Unless it’s by a satellite, Pyongyang is a city only occasionally photographed from above – even requiring a permit to take pictures from the sky.
North Korean authorities prefer to keep cameras close to the ground and it is well documented that footage often ends up being deleted or destroyed on leaving the regime.
But Aram Pan, a Singaporean photographer who often frequents Pyongyang’s streets, managed to leave North Korea with an array of incredible images along with a stunning video as he zoomed over the city.
In a recent visit to North Korea in September, Pan was given an exclusive chance to take his camera on a microlight flight over the city, filming with a 360° camera.
And the result is a remarkable and unique view of North Korea’s capital seen from all angles.
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Eagle-eyed viewers can spot everything from new construction to secretive ruling party buildings as Pan zipped high above Pyongyangg.
He told NK News: “They’ve recently restricted bringing cameras or mobile phones into the microlight planes for safety reasons.
“The wind is extremely strong up there and a well-timed gust would knock off your mobile phone.
“Flying over a city in an open-air microlight with a 2kg DSLR needed plenty of safety precautions.
“I still ended up bringing 4 cameras, including the Entaniya setup that captured the world’s first 360° aerial video over North Korea.
“This experience is made unique because of North Korea being isolated yet here I am doing aerial photography over the most secretive state in the world.”
Pan has travelled to the hermit state several times for work, with his first trip in August 2013.
He said: “That trip really piqued my interest as I saw a side of them that nobody seemed interested in.
“Ordinary life was happening all around that seemed to be overshadowed by the narrative of North Korea being a scary place.
“I just decided, why not show people the stuff I see?”
And he’s 360 degrees video did just that, showing off the brightly coloured city in all its glory aside from the bitter feud bubbling between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.
The amazing footage gave an aerial view of Ryomyong Street, where 3,000 new or refurbished apartments were opened to the public in April 2017.
The Kim Il Sung Stadium with an estimated capacity of 90,000 people and is home to the North Korean national football team, was also on show in all its glory- as were two large copper-coloured statues of North Korean founding President Kim Il Sung and son Kim Jong Il, standing at the top of Mansudae Hill in Pyongyang.