Trip to North Korea - The world's most mysterious country (Part 2)

I wake up with the sound of the song praising Kim Il Sung. That was my first morning in Pyongyang. From the bedroom on the 33rd floor of the hotel, looking through the layers of clouds, I saw only tiny dots moving on the ground. Dance to sing songs that praise the leader is something that can be seen anywhere in North Korea. At that time, their faces were alike, only a sincere admiration.

People cross the main avenue in Kaicheng City, Hwanghae Province. The far side is the monument of the two leaders on the high hill. Khai Thanh is the old capital of North Korea, the remnant remains the ruins of Manwolda palace

The image of the two leaders was erected across the country: On the left is the words: "The great President Kim Il Sung lives with us." Right to write: "The great Kim Jong-il lives with us"

Students in the South Pyongan Province together to school. Nam Pyongan is a coastal province famous for its seaport city of Nampo and the 8 km water-filtering seawater (pictured above). In the suburbs of Pyongyang and other provinces, the main means of transport is bicycle.

............

This country makes me feel choking because I always have to worry. The feeling struck me as soon as the train reached North Korea. The old North Korean station, clean. There, they checked the passports very handily. Each car has 7 people, they go from two ends, collect each passport in silence. And we stopped breathing. In addition to passports, they carefully checked every corner of the ship, climbed up the bunk bed, down under the bed, ensuring that no details were left.

A station on the road from Dandong border to Pyongyang.

But our stress has only just begun, a leaflet in the Chinese-language travel program Dandong falls out of the luggage of my companion. The officer changed his attitude and his face looked serious. Immediately, the leaflets were confiscated. We had to open the luggage to check again, flipping each bag, ripping the clothes off. The two of us just glared at each other, silently preparing for possible trouble.

Fortunately, after about 30 minutes, the officer turned to return the flyers. His expression seemed to relax a little. No cameras, no detecting machines, nothing to see through them. Therefore, I always have to find ways to immediately "kill" the pages of his diary. Only a small doubt, they can spend an hour to check and if detected, it can be a big trouble.

Large panels are located on the railroad tracks praising the two leaders of the country.

.............. North Korea carries the air of war, as if war would come at any time. I have never had the opportunity to talk to civilians about the risk of war in their country. Off the border, the daily news broadcast continues to play the fight between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. They both talked about a nuclear war.

Pyongyang is protected as an impregnable fortress. Every direction out of the capital have large security checkpoints, armed soldiers stand guard. The curfew is 18:00 pm, even the North Koreans are not allowed to enter the capital. People who come to the suburbs late in the day are required to show proof of living in the city.

An old army car moves through Sukchon countryside when it is in the main rice crop. North Korean military vehicles have black number plates

Soldier ride the motorbike waiting in front of the fence as the train crosses. Motorcycles are also available in other parts of North Korea, but are often used only by the military

Enntrance gate a military camp in Kumgang with a billboard calling for athletic exercise to promote strength.

Tunnel through Rye Sung mountain, in North Korea there are thousands of tunnels across the mountain. Short tunnels are about 200 m long, tunnels up to 5 km or more. At the top of each tunnel there is a guard, recording the vehicle passing information

The room where talks between the North Korean and American leaders in 1951-1953

Some other shots that I captured on my first day in North Korea.

Two children watched the train run past Sukchon station. Watching the trains run through is the daily joy of the children living in the countryside

Although my first day in North Korea made me feel suffocated to always worry. However, there are many impressive moments forever in North Korea.

(continue)

PART 1: https://steemit.com/travel/@kanggary/trip-to-north-korea-the-world-s-most-mysterious-country-part-1