North Korea in Polaroid:

 Kim Jong-un's people appear relaxed in retro-style photos showing daily life in the communist enclave's capital city

• Stunning set of Polaroid photographs show North Korean citizens going about their daily lives nine years ago
• Retro-style images taken by French photographer Eric Lafforgue before Pyongyang banned him from visiting
• They show military officials, orphans and crowds of people visiting statues of North Korea's 'Dear Leaders'

Fascinating Polaroids have emerged showing North Koreans going about their daily lives. One picture (above) shows two North Korean guides in the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in Pyongyang. For two hours they explained to the photographer the 'glorious victories of North Korea against the American imperialists'. But when he suggested taking a picture, they became 'very shy and smiley'

Fascinating retro-style Polaroids have emerged showing North Koreans going about their daily lives.

French photographer Eric Lafforgue captured the stunning images in 2008 before Pyongyang officials banned him from travelling to Kim Jong-un's secretive state.

They show male and female military officials, triplets at an orphanage, a pair of newly-weds and crowds visiting statues of the 'Dear Leaders'.

French photographer Eric Lafforgue captured the stunning images in 2008 before Pyongyang officials banned him from travelling to Kim Jong-un's secretive state. A newly-wed couple posed for pictures at Mansudea Hill to pay respect to the Dear Leaders statues in Pyongyang on the day of their marriage

Many of those photographed asked if they could pose beneath pictures of the dictators that have ruled North Korea for decades

Lafforgue managed to capture images of people gathering beneath statues of the country's founder Kim Il Sung in Mansudae hill

The photographer also had the chance to meet some triplets (pictured) at the Nampho orphanage in North Korea. He took a Polaroid of these three children and asked for the home's director to send it to their parents

The grainy images also show men, women and families posing for portraits in front of North Korean landmarks and cityscapes while another shows a young woman standing beneath pictures of the country's previous dictators.

Lafforgue, 52, said he took the photos in a time before North Koreans had access to smart phones. 

'I first thought about making Polaroids just as a kind of artistic work, to keep the dull colours of this country, but quickly I discovered this camera was the best way to make contacts with locals and to break the ice.

'Every time I took a Polaroid, I took another one that I offered to my North Korean 'model'.

Lafforgue also captured pictures of female guards inside the Pyongyang subway, taking care of train arrivals and departures. He said that they acted 'like little robots' until the Polaroid photo shoot when they 'became humans'

A North Korean colonel is pictured with a soldier on the Korean Demilitarised Zone at a section where it is possible to see South Korea through binoculars. They refused to pose for photos at first - only to change their minds on seeing another soldier's picture

Lafforgue pictured a colonel at the Korean Demilitarised Zone who talked about peace and the 'oppression of the Americans'. He asked to have a photo taken in front of the South Korean building, to show his wife where he was working. The day after the photo was taken, North Korea carried out a nuclear test

Women working in a Hhghway restaurant near Pyongyang held hands as they posed for photographs. It was the first time they had seen a Polaroid camera and Lafforgue gave them each a copy

When Lafforgue visited the countryside he found only 'bikes and farms. No cars, nothing else'. The pictures captured everyday life in secretive North Korea in fascinating detail

The photographer was also allowed to attend an accordion class In Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, in Pyongyang - often part of the tourist itinerary in North Korea

'So many times, this allowed me to see North Koreans in a very different way, and to start some conversations, through my guide, of course. Something that was no allowed in 2008.'

He said he particularly liked the pictures he took of soldiers at the Korean Demilitarised Zone.

'It was so funny to see them lose the stiff attitude they are supposed to keep every time,' he said.

'When visiting some houses, I asked the people where they wanted to stand for the picture - everybody answered "below the dear leaders' portraits". Once, I had to do the Polaroid again as the Leaders portraits were cut. Unacceptable.'

He said many were surprised and delighted to watch the Polaroid photos being developed - especially in the countryside where only pictures of the country's ruling Kim dynasty were allowed.

'When I gave Polaroids to farmers, they were really happy. One of them even offered me one peach to thank me. In 2008, it was a very valuable gift for a North Korean. They were the first fruits I saw in my 15-day tour.'

The owner of one restaurant (pictured) in Pyongyang asked for Lafforgue to take a Polaroid picture. She turned out to be the wife of a high-ranking North Korean official who had lived in New York for two years

A female member of staff operates machinery at the Mineral water factory of Nampo. Lafforgue said the sound of the machines was 'incredibly loud and aggressive and everybody was sorry for the young worker'

Lafforgue was also invited to a kindergarten in Hamhung. This picture shows a member of staff in the children's sleeping area

A little North Korean girl is pictured with a nurse in Nampho orphanage - billed as a brand new facility filled with toys

Lafforgue pictured a War Museum guide called Miss Kim (left) who claimed she had learnt French at Pyongyang University - but it later emerged that she had grown up in Algeria where her father was a diplomat. He also pictured a woman enjoying a day out in Pyongyang (right)

He said that while he was in the capital Pyongyang, he took Polaroids of girls working in a restaurant.

The owner then came and asked for one, in English and turned out to be the wife of a high-ranking North Korean diplomat who had lived in New York for two years.

'She found the Americans very fat, but nice people. She became very talkative as she was so happy with her picture.'

Lafforgue also had the chance to meet triplets and twins at an orphanage. 

A flower seller poses for pictures at her workplace - the Leaders statues in Mansudae hill in Pyongyang. The bouquets cost three euros

Gloomy: Pictures also show views from the Yanggakdo hotel in Pyongyang. Lafforgue said that in 2008 'you could sleep with the window open because there were no cars in town'

A woman rides her bike in the countryside - a crucial means of transport considered few cars existed in rural areas at the time

A cook poses for a Polaroid photo in a restaurant in Pyongyang with a 'Hello Kitty' apron. Lafforgue said she did not know about the character and believed it to be a North Korean invention

Dividing line: A military official shows a map of North and South Korea at the Korean Demiliterised Zone between the two countries

He said: 'The official reason is that parents cannot afford to raise two or three kids at same time. Some say that they represent a kind of magic for the Leaders and that the parents do not have the choice to keep them at home. 

'I took a Polaroid of the triplets and asked the orphanage director to give the picture to the parents, but I understood they were living very far away and that there was little chance they could receive the picture of their children.

'For sure those Polaroids were precious for the North Koreans. Nowadays, mobile phones allow them to take pictures everywhere, all the time.'

Pictures show some of the many statues in Pyongyang and the looming pyramid-shaped, 105-story Ryugyong Hotel in the background

The photographer visited the North Korean side of the Korean Demilitarised Zone and pictured soldiers standing guard outside

Formation: The North Korean Army Parade marches through Pyongyang during a rehearsal. The images were captured in 2008

Bowling alleys are very popular in North Korea and a popular destination for going on dates.

(The Mail, UK)