Inside Kim Jong-un's Giant Statues & lavish Palace

A student has captured a rare glimpse of the luxurious palaces and imposing monuments inside poverty-stricken secretive state North Korea.

Since the fall of the USSR, North Korea has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world, with most residents unable to leave.

But 26-year-old Ross Bryant, from Bristol, was one of the first tourists to be allowed into the country since the dictatorship lifted a four-month ban to prevent the spread of Ebola.

During a four-day tour - where he was closely monitored by guides - he saw extreme poverty of the starving nation and didn't encounter a single other Westerner.

But among scenes of misery and squalor were opulent shrines to leader Kim Jong-un and palaces which included one with a JUMBO JET hidden inside.

Journalism student Ross said: "I had wanted to go for ages - I'm interested in going to the more dangerous parts of the world.

"I took the train in so it was really interesting to see the rural areas you don't usually see.

"There are rules to say you can't take photos of anyone in the military, but that's hard when half of the men in the country are employed in the military.

"Everyone is wearing uniform which is absolutely immaculate, despite the absolute squalor and poverty they live in."

Ross flew into Beijing, China, before taking a train into North Korea to meet his tour guides and tourists - two other Brits and seven people from China, last month.

They travelled to the outskirts of the city to celebrate Military Foundation Day, and was astonished to see tens of thousands of people dancing in unison.

He also visited one of supreme leader Kim Jong-un's palaces, where he was stripped of all gadgets before being shown a jumbo jet - inside the building.

"People won't believe me when I say it, but we were taken in, had to hand over all our phones, and then taken into the room which was pitch black," said Ross.

"The lights blinked on there was a huge massive plane there. I wish I had been able to get a photo."

Among Ross' favourite photos is one of the Mansudae Grand Monument in Pyongyang, dedicated to with Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

The first thing they had to do - before even checking into their hotel - was visit the huge imposing monument and lay flowers.

"It was so weird," he said.

"No matter where you were in the country, no matter how deprived the town or area, there were statues everywhere.

"I tried to blend in, but being blonde and six foot it was impossible.

"People just stopped and stared. Someone even asked us to be in their wedding photos."

Another favourite photo was taken on the Pyongyang Metro, which is reportedly 110 metres underground, so it can act as a bunker in the event of a nuclear attack.

"There was propaganda being blasted out through the speakers, and when you stop at a station you are instantly seeing it on big screens, and then the photos you see there, as well as the newspapers they are reading - it's crazy," said Ross.

"As much as it was an incredible experience North Korea I was really grateful to leave, just because of how imposing and shocking and strict it was.

"It is sad to think that the people who live there live with that every day - forever."

Culled From Mirror