Man finds disturbing hidden message when looking at North Korea on Google Maps

A man has discovered a chilling hidden message while looking at North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang on Google Maps.

Yes, it turns out you aren't alone in randomly taking to the platform to see what satellite footage of the restricted country - whose borders have been closed since 2020, due to Covid-19 - looks like.

An almost completely empty street in the capital city of Pyongyang, North Korea (Getty Stock Image)

I'm sure we've all done it at some point, fascinated to see just how life is under the iron fist of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un's, his father's, and his grandfather's dictatorship over the country since Korea broke into civil war in 1948, has been hugely controversial and resulted in a highly secretive nation.

In a recent Reddit post someone uncovered what could either be a hidden message from a North Korean citizen meant for the outside world, or simply an idiotic joke.

Either way it is very disturbing.

On Saesalim Street, near to the Taedong River - which flows through the heart of the capital city - is a pin was left on what appears to be an apartment block, titled 'Help me'.

A building had the words 'Help me' placed on it on Google Maps (Google Maps)

While it is unconfirmed who wrote it or when it's from, at the time of writing it is still visible on Google Maps.

Taking to Reddit, the original poster wrote: "There's a random apartment complex near Pyongyang called 'Help Me' meaning someone there could have added that name to Google Maps to get help.

"It could be fake too, but I figured I'd share just in case."

People quickly pointed out that it isn't the only message that can be found on the platform.

While one person typed: "If it was authentic, the creator is likely toast by now. I suspect some joker did it."

A second added: "There are not many things that pop up for Google earth and I would say this is truly risky for the person who created it, just as a 'joke'.

The message was located on Saesalim Street by Taedong River, which runs through the heart of Pyongyang (Getty Stock Image)

"Too bad no one can investigate something like this."

And a third commented: "Thats disturbing."

Someone else took to the social media platform to slam the 'joke' as they claimed it could lead to people being arrested in the country.

And another user added: "I thought I was the only one who randomly goes through NK [North Korea] on Google Maps."

Unfortunately, there is no way to prove if the message was done in jest or if it was actually a plea for help.

Google has since confirmed to UNILAD that it has been removed.