CNN and other journalism organizations were given rare access to North Korea as part of the country's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean War. CNN's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fivancnn" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ivan Watson</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Ftjschwarz" target="_blank" target="_blank">Tim Schwarz</a> were part of the group visiting the isolated nation and captured some of the sights using Instagram. Occasionally, the mask slipped to show a more poignant, human face of North Korea. Here a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcVrGDhiDX5%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">young mother and her child pose</a> for Watson while walking in Pyongyang. "[It was a] fascinating, frustrating visit," Watson said. "Sadly, I didn't have a single 'real' conversation with a North Korean due to immense government paranoia."
Instagrams from North Korea —
CNN and other journalism organizations were given rare access to North Korea as part of the country's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean War. CNN's Ivan Watson and Tim Schwarz were part of the group visiting the isolated nation and captured some of the sights using Instagram. Occasionally, the mask slipped to show a more poignant, human face of North Korea. Here a young mother and her child pose for Watson while walking in Pyongyang. "[It was a] fascinating, frustrating visit," Watson said. "Sadly, I didn't have a single 'real' conversation with a North Korean due to immense government paranoia."
Ivan Watson/CNN
There were other moments of discovery, too. "This trip to Pyongyang introduced me to a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcVqwb2iDXo%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">delicious Korean dish: Naeng Myun</a>, or cold buckwheat noodles," Watson said.
Instagrams from North Korea —
There were other moments of discovery, too. "This trip to Pyongyang introduced me to a delicious Korean dish: Naeng Myun, or cold buckwheat noodles," Watson said.
Ivan Watson/CNN
The reclusive nation of North Korea this week welcomed Western media to cover the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcRnFJOBqOC%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">60th anniversary of the armistice agreement</a> that ended fighting in the Korean War.
Instagrams from North Korea —
The reclusive nation of North Korea this week welcomed Western media to cover the 60th anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended fighting in the Korean War.
TJ Schwarz/CNn
At one of the specially organized, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcRmqxpBqNP%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">expertly synchronized parades</a>, these female army medics marched perfectly in line as they paraded through Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square.
Instagrams from North Korea —
At one of the specially organized, expertly synchronized parades, these female army medics marched perfectly in line as they paraded through Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square.
tj shwar/cnn
The celebrations, presided over by<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcRp4UThqC9%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un,</a> came several months after North Korea threatened to scrap the agreement and resume hostilities against the United States and South Korea. The heightened tensions came after the United Nations slapped tougher sanctions on the country after its latest nuclear test.
Instagrams from North Korea —
The celebrations, presided over by North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un, came several months after North Korea threatened to scrap the agreement and resume hostilities against the United States and South Korea. The heightened tensions came after the United Nations slapped tougher sanctions on the country after its latest nuclear test.
TJ Schwarz/cnn
"A family day out at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcPK3c-hqHj%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia festival</a>," says Schwarz. "Those big red blooms are kimjongilias."
Instagrams from North Korea —
"A family day out at the Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia festival," says Schwarz. "Those big red blooms are kimjongilias."
tj schwarz/cnn
"This was most tightly controlled restricted foreign assignment of my career," Watson said of his visit to the country. Here <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcNgHU6CDbv%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">visitors take souvenir photos</a> at the Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia flower festival. The flowers are named after former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, who overlook the scene from the painting on the left hand side.
Instagrams from North Korea —
"This was most tightly controlled restricted foreign assignment of my career," Watson said of his visit to the country. Here visitors take souvenir photos at the Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia flower festival. The flowers are named after former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, who overlook the scene from the painting on the left hand side.
ivan watson/cnn
The family dynasty that has ruled North Korea for decades permeates all aspects of the population's lives, from their <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcNTwjIiDXC%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">flowers to their reading material</a>. "Most of the literature here appears to focus on the life and thoughts of Kim Jong Il," Watson says. "Also for sale: Encyclopedia of Kimjongilia (the flower named after the former North Korean leader)."
Instagrams from North Korea —
The family dynasty that has ruled North Korea for decades permeates all aspects of the population's lives, from their flowers to their reading material. "Most of the literature here appears to focus on the life and thoughts of Kim Jong Il," Watson says. "Also for sale: Encyclopedia of Kimjongilia (the flower named after the former North Korean leader)."
ivan watson/cnn
The Communist nation also proudly displays in Pyongyang the signs of its ideology -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcOGfPqCDb8%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">the hammer and the sickle here </a>loom over visitors and locals alike in the city.
Instagrams from North Korea —
The Communist nation also proudly displays in Pyongyang the signs of its ideology -- the hammer and the sickle here loom over visitors and locals alike in the city.
ivan watson
Schoolchildren pay their respects at Pyongyang's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcLmS-gBqO3%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kumsusan Palace of the Sun</a>, where Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state in glass coffins.
Instagrams from North Korea —
Schoolchildren pay their respects at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state in glass coffins.
tj schwarz/cnn
Elsewhere, Watson enjoys a contemplative moment with North Korean schoolchildren enjoying the carp pools by the<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2FcLfanRhqJS%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Kumsusan Palace of the Sun</a>. "[It was a] fascinating and strange experience," Watson reflected of his time in the country.
Instagrams from North Korea —
Elsewhere, Watson enjoys a contemplative moment with North Korean schoolchildren enjoying the carp pools by the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. "[It was a] fascinating and strange experience," Watson reflected of his time in the country.
tj schwarz/cnn