A Rare Look Inside North Korea

North Korea has closed its borders in fear of the spread of the Ebola virus. But at a time when the secretive state was still welcoming tourists, former aid worker Andrew Macleod made the journey to the repressive nation. Andrew’s holiday snaps and camera footage provide a unique insight into the reclusive country, where he came across deserted motorways, metro stations plastered with propaganda and attractive border guards. Here: Andrew MacLeod in front of portraits of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-il in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Daily life in the authoritarian regime in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A female traffic police officer in the snow in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Residents walk through the snowy streets in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The Socialist Revolution monument in the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Inside an underground station in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Inside an underground station in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Daily life inside the authoritarian state in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A local pushes a load while dressed in warm clothes in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Daily life in the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The empty snow-covered streets of the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The empty snow-covered streets of the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Daily life in the authoritarian regime in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A poster for the Worker’s Party of Korea in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The new Ryugyong hotel in the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Residents walk on the streets of the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Residents walk along the streets of the snow-covered capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Young boys play football on the streets of the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A traffic police officer, dressed in blue uniform with a fur trim, performs her duty in the capital in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A resident of the capital is wrapped up in a hat and scarf to ward against the cold in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A guard along the border of South Korea in February 2013, in the Demilitarized Zone, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A resident of the capital stands outside a shop in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The brand-new Ryugyong hotel which started construction in 1987 and has not yet opened in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A resident of the capital stands outside a shop in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A view from the train window from Beijing to North Korea in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

The Workers Party Monument depicting the communist hammer and sickle with a traditional Korean calligraphy brush which represents the “working intellectual” in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Residents of the capital dressed in coats and gloves in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Military hats rest next to the window on the train from the capital back to Beijing in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

Government buildings in the capital – the flag can be seen atop of the offices in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A statue of Kim Il-Sung, the first leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A local resident pushes and pulls a load in February, 2013, in the Demilitarised Zone, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)

A local struggles with a load on her back in February 2013, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo by Andrew Macleod/Barcroft Media)