Moving Walls: North Korea—The Narcissism of Power
May 31, 2010
By Brock Boddie
By Brock Boddie
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Two couples, just married, at Kim Il Sung statue, Mansudae Hill. © Philippe Chancel -
Installation commemorating U.S. defeat in Korean War, Fatherland Liberation War Museum. © Philippe Chancel -
Kim Il Sung's pistol formed by thousands of flip cards, Arirang festival. © Philippe Chancel -
Remnants of U.S. Korean War fighter plane, Fatherland Liberation War Museum. © Philippe Chancel -
Young soldier. © Philippe Chancel -
Kim Il Sung's pistol, Mangyongdae Revolutionary Museum. © Philippe Chancel -
People rushing to a ceremony. © Philippe Chancel -
Flight attendant, Pyongyang airport. © Philippe Chancel -
Military parade, 60th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. © Philippe Chancel -
Kim Il Sung pin. © Philippe Chancel -
Waiting room, Pyongyang airport. © Philippe Chancel -
Street scene. © Philippe Chancel -
Reunification Avenue. © Philippe Chancel -
Visitors to Kim Il Sung statue, Mansudae Hill. © Philippe Chancel -
Bakery. © Philippe Chancel
The recent sinking of a South Korean warship has escalated tensions between North and South Korea to a level not seen since 1994, when North Korea threatened to turn the South’s capital, Seoul, into a “sea of fire.” For all the concern, however, very little is actually known about North Korea; its intentions, capabilities, or even how the country functions is largely a mystery because of its almost complete isolation. In 2005 and 2006, photographer Philippe Chancel was able to document a country that is cut off from the rest of the world. These photos were a part of the Open Society Institute Moving Walls 15 exhibition.
Brock Boddie
Until December 2010, Brock Boddie was a senior web advocacy advisor at the Open Society Foundations.
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