These rare North Korea propaganda posters are going on display for the first time

A set of North Korean propaganda posters is set to go on show in Beijing this week in a rare exhibition outside of the country.

North Korea tour company owner Nicholas Bonner, a Briton, has found a way to put a selection of striking replica posters on show without falling foul of officials in the secretive state. In 2010, Dutchman Willem van der Bijl was arrested and detained in Pyongyang on espionage charges after exporting propaganda posters and he was eventually made to sign a “confession” before being released.

Mr Bonner, the founder of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, commissioned Pyongyang artists to paint reproductions of some he had seen in the country. As he commissioned them for artistic rather than political purposes, from photographs and art books he had accrued during visits to North Korea, he was allowed to take them into China.

On Friday, the posters, a selection of which are shown here, will go on show at the Pop-Up Beijing boutique in the Chinese capital.

1980s

1980s-1990s

Slogan: ‘We build small and medium power stations by ourselves'

1980s-1990s

1980s-1990s

1990s

Slogan: ‘Love our machines like the anti-Japanese guerrillas who loved their weapons like the pupils of their own eyes’

2000s

Slogan: ‘Destroy US imperialists!’

2000s

Slogan: ‘Let the exploits of the northern railway conductors shine!

2006

Slogan: ‘Let’s destroy the manoeuvres of the US imperialist'

Late 2000s

Slogan: ‘Let’s increase electricity production by reconstructing thermal power stations and building large hydroelectric plants’

Late 2000s

Slogan: ‘Three revolutions, let’s advance the march of grand construction with Chollima [mythical winged horse] speed’, which references building new railways

More: How people are trying to smuggle The Interview into North Korea