Made in North Koreahighlights everyday packaging and other designs from the isolated nation that Westerners rarely see.
For Westerners , life in North Korea remains shrouded in mystery . Despite the country’sgrowingtourism diligence , it ’s still very isolated — visitors are confined to strictly schedule , guided tours , and it ’s estimated that less than 20,000 of the country ’s 25 million citizens are allowed to get to the net ( which is restricted to only a fewdozen sites , anyway ) . Even once visitor make it into the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea , they are n’t allowed to go just anywhere — foreigners could n’t ride the entire Pyongyang subway systemuntil 2016 , for illustration . Englishman Nicholas Bonner , who runs a Beijing - base tour company that specializes in visits to North Korea , has been traveling to the commonwealth regularly since 1993 . Over the course of his visit , he ’s cope to bring back a few souvenirs of animation in the closemouthed nation . His new book , Made in North Korea : artwork From Everyday Life in the DPRK(available fromPhaidon ) , highlights spy that North Koreans see every day — graphic invention on confect packaging , cans of nutrient , cartons of butt , postcards and more . The never - before - seen items are all from Bonner ’s personal , eclectic collection of ephemera picked up on his decades of travel in North Korea .
1. A CANDY WRAPPER
“ I was charmed and simply taken by the in writing design elements of the Cartesian product there , ” Bonner writes of his experience in North Korea . “ Many were not technically or de jure ‘ available ’ to me , a outsider . So I would buy Korean confection and keep the wrap . "
2. LABEL OF A MEAT TIN
Over the class of his misstep , Bonner pen , " the hoarding finally became several large boxes stuffed with what others might , justifiably , call rubble . ”
3. A LENTICULAR POSTCARD
This 3D postcard highlights beauty Cartesian product that comprise ginseng , the root Bonner calls " the most quintessential of North Korean nostrum . " mostly produced in the region of Kaesong , North Korea swash its ginseng as the best in the world . In 2010 , the DPRK seek to pay off a debt to the Czech Republic with 22 tons of it . ( The European country declined . )
4. A POSTCARD FEATURING MILITARY UNIFORMS
Bonner calls his collection " obtain objects , " mostly collect along the holidaymaker routes he travels and walk through Pyongyang . To curate a comprehensive ingathering of this kind would require more control over what he could buy , he imply , writing that foreigners are n’t allowed to figure most local shop . And so the items he include in the book , he stresses , are purely a sampling of the most interesting designs he has been able to find , not a full survey of North Korea ’s graphic design . This postcard is a New Year ’s salutation from 2004 .
5. WRAPPING PAPER
This pinkish wrapper paper features some of Pyongyang ’s most famous architectural landmarks , with " Pyongyang , Korea " save in Korean , English , and Russian .
6. PACKAGING OF A CIGARETTE CARTON
Despite Kim Jong Il ’s proclamation that smoking car are one of the " three great fools of the 21st century"—along withpeople who do n’t like music and those who do n’t understand computers — smoking remainspopularamong men in North Korea . ( It is , however , taboo among women . ) The state offer far more variety to prefer from when it comes to cigarette brands than most other domestically produce goods . The challenger for customers is trigger-happy , and many company make gimmicky products to pull in smokers . For instance , one of the cigarette type produced by the brand above , Pyongyang , features smiley faces on its filters .
7. A GUIDE TO “8 SCENIC WONDERS OF SONGUN”
This notebook list scenic destination consort with Songun , North Korea ’s " military first " policy , was pass to Bonner and other business concern - year passengers on the state - owned airline Air Koryo . By 2014 , when Korean - American diarist Suki Kim compose her investigative bookWithout You , There is No Usabout her clock time undercover as an English teacher in North Korea , the government had added four more " Wonders of Songun " for a total of 12 . Most North Korean guides for holidaymaker emphasize political propaganda over useful travel tips .
8. AN ILLUSTRATION OF TWO DANCERS
The emblem of the Workers ' Party , the DPRK ’s ruling party , come along as part of many quotidian plan . This colorful sail , which bears the emblem on the left over - hand side , was an invite to a 1996 mass game event ( a elephantine gymnastic exercise and dance spectacular performed on national holiday ) organized as part of the birthday celebrations for then - rule Kim Jong Il .
9. A CARD
Since Bonner made his first trip to North Korea , the areas of the country where foreigners are allowed to travel have expanded widely . Though tourer in the early ' 90s could only get at a few destinations outside Pyongyang , visitant now have a greater choice of hotel and destination ( though their travel plan must be strictly correct and they are come with by two template and a driver throughout their stay ) . Hotel welcome card like the one above are render to guests and deliver sayings in English and Korean like " quick welcome " and " right nighttime . "
Made in North Korea : Graphics From Everyday Life in The DPRKis uncommitted on Amazon foraround $ 32 .
