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Celebrating 60 years of existence this year, North Korea holds out as the last Stalinist state in the world. In such a restrictive society, it is difficult - if not impossible - for residents to get news of the outside world, and for the outside world to see in. What photography comes out of North Korea is either state-produced, state-approved, or at the very least state-managed (visitors are restricted in their movement). Still, if you look over the following images with those restrictions in mind, one can still get some idea of life in North Korea in 2008. These photos were all taken within the past six months - some taken from the borders, peering in, others provided by North Korea itself, and several generously shared by freelance photographer Eric Lafforgue, who recently spent some time inside the country. ( 32 photos total) 
Young koreans hold up colored display cards to form a background image for a performance of North Korea's Mass Games on September 12, 2008. The Mass Games are designed to entertain or celebrate holidays, and place emphasis on group dynamics rather than individual prowess. This particular show's name is "Prosper the Motherland!", dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, celebrated on September 9th. (© Eric Lafforgue) 
A North Korean propaganda village is seen from the Yeolsoe Observatory in the southern limited line in Yeoncheon, South Korea, about 62 km (39 miles) north of Seoul August 27, 2008. (REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak) #
A North Korean man paddles his boat along the banks of the Yalu River in front of one of the the destroyed bridges that once linked China and North Korea, near the town of Qing Cheng, located around 50 kilometres north of the Chinese border city of Dandong September 12, 2008. (REUTERS/David Gray) #
A female soldier walks on a road in the countryside. Photographer Eric Lafforgue: "I do not know where they go, I do not know what they do, but when you're in the countryside, you see many soldiers walking... far from anything." (© Eric Lafforgue) #
Apartment houses in North Korea are seen across the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas from Kimpo city, north of Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/ Yonhap, Baek Seung-yul) #
A boat carrying North Korean soldiers travels along the Yalu River towards the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, located around 50 kilometres north of the Chinese border city of Dandong September 12, 2008. (REUTERS/David Gray) #
A swimmer from the "Yalu River Swimming Association" swims wearing goggles in the Yalu River opposite the North Korean town of Sinuiju, in the Chinese border city of Dandong September 12, 2008. Each day, in warm months, hundreds of Chinese swimmers plunge into the narrow Yalu river which divides their country from North Korea, with dozens kicking the 500 metres to the opposite side for a rest and a glimpse of the neighboring, withdrawn communist state. (REUTERS/David Gray) #
A North Korean man comes down a ladder in front of an abandoned factory complex along the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Qing Cheng, September 12, 2008. (REUTERS/David Gray) #
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