[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] very few people have ever seen the
very few people have ever seen the
very few people have ever seen the inside of North Korea unless you’re
inside of North Korea unless you’re
inside of North Korea unless you’re Dennis Rodman you probably don’t know
Dennis Rodman you probably don’t know
Dennis Rodman you probably don’t know anything about the country what you know
anything about the country what you know
anything about the country what you know you probably learned from Dennis Rodman
yeah it’s safe to say that people know
yeah it’s safe to say that people know very very little about the country it is
very very little about the country it is
very very little about the country it is one of the most isolated least
one of the most isolated least
one of the most isolated least understood places left on earth and part
understood places left on earth and part
understood places left on earth and part of that reason is that there are very
of that reason is that there are very
of that reason is that there are very very few photographs that have come out
very few photographs that have come out
very few photographs that have come out of the country in the last 60 years
of the country in the last 60 years
of the country in the last 60 years since the Armistice and the secession of
since the Armistice and the secession of
since the Armistice and the secession of the war there’s almost no visual record
the war there’s almost no visual record
the war there’s almost no visual record independent visual record at all of what
independent visual record at all of what
independent visual record at all of what life is like for ordinary North Koreans
what few pictures that have come out
what few pictures that have come out over the years are brought to us by the
over the years are brought to us by the
over the years are brought to us by the state media of North Korea this picture
state media of North Korea this picture
state media of North Korea this picture was taken by the Korean Central News
was taken by the Korean Central News
was taken by the Korean Central News Agency and it’s supposed to be showing a
Agency and it’s supposed to be showing a
Agency and it’s supposed to be showing a dam project construction site you know
dam project construction site you know
dam project construction site you know the photography information it all flows
the photography information it all flows
the photography information it all flows in one direction it comes from one place
in one direction it comes from one place
in one direction it comes from one place this is how we get our image of the
this is how we get our image of the
this is how we get our image of the country and this is a state agency where
country and this is a state agency where
country and this is a state agency where the word propagandist is not a dirty
the word propagandist is not a dirty
the word propagandist is not a dirty word they project an image of an ideal
word they project an image of an ideal
word they project an image of an ideal image a sanitized picture of their
image a sanitized picture of their
image a sanitized picture of their country a very controlled image and
country a very controlled image and
country a very controlled image and that’s sort of what I’m fighting against
that’s sort of what I’m fighting against
that’s sort of what I’m fighting against this is my version of the same
this is my version of the same
this is my version of the same now-famous traffic police in North Korea
now-famous traffic police in North Korea
now-famous traffic police in North Korea thanks JP I’m the only Western
thanks JP I’m the only Western
thanks JP I’m the only Western photojournalist who has regular access
photojournalist who has regular access
photojournalist who has regular access inside the country of North Korea and I
inside the country of North Korea and I
inside the country of North Korea and I go there with a different point of view
go there with a different point of view
go there with a different point of view I go there even with a completely
I go there even with a completely
I go there even with a completely different understanding of what
different understanding of what
different understanding of what photography is for when the story came
photography is for when the story came
photography is for when the story came out in the arc
out in the arc
out in the arc issue of National Geographic the
issue of National Geographic the
issue of National Geographic the subtitle of the story was truth is
subtitle of the story was truth is
subtitle of the story was truth is rarely simple and that really was apt
rarely simple and that really was apt
rarely simple and that really was apt because it really describes what my work
because it really describes what my work
because it really describes what my work is like there or even what my life is
is like there or even what my life is
is like there or even what my life is like there this photo was taken at the
like there this photo was taken at the
like there this photo was taken at the Space Center where the next day the
Space Center where the next day the
Space Center where the next day the North Koreans were planning to launch
North Koreans were planning to launch
North Koreans were planning to launch the UN ha 3 rocket the entire world was
the UN ha 3 rocket the entire world was
the UN ha 3 rocket the entire world was claiming that the North Koreans were
claiming that the North Koreans were
claiming that the North Koreans were test firing a nuclear capable
test firing a nuclear capable
test firing a nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile and
intercontinental ballistic missile and
intercontinental ballistic missile and the Koreans wanted to show that they
the Koreans wanted to show that they
the Koreans wanted to show that they were going to launch a peaceful
were going to launch a peaceful
were going to launch a peaceful satellite and I came there they wanted
satellite and I came there they wanted
satellite and I came there they wanted me to see it and they wanted me to show
me to see it and they wanted me to show
me to see it and they wanted me to show the world what I saw so that’s my job 30
the world what I saw so that’s my job 30
the world what I saw so that’s my job 30 trips or so a hundred days a year trying
trips or so a hundred days a year trying
trips or so a hundred days a year trying to interpret reality trying to reveal
to interpret reality trying to reveal
to interpret reality trying to reveal what is real inside the country so I go
what is real inside the country so I go
what is real inside the country so I go to a lot of the events the propaganda as
to a lot of the events the propaganda as
to a lot of the events the propaganda as well this was a math synchronized
well this was a math synchronized
well this was a math synchronized swimming event the women were swimming
swimming event the women were swimming
swimming event the women were swimming or dancing to a song called we will
or dancing to a song called we will
or dancing to a song called we will defend general kim jeong-hoon with our
defend general kim jeong-hoon with our
defend general kim jeong-hoon with our lives
and a lot of people probably know about
and a lot of people probably know about the mass games in North Korea if they
the mass games in North Korea if they
the mass games in North Korea if they know anything and that is you walk into
know anything and that is you walk into
know anything and that is you walk into a football stadium and there are hundred
a football stadium and there are hundred
a football stadium and there are hundred thousand-plus people in the stands
thousand-plus people in the stands
thousand-plus people in the stands holding these colored flip books where
holding these colored flip books where
holding these colored flip books where they create these massive socialist
they create these massive socialist
they create these massive socialist realist images and propaganda but from
realist images and propaganda but from
realist images and propaganda but from my seat and with the benefit of a long
my seat and with the benefit of a long
my seat and with the benefit of a long enough lens you can see that these are
enough lens you can see that these are
enough lens you can see that these are not pixels but these are human pixels
not pixels but these are human pixels
not pixels but these are human pixels eggs with legs sometimes they make it
eggs with legs sometimes they make it
eggs with legs sometimes they make it easy on me
easy on me
easy on me you really just have to you really just
you really just have to you really just
you really just have to you really just have to shoot what’s in front of you
and over time we’ve started to get I’ve
and over time we’ve started to get I’ve been able to get away from the
been able to get away from the
been able to get away from the programmed away from the events and out
programmed away from the events and out
programmed away from the events and out into the rest of the country to places
into the rest of the country to places
into the rest of the country to places where very few outsiders have ever seen
where very few outsiders have ever seen
where very few outsiders have ever seen and certainly very few have ever
and certainly very few have ever
and certainly very few have ever photographed what life is like in
photographed what life is like in
photographed what life is like in especially the rural parts of the
especially the rural parts of the
especially the rural parts of the country and something else that which is
country and something else that which is
country and something else that which is maybe even more important to me which is
maybe even more important to me which is
maybe even more important to me which is that I can start to find these unguarded
that I can start to find these unguarded
that I can start to find these unguarded unscripted moments where I can look into
unscripted moments where I can look into
unscripted moments where I can look into people’s eyes and we can start to make a
people’s eyes and we can start to make a
people’s eyes and we can start to make a connection with people so I can talk a
connection with people so I can talk a
connection with people so I can talk a little bit about how I work there in
little bit about how I work there in
little bit about how I work there in 2011 the AP our president at the time
2011 the AP our president at the time
2011 the AP our president at the time Tom Curley who I think is even here
Tom Curley who I think is even here
Tom Curley who I think is even here tonight said he had an idea that we
tonight said he had an idea that we
tonight said he had an idea that we should try to open a Bureau in North
should try to open a Bureau in North
should try to open a Bureau in North Korea it was a very brave idea I think
Korea it was a very brave idea I think
Korea it was a very brave idea I think and I had the idea or the crazy idea
and I had the idea or the crazy idea
and I had the idea or the crazy idea that I should be the one that would go
that I should be the one that would go
that I should be the one that would go and be the photographer there I’ve made
and be the photographer there I’ve made
and be the photographer there I’ve made 30 trips we submit all of our requests
30 trips we submit all of our requests
30 trips we submit all of our requests each month we have to ask to go
each month we have to ask to go
each month we have to ask to go everywhere we want to go we don’t access
everywhere we want to go we don’t access
everywhere we want to go we don’t access everything we want we’ve asked to go
everything we want we’ve asked to go
everything we want we’ve asked to go inside the uranium enrichment plant
inside the uranium enrichment plant
inside the uranium enrichment plant we’ve asked to see the leader himself so
we’ve asked to see the leader himself so
we’ve asked to see the leader himself so a lot of what I do is just done on the
a lot of what I do is just done on the
a lot of what I do is just done on the fly from the windows of cars going from
fly from the windows of cars going from
fly from the windows of cars going from place to place with small film cameras
place to place with small film cameras
place to place with small film cameras that are quiet and discreet I travel
that are quiet and discreet I travel
that are quiet and discreet I travel everywhere with a guide as he’s called
everywhere with a guide as he’s called
everywhere with a guide as he’s called in my case the guide is mr. Kim and he
in my case the guide is mr. Kim and he
in my case the guide is mr. Kim and he works for AP when I’m not there he’s our
works for AP when I’m not there he’s our
works for AP when I’m not there he’s our photographer and he transmitted pictures
photographer and he transmitted pictures
photographer and he transmitted pictures to me um by email and when I’m there I
to me um by email and when I’m there I
to me um by email and when I’m there I he goes everywhere with me
he goes everywhere with me
he goes everywhere with me he’s my fixer he’s my translator and
he’s my fixer he’s my translator and
he’s my fixer he’s my translator and he’s my minder or even my babysitter my
he’s my minder or even my babysitter my
he’s my minder or even my babysitter my first contact I guess
first contact I guess
first contact I guess with the Koreas was in 2000 when I first
with the Koreas was in 2000 when I first
with the Koreas was in 2000 when I first moved to Asia they held family reunions
moved to Asia they held family reunions
moved to Asia they held family reunions for family members who had been divided
for family members who had been divided
for family members who had been divided since the war half a century and I saw
since the war half a century and I saw
since the war half a century and I saw these very moving moments um siblings
these very moving moments um siblings
these very moving moments um siblings seeing each other again for the first
seeing each other again for the first
seeing each other again for the first time and this mother who’s touching the
time and this mother who’s touching the
time and this mother who’s touching the face of her son she hadn’t seen him for
face of her son she hadn’t seen him for
face of her son she hadn’t seen him for 50 years it was also the first time I
50 years it was also the first time I
50 years it was also the first time I entered North Korea in 2000 I went with
entered North Korea in 2000 I went with
entered North Korea in 2000 I went with then Secretary of State Madeleine
then Secretary of State Madeleine
then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright when she met with in Korean
Albright when she met with in Korean
Albright when she met with in Korean leader Kim jong-il it was my first
leader Kim jong-il it was my first
leader Kim jong-il it was my first glimpse of how surreal and how
glimpse of how surreal and how
glimpse of how surreal and how fascinating
fascinating
fascinating the country is it was also my first
the country is it was also my first
the country is it was also my first glimpse or understanding of the kind of
glimpse or understanding of the kind of
glimpse or understanding of the kind of impact that I could have and the history
impact that I could have and the history
impact that I could have and the history that I could witness if I continued to
that I could witness if I continued to
that I could witness if I continued to go to Korea it was very different than
go to Korea it was very different than
go to Korea it was very different than when we first arrived they pulled the
when we first arrived they pulled the
when we first arrived they pulled the drapes on our bus no pictures allowed
drapes on our bus no pictures allowed
drapes on our bus no pictures allowed there was black plastic on the windows
there was black plastic on the windows
there was black plastic on the windows of my hotel I had the feeling that there
of my hotel I had the feeling that there
of my hotel I had the feeling that there was nothing real there that it was all
was nothing real there that it was all
was nothing real there that it was all like The Truman Show
like The Truman Show
like The Truman Show it was all a facade but fast forward
it was all a facade but fast forward
it was all a facade but fast forward 2013 in February they allowed us to
2013 in February they allowed us to
2013 in February they allowed us to bring mobile phones in the country for
bring mobile phones in the country for
bring mobile phones in the country for the first time and I started theirs
the first time and I started theirs
the first time and I started theirs Dennis Rodman self I started making
Dennis Rodman self I started making
Dennis Rodman self I started making pictures with my phone on the streets
pictures with my phone on the streets
pictures with my phone on the streets transmitting into ap posting them to
transmitting into ap posting them to
transmitting into ap posting them to Instagram an immediate connection from
Instagram an immediate connection from
Instagram an immediate connection from the streets of Pyongyang to people
the streets of Pyongyang to people
the streets of Pyongyang to people around the world and if you’re playing
around the world and if you’re playing
around the world and if you’re playing along at home it’s @d guten folder or at
along at home it’s @d guten folder or at
along at home it’s @d guten folder or at NatGeo
NatGeo
NatGeo on instagram so that sort of takes us
on instagram so that sort of takes us
on instagram so that sort of takes us back to the power of photography and
back to the power of photography and
back to the power of photography and what it is in North Korea and the power
what it is in North Korea and the power
what it is in North Korea and the power of photography has been for half a
of photography has been for half a
of photography has been for half a century in the hands of the state of
century in the hands of the state of
century in the hands of the state of Korea and now we have a chance to see
Korea and now we have a chance to see
Korea and now we have a chance to see some
some
some for ourselves I have long term goals
for ourselves I have long term goals
for ourselves I have long term goals this is a long-term ambitious project
this is a long-term ambitious project
this is a long-term ambitious project but for now is very very humble thing
but for now is very very humble thing
but for now is very very humble thing I’m just trying to open a window onto a
I’m just trying to open a window onto a
I’m just trying to open a window onto a place that previously people know
place that previously people know
place that previously people know absolutely nothing about so that we can
absolutely nothing about so that we can
absolutely nothing about so that we can begin to understand that there are real
begin to understand that there are real
begin to understand that there are real lives there these are people coming to
lives there these are people coming to
lives there these are people coming to visit their family members in a hospital
visit their family members in a hospital
visit their family members in a hospital that had no heat and they’re bringing
that had no heat and they’re bringing
that had no heat and they’re bringing them blankets and food
them blankets and food
them blankets and food Photography is a very powerful tool
Photography is a very powerful tool
Photography is a very powerful tool despite the restrictions there there’s
despite the restrictions there there’s
despite the restrictions there there’s multiple interpretations of every
multiple interpretations of every
multiple interpretations of every picture you know for one man this is a
picture you know for one man this is a
picture you know for one man this is a very high-tech agricultural simulator
very high-tech agricultural simulator
very high-tech agricultural simulator and to another man
and to another man
and to another man it is a dose driven practice tractor
photography carries a point of view and
photography carries a point of view and a mood and a sense of the place that I
a mood and a sense of the place that I
a mood and a sense of the place that I don’t think you can say in any other way
don’t think you can say in any other way
don’t think you can say in any other way and any other language without your
and any other language without your
and any other language without your camera and you can’t really turn away I
camera and you can’t really turn away I
camera and you can’t really turn away I have hard discussions with the North
have hard discussions with the North
have hard discussions with the North Koreans when I’m there about how they
Koreans when I’m there about how they
Koreans when I’m there about how they feel I should represent their country
feel I should represent their country
feel I should represent their country and how I feel
and how I feel
and how I feel country should be represented and it
country should be represented and it
country should be represented and it comes down to something very simple I
comes down to something very simple I
comes down to something very simple I can say this is it this is your country
can say this is it this is your country
can say this is it this is your country this is what I saw and I can begin to go
this is what I saw and I can begin to go
this is what I saw and I can begin to go help people go through the same process
help people go through the same process
help people go through the same process that I went through which is the first
that I went through which is the first
that I went through which is the first time I went I thought it was the Truman
time I went I thought it was the Truman
time I went I thought it was the Truman Show and I began over time through my
Show and I began over time through my
Show and I began over time through my camera to understand that there’s real
camera to understand that there’s real
camera to understand that there’s real life there and I want people to see my
life there and I want people to see my
life there and I want people to see my pictures to have that same understanding
pictures to have that same understanding
pictures to have that same understanding that there’s real life but there’s
that there’s real life but there’s
that there’s real life but there’s something worth discovering there
something worth discovering there
something worth discovering there there’s something worth trying to
there’s something worth trying to
there’s something worth trying to understand in North Korea thank you
understand in North Korea thank you
understand in North Korea thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
Be First to Comment