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NY Times journalist shares N. Korea experience through interactive site

June 10, 2015
In this Tuesday, May 5, 2015, photo, a man sits in front of portraits of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il, right, as he uses his smartphone in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean officials have unveiled a mobile-friendly online shopping site. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this Tuesday, May 5, 2015, photo, a man sits in front of portraits of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong-il, right, as he uses his smartphone in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean officials have unveiled a mobile-friendly online shopping site. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Although it’s becoming more and more common to see photos of North Korea that aren’t distilled through its propaganda department, a surreal image still lingers from the mystery shrouding the country’s reality.

New York Times recently published an interactive piece by photojournalist David Guttenfelder titled “Six Days in North Korea” — a concept that seems pretty straightforward.

But through it, Guttenfelder hoped to reveal that behind the feigned smiles and manufactured perceptions lies real people who share very relatable experiences.

“I had the feeling that North Korea was not real,” he said in an interview with the New York Times. ”That it was a facade, like ‘The Truman Show.’ That’s what most people still think about North Korea.”

But as he dug deeper and took advantage of opportunities to explore the country, he found something that resonated with him.

“There are connections to be made,” he said. “There are universal things to discover in a photo. Regular life shouldn’t be surprising. It should not be surprising there is real life and people try to get by. That seems to be one of the loudest things I can say with really subtle, mundane moments.”

The article can be seen here.