'

In a bid to prevent visitors from capturing photos deemed 'unacceptable' by the regime, state minders often attempt to confiscate the cameras owned by their charges.

Cold shower: A man bathes in the river in the countryside outside Pyongyang. 'Once you get into rural areas, this sort of thing is very common,' says Lafforgue

Cold shower: A man bathes in the river in the countryside outside Pyongyang. 'Once you get into rural areas, this sort of thing is very common,' says Lafforgue

Fishing: 'This man was using an old tyre for a boat. In the countryside, many people can be seen fishing in small lakes - it's a way to get fresh food in remote areas where it's rare'

Fishing: 'This man was using an old tyre for a boat. In the countryside, people often fish in small lakes - it's a way to get fresh food in remote areas where it's rare'

Hunger: 'My camera was confiscated for the duration of the bus trip to Chongjin which suffered in the famine. Once I saw the people in the street, I understood why'

Hunger: 'My camera was confiscated for the duration of the bus trip to Chongjin which suffered in the famine. Once I saw the people in the street, I understood why'

Snooze: 'This man was taking a rest on the rocks by the sea in Chilbo. My guide asked me to delete this for fear that Western media would say this man was dead. He was alive'

Snooze: 'This man was taking a rest by the sea in Chilbo. My guide asked me to delete this for fear that Western media would say this man was dead. He was alive'

Poverty: 'In Kaesong near the demilitarised zone, you are locked in an hotel complex made of old houses. The guides say it's the same outside the hotel. No, it¿s not.'

Poverty: 'In Kaesong near the demilitarised zone, you are locked in an hotel complex made of old houses. The guides say it's the same outside the hotel. No, it’s not.'

Not impressed: 'This kind of picture is widespread in the West. The caption often explains that North Koreans eat grass from the park. The guides get furious if you take it'

Not impressed: 'This kind of picture is widespread in the West. The caption often points out that North Koreans have to eat grass. The guides get furious if you take it'

Duty: 'People from the town go to the country to do public projects. The regime used to see shots like these as positive, but now they know that we interpret this as forced labour'

Duty: 'People go to the country to do public projects. The regime used to see shots like these as positive but now they know that we interpret this as forced labour'

No flash: 'As we passed by these old buildings, the guides asked me not to shoot with flash. The official reason was ¿to avoid scaring people¿'

No flash: 'As we passed by these old buildings, the guides asked me not to shoot with flash. The official reason was “to avoid scaring people”'

Paranoia: 'North Koreans are very paranoid. I was asked to delete the picture since the guides were certain I would have said those people were homeless - they were just resting'

Paranoia: 'North Koreans are very paranoid. I was asked to delete the picture since the guides were certain I would have said those people were homeless - they were just resting'

Forbidden: The regime considers pictures showing smiles under portraits of the leadership to be disrespectful. 'Never take a picture where you can see people doing silly things in front of the Kim portraits,' says Lafforgue

Forbidden: The regime considers pictures showing smiles under portraits of the leadership to be disrespectful. 'Never take a picture where you can see people doing silly things in front of the Kim portraits,' says Lafforgue

Rare: 'Although cars are becoming widespread in Pyongyang, peasants aren't used to seeing them. Kids play in the middle of the main roads just like when they didn't exist'

Rare: 'Although cars are becoming widespread in Pyongyang, peasants aren't used to seeing them. Kids play in the middle of the road just like when they didn't exist'

Luxury: 'You can find all kinds of food and drink in Pyongyang¿s two supermarkets. They even have Evian water but only the elite can shop there'

Luxury: 'You can find all kinds of food and drink in Pyongyang’s two supermarkets. They even have Evian water but only the elite can shop there'

Blackout: 'We were in Pyongyang art gallery when we experienced a power outage, a daily event the North Koreans hate to show. When it happens, they tell you it¿s because of the American embargo'

Blackout: 'We were in Pyongyang art gallery when we experienced a power outage. When it happens, they tell you it’s because of the American embargo'

Irritating: 'Perhaps the most ridiculous prohibition of all. When I took the picture, everybody started yelling at me. Since the painting was unfinished, I couldn¿t take the picture'

Irritating: 'Perhaps the most ridiculous prohibition of all. When I took the picture, everyone yelled at me. Since the painting was unfinished, I couldn’t take the picture'

Scared: 'Visitors are supposed to see fun at the Songdowon Children's Camp. But some come from the countryside and are afraid of the escalators which they¿ve never seen before'

Scared: 'You are supposed to see fun at the Songdowon Children's Camp but some come from the country and are scared of escalators which they’ve never seen before'

'The best solution for the guides is to confiscate our cameras,' says Lafforgue. 'On the way to Chonjin, a new town opened up to tourists three years ago, they just took my cameras and put them in a bag they kept. They can be very smart sometimes.'

But despite their best efforts, Lafforgue did manage to take these photos and as a result, has been banned from returning to North Korea by regime officials.

'I was disappointed as I think I tried to show more than just the clichés you hear about this country,' says Lafforgue of his travel ban. 'I was trying to speak to people, let them talk, show they are not robots and that they have families and a lot of culture.

'I tried to document North Korea in the same way I would any other country in the world, but for them to accept it, you really need to follow their rules and for me, some of those rules just weren't acceptable.'

Odd: 'The officials took issue with this photo for two reasons: The teen is wearing his cap in a strange way (according to my guide), and there are soldiers in the background'

Odd: 'Officials took issue with this photo for two reasons: The teen is wearing his cap in a strange way (according to my guide), and there are soldiers in the background'

Multipurpose: 'Pyongyang¿s subway system is the deepest in the world as it doubles as a bomb shelter. I was told to delete this photo because it includes the tunnel'

Multipurpose: 'Pyongyang’s subway system is the deepest in the world as it doubles as a bomb shelter. I was told to delete this photo because it includes the tunnel'

Smarten up! 'The way you dress is very important in North Korea. When I asked to take a picture of these students, the girl insisted that the man straighten his shirt'

Smarten up! 'The way you dress is very important in North Korea. When I asked to take a picture of these students, the girl insisted that the man straighten his shirt'

Ridiculous: 'When you visit families, the guides love it if you take photos to show the world that kids have computers. But when they see there's no power, they ask you to delete!'

Ridiculous: 'When you visit families, the guides love it if you take photos to show that kids have computers. But when they see there's no power, they ask you to delete!'

Exhausted: 'You see a lot of tired people on the roadside, since many have to ride their bikes for hours to get to work. Taking pictures of them is forbidden.'

Exhausted: 'You see a lot of tired people on the roadside, since many have to ride their bikes for hours to get to work. Taking pictures of them is forbidden.'

Eking a living: Although the regime has cracked down on the black market, the 'grey market', to which officials turn a blind eye, allow some to scratch a living

Eking a living: Although the regime has cracked down on the black market, the 'grey market', to which officials turn a blind eye, allow some to scratch a living

Reparation: 'North Korea says foreign aid is a war debt, but taking photos of the WFP sign through the window of a house in a village is forbidden'

Reparation: 'North Korea says foreign aid is a war debt, but taking photos of the WFP sign through the window of a house in a village is forbidden'

Tough: 'A rare example of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. The bus was driving in the small roads of Samijyon in the north, when this boy stood in the middle of the road'

Tough: 'A rare example of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. The bus was driving in the small roads of Samijyon in the north, when this boy stood in the road'

Patient: 'Queuing is a national sport for North Koreans,' says Lafforgue. This photo shows people waiting for a chance to catch the bus to work

Patient: 'Queuing is a national sport for North Koreans,' says Lafforgue. This photo shows people waiting for a chance to catch the bus to work

Capital living: 'Pyongyang is supposed to be the showcase of North Korea, so building exteriors are carefully maintained. When you get a rare chance to look inside, the bleak truth becomes apparent'

Capital living: 'Pyongyang is the showcase of North Korea, so building exteriors are carefully maintained. When you look inside, the truth becomes apparent'

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