The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains one of the most isolated and secretive nations in the world.

Since its creation in 1948, the country has been ruled by three generations of the Kim dynasty currently under the control of the Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. It is a self-reliant socialist society based on an extreme interpretation of the cult of personality and devotion to the current and former leaders, fueled by a large dose of propaganda.

Visits to the city’s national monuments are a required portion of the pre-determined, inflexible itinerary. You are chaperoned and surveilled by two official government guides at all times. You are told what to do, what to look at or not and what to photograph. Shots of people working, carrying goods or not well-dressed are forbidden pushing one to show only an idealized vision of the city. The environment is totally controlled and there is no choice but to follow the rules.

So remember when you look at the images, as Magritte, the Belgian surrealist painter, would say:

This is not North Korea.