Photographs: Aftermath of the Korean War

The following photographs, generously provided by the United Nations, depict the Aftermath of the Korean War, which ended with an armistice (agreement to stop fighting, to be distinguished from a peace treaty) in 1953. At this time, both North and South Korea were in need of reconstruction, infrastructure, and development. Hunger and poverty were not uncommon. However, over the past 60 years, South Korea has successfully developed into an economic powerhouse with a sprawling metropolis, Seoul. Meanwhile, North Korea’s development has long-since plateaued.

We hope that these stunning photographs will give you a sense of Korea’s history of perseverance, the time in which Kim Il Sung (Kim Jong Il’s father) established his totalitarian regime, and the landscape that continues to resemble elements of life in North Korea today.

(c) UN Photo / (c) UN Photo from US Army