An image of individuals gathered in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju was captured by a civilian drone launched from Dandong, China, in a photograph from 2020. The photo was sourced from Reddit.
Exceptional photographs and videos taken from within North Korea using a civilian-operated drone launched from China offer a rare insight into the daily lives of individuals in the secluded nation.
A Reddit user with the username XiaoHao2 shared a collection of 12 photos and three video clips showcasing the northwestern border city of Sinuiju. Situated in the northwestern part of North Korea, this border city directly faces the Chinese city of Dandong across the Yalu River, also known as the Amnok River.
The post was titled “Drone pics of North Korea, I was in China, my drone flew across the border,” indicating that the images and videos were captured with a Chinese-manufactured DJI drone. Within three days, the post garnered 14,100 upvotes.
According to the account holder who shared the images, the footage was recorded in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. Some of the images depict North Korean residents observing the drone from below, with a few appearing surprised by the drone’s presence in North Korean airspace.
In a photograph from 2020, a civilian drone launched from Dandong, China, captures an image of individuals gathered in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju. The image was sourced from Reddit.
Additional images primarily feature streets and buildings, including what seems to be a university and a main avenue close to Sinuiju Chongnyon Station.
Online users shared their reactions to the images, with many noting that the city resembles a “ghost town.”
One user remarked, “Those streets seem deserted. There appears to be minimal traffic,” while another joked, “Guy singlehandedly invaded N. Korea.”
A photograph from 2020 showcases individuals gathered in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju, captured by a civilian drone launched from Dandong, China. The image was sourced from Reddit.
Some individuals expressed apprehension regarding the safety of the drone operator.
“I assume the Chinese authorities wouldn’t appreciate someone flying a drone from their territory into NK,” one user commented.
Another user cautioned, “That is incredibly fascinating, but not wise. The Chinese government maintains a close relationship with North Korea, repatriates defectors, and aids in criminal prosecutions. If you are operating a DJI drone, they have even more information about you, details that could enable them to track you down later. So, exercise caution.”
Nevertheless, the uploader reassured that the drone was neither shot down nor confiscated by authorities, stating, “I am still alive and free.”