Story highlights
CNN crew given unprecedented access to North Korea Workers' Party Congress
Kim Jong Un elected chairman of the Workers' Party
(CNN) —
Even by North Korean standards, this experience was surreal.
For days, a CNN crew in Pyongyang has pushed for access to the Workers’ Party Congress – a massive political event that hasn’t happened in 36 years.
More than 100 journalists from around the world came to do the same thing. It’s been a week of disappointment. The closest we came was shooting the building from across the street.
That changed Monday, when government officials whisked away a small group of 30 journalists – including myself and photojournalist Charlie Miller.
We don’t know why they chose us. They didn’t tell us where we were going, but told us to get our suits and ties – and bring our passports.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
The images of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung (left) and Kim Jong Il hang outside the April 25 House of Culture as Pyongyang holds its 7th Congress of Workers' Party.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
The full car park at the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang, which was attended by some 3,4000 delegates.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
North Korean women in traditional dress prepare to greet delegates at the 7th Workers' Party Congress, held for the first time in 36 years.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A photograph of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hangs in the enormous April 25 House of Culture during the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
The images of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung (left) and Kim Jong Il adorn the convention center as the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang takes place.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
More than 3,000 party members and scores of international journalists poured into a convention center in Pyongyang for the once-in-a-generation political gathering.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
The ceiling in the hall of the April 25 House of Culture is photographed during the 7th Workers' Party Congress.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A man watches the 7th Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang, where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gave a 15-minute opening speech, touting the country's weapons development.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Portraits of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il look down from the clock tower of Pyongyang Central Railway Station. The station is a major hub for travelers to and from the capital, including many of the delegates for the upcoming Workers' Party Congress, which starts on May 6.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Passengers look curiously through the window at foreign journalists who are taking pictures of them on a tram in Pyongyang, May 4.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Trams are packed to capacity carrying citizens to rehearsals for choreographed group displays during the 7th Workers' Party Congress.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A student band outside Hyoksin (Innovation) Station is tasked with lifting the spirits of Pyongyang citizens so they'll work harder during the "70 day battle" leading up to the congress.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Secondary school students walk home in a group along Kwangbok "Liberation" street in Pyongyang on May 4 after a day of work and rehearsals for the upcoming congress.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A woman gets into a taxi outside a new Pyongyang department store. The North Korean capital now has several taxi companies.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A growing number of Pyongyang's upper-middle class are able to purchase fashionable clothing, usually imported from China. Two-year-old Ri Ryong Won's mother is a primary school teacher.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Hyon Un Mi, 27, works as a guide at Pyongyang's Arch of Triumph. She says she and her colleagues have worked for 70 days straight, acting on orders of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. To prepare Pyongyang for the upcoming congress, she was part of a work crew sent to refurbish Kim Il Sung Stadium.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Everywhere you look people are carrying home bags of artificial flowers. They are standard issue for all major celebrations in North Korea.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Around every corner of Pyongyang are banners marking the upcoming congress. This one says "Great party. Motherly party."
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
A woman walks her bike along Kwangbok "Liberation" street in Pyongyang on May 4 after a day of work and rehearsals for the upcoming congress.
Photos: North Korea holds first Workers' Party congress in 36 years
PHOTO:
Will Ripley/CNN
Many of the mass demonstrations will feature group choreography. Bundles of fake flowers are distributed and people are seen carrying them throughout Pyongyang.
We boarded buses that eventually took us to the “April 25 House of Culture,” an enormous convention center where 3,400 delegates had gathered for the Workers’ Party Congress.
They were waiting not just for us, of course, but for leader Kim Jong Un.
Security, as you can imagine, was beyond strict. Authorities patted us down and took our cell phones away. We couldn’t take our wireless microphones or even our spare batteries.
The whole security process took 90 minutes. Finally, we were allowed inside the Workers’ Party Congress – the first time any Western journalists were allowed to do so.
Kim Jong Un unveils five-year plan
The walk to the Congress’ auditorium is lined with ornate marble columns and an extravagant escalator. We were warned not to bump our tripod on the immaculate escalator.
As we entered the auditorium, we quickly realized we were not the only ones filming. North Korean state-run TV was also filming us, presumably to show how important the Congress was to the rest of the world.
It’s also possible they wanted citizens to feel less isolated and perhaps more connected to the rest of the world.
As we walked inside the auditorium, 5,000 heads turned. Some looked bemused. Others, stone-faced.
The silence was broken only by the familiar tune that plays every time the country’s “supreme leader” is about to enter.
Suddenly, everyone clapped and shouted in perfect unison. They did so for several minutes.
Then Kim – wearing a suit, gray tie and glasses – made his entrance.
Our minders gave us 10 minutes to shoot whatever we wanted – except for closeups of the delegates’ notebooks.
Then we were briskly ushered away.
We still saw no transparency on how the voting worked. What we do know is that the 3,400 delegates, who were joined by 1,500 or so alternates, always vote unanimously.
And in this once-in-a-generation Congress, Kim was elected chairman of the Workers’ Party. Somehow, he was given even more power than he already had.
BBC correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, team expelled from North Korea
This is my 10th reporting trip to North Korea, and I’m not afraid to report facts that are critical of the nation or its leader, even when I’m inside the country.
But North Korean officials have strongly reprimanded me for my reporting.
While I’ve never deleted video or allowed North Korean officials to view stories in advance, there are still restrictions.
The government often directs when the camera can be used and where it can be pointed, hindering the ability to move freely about the country.
But as the unanimous voting in support of Kim showed, this is not a government that appears to be crumbling anytime soon.
