![A stern looking North Korean guard by the Chinese border customs office. This image was deleted by North Korean officials.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009034033-north-korea-forbidden-photo-2.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Photos North Korea didn't want you to see —
A stern looking North Korean guard by the Chinese border customs office. This image was deleted by North Korean officials.
![Writer Johan Nylander and his guide, Ko Chang Ho, watch as a North Korean guard deletes 90 photos deemed unacceptable. Nylander was able to recover the photos with the help of an IT specialist -- the images that follow are an edited selection.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131021030346-north-korea-forbidden-photo-20.jpg?q=w_2048,h_1536,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Deleting the offensive photos —
Writer Johan Nylander and his guide, Ko Chang Ho, watch as a North Korean guard deletes 90 photos deemed unacceptable. Nylander was able to recover the photos with the help of an IT specialist -- the images that follow are an edited selection.
![This propaganda monument of "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il by a countryside road, not far from the border to China, was deleted by authorities. North Korea required images of leaders be full body shots.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009040811-north-korea-forbidden-photo-4.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Hello, Dear Leader —
This propaganda monument of "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il by a countryside road, not far from the border to China, was deleted by authorities. North Korea required images of leaders be full body shots.
![People standing by the train track, while a guard is monitoring the bike race.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009043222-north-korea-forbidden-photo-12.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Waiting for a train —
People standing by the train track, while a guard is monitoring the bike race.
![In the city of Rason, people are leaning out of windows to get a glimpse of the Western cyclists.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009043656-north-korea-forbidden-photo-13.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Watching the race —
In the city of Rason, people are leaning out of windows to get a glimpse of the Western cyclists.
![A woman and a man walking by the side of the road lined with cornfields.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009042256-north-korea-forbidden-photo-10.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Pedestrian peasants —
A woman and a man walking by the side of the road lined with cornfields.
![Villagers waving by the race path.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009041845-north-korea-forbidden-photo-8.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Village life —
Villagers waving by the race path.
![Guards and custom officials by the border to China.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009040924-north-korea-forbidden-photo-5.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Heavy security —
Guards and custom officials by the border to China.
![By the border checkpoint next to the Tumen River, North Korean customs officials can play volleyball. Officials prohibited any photos of North Korean military bases.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009044513-north-korea-forbidden-photo-16.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Secret volleyball court? —
By the border checkpoint next to the Tumen River, North Korean customs officials can play volleyball. Officials prohibited any photos of North Korean military bases.
![Peasants and villagers standing by the road to look at the Western cyclists](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009042503-north-korea-forbidden-photo-11.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Photos North Korea didn't want you to see —
Peasants and villagers standing by the road to look at the Western cyclists
![Guard keeping an eye on the bikers next to a small village.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009042047-north-korea-forbidden-photo-9.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Keeping watch —
Guard keeping an eye on the bikers next to a small village.
![Kids playing outside village houses.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009041604-north-korea-forbidden-photo-7.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Photos North Korea didn't want you to see —
Kids playing outside village houses.
![Spectators waiting for the bikers to reach the finish line. In the background the "Great" and "Dear Leaders" Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong-Il.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009044218-north-korea-forbidden-photo-15.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Waiting for the cyclists —
Spectators waiting for the bikers to reach the finish line. In the background the "Great" and "Dear Leaders" Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong-Il.
![Huge crowds -- some of whom standing on their own bikes -- as they await cyclists by the race finish line in Rason.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009044008-north-korea-forbidden-photo-14.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Standing on bikes to see cyclists —
Huge crowds -- some of whom standing on their own bikes -- as they await cyclists by the race finish line in Rason.
![Custom official and tourist bureau guide checking foreigners' passports.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009040310-north-korea-forbidden-photo-3.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Document check —
Custom official and tourist bureau guide checking foreigners' passports.
![Guides from the local tourist bureau handing out water bottles to bikers, monitored by a guard in the background.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009032643-north-korea-forbidden-photo-1.jpg?q=w_1000,h_662,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Water checkpoint —
Guides from the local tourist bureau handing out water bottles to bikers, monitored by a guard in the background.
![Journalist Johan Nylander and his North Korean guide, Ko Chang Ho. <em>EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was not among those deleted by North Korean officials. </em>](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/131009050053-north-korea-forbidden-photo-17.jpg?q=w_2000,h_1325,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Writer and his minder —
Journalist Johan Nylander and his North Korean guide, Ko Chang Ho. EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was not among those deleted by North Korean officials.