Not many people understand what life is like in North Korea. Everyone is taught to worship the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, basically from birth. From a state distributed food program to a lack of electricity, restrictions on religion, and a country-wide lack of internet or access to popular culture, living in North Korea is about as different from America [and Nigeria] as you can get.

The citizens of North Korea may not realize that their lives are so foreign compared to the rest of the world. Ahead, check out some rarely seen photos that depict how life is in one of the strictest and most secretive countries in the world.

First, a disclaimer: any photograph you see from North Korea is meant to show the country in the best possible light. Journalists and photographers are forbidden from visiting or photographing areas that would show any negative images. That means even though the pictures are jarring, they’re far from the worst things you’ll find in this strange country.



Above, a citizen walks past oversized portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his father, Kim Jong Un. Totalitarianism in North Korea means that the leaders aren’t just heads of state — they’re also seen as deities.

2. You don’t have many options in North Korea



North Korean citizens have absolutely no freedom of choice. Women must pick from a selection of hairstyles and can never deviate from those specific options. Married women are expected to keep their hair short while single ladies can have their hair a little longer. Young men may not have hair longer than 2 inches.

3. Women make up most of the workforce



In North Korea, there’s a solid workforce of women, though they’re not getting paid any kind of fair wages. Those workers get rations from the state but it’s not near enough to live on. If North Koreans desire “luxuries” such as protein, fat, or sugar, they have to get it using the cash they earn from side gigs, like making things at home to sell.

4. North Korean soldiers go through horrible trials



Many men, especially those from rural areas, join the North Korean army in hopes of getting a guaranteed meal every day. But even life in the military isn’t very enviable. Still, the military employs 4.7% of the total population.

Female soldiers have it the worst, however. Often no provisions are made for their menstrual cycles, which forces them to reuse menstrual pads. One former soldier said that it doesn’t matter anyway — malnutrition and constant physical activity means that most women stop getting their periods eventually. Rape and sexual assault are also common, though the incidents usually go unreported.

5. There are elections — though everyone knows who’s going to win



It may seem odd that a dictatorship like North Korea bothers to hold elections — the ballot only has one name on it, though citizens can vote for or against Kim Jong Un. However, negative votes can count as an act of treason, an offense punishable by prison or even death.

For more on this article, please visit: https://www.cheatsheet.com/culture/haunting-photos-show-what-life-is-really-like-in-north-korea.html