ABSTRACT
One of the most powerful and widespread tools of remote sensing is satellite imagery. Photographic representations – in the form of news pictures or satellite images – are widely believed to be mimetic reflections of reality. The satellite images clearly have geopolitical implications – given that they are invoked to legitimize political and diplomatic actions including inspections, warnings and sanctions – the discussion of the night-time satellite photo of the Korean peninsula will illuminate how remote sensing also shapes people's geographical imaginations. There are seemingly few states like North Korea in the contemporary geopolitical order. Often described as a "mystery" , "terra incognita" or "enigma", North Korea captures people's geographical imaginations like no other country in the world. The picture does not communicate any cartographic knowledge; rather, it is involved in creating a spatial imaginary of North Korea as a place beyond the realm of comprehension, one which is neither part of our world nor part of our time.
