North Korea, Cuba, and Coca-Cola.

The two faces of Communism

Who doesn’t love an ice-cold Coca Cola? I’m not the biggest fan. So my New Year’s Resolution for 2015 was to reach every corner of the world where Coca-Cola is not officially distributed. Cuba and North Korea are the only two countries where that’s possible. The similarities between them are striking. Both countries are time-machines: restricted internet access, outdated technology, and a tyrannical government system.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2015 was to reach every corner of the world where Coca-Cola was not officially distributed. Cuba and North Korea were the only two countries where that was possible.

Communism has crept into North Korea and Cuba in 1945 and 1959 respectively. Ever since, both states have shunned the “evil capitalist United States of America”, instituted trade restrictions, and entirely closed off their countries from the rest of the world. Good luck finding Wi-Fi.

If you think about it, the people of Cuba and North Korea will never meet because, well, they have restricted freedom of movement. So that’s why I put together a stitched album of life from the two countries. The following images were taken in North Korea in early October, 2015 and Cuba in late December, 2015.