9. Empty Buildings with Lights On

This eerie photo shows a row of apartment buildings in Pyongyang at night—lit up but clearly uninhabited. Windows glow, yet no movement, no curtains, no signs of life. These buildings are often staged for propaganda to suggest prosperity. Locals revealed the lights are sometimes kept on using generators, even when no one lives inside. This photo exposed the façade. It shocked the world by showing how much effort the regime puts into creating an illusion of progress.

10. Crashed Train in a Remote Area

A rare photo of a derailed train in rural North Korea offers a glimpse into the state of infrastructure. Rusted cars, no emergency response, and locals cleaning up debris with bare hands. The regime suppressed this incident, but a defector smuggled out the image. It raised questions about safety, maintenance, and the government’s ability—or willingness—to protect its citizens. The image directly contradicts the country’s boastful claims of modern, efficient transportation systems.