BBC NEWS | In Pictures | North Korea's art of propaganda

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14:21 GMT, Tuesday, 29 July 2008 15:21 UK

North Korea's art of propaganda

David Heather with a North Korean propaganda poster

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David Heather buys North Korean propaganda posters to sell to art collectors overseas. The hand-painted posters are produced at a studio complex in Pyongyang, where about 1,000 artists work.

North Korean poster

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Some posters have the obvious anti-imperialist themes. But David Heather says these are less common nowadays, as relations between North Korea and the US improve.

North Korean poster

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David Heather says there are two main types of poster - those that are depicting the day-to-day lives of ordinary people and those which are anti-imperialist in nature.

North Korean poster

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The caption on this poster reads "Look! The face of American imperialism."

North Korean poster

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This poster encourages a healthy lifestyle. It says "Let's learn to swim at an early age."

North Korean poster

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Some posters encourage hard work. David Heather says this one translates as "Let's give a bigger part to the advantages of the socialist treatment system through greater effort."

David Heather with book of North Korean posters

David Heather with book of North Korean posters

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The posters have proved so popular with art collectors that a book has been published and an exhibition in New York is planned.

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