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N. Korea portraits: Ordinary lives, ever in leader’s shadow

June 15, 2017

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Kim Jong Sil, 35, a worker at the Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill for the past 17 years, poses for a portrait in Pyongyang, North Korea. When asked what's important to them, North Koreans might talk about working hard, or doing well at sports, or having a big family, but leader Kim Jong Un is never far from the conversation. Kim Jong Sil's motto: "As one of the working class, I'll devote myself to realize the great idea of Marshal Kim Jong Un and I'll work hard to achieve this."
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Kim Son Hui, 41, stands at the entrance of the Pyongyang Class Education Hall as she poses for a portrait in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim has been working as a guide for the past 15 years. Her motto: "I want to make other people dedicated to the building of a thriving nation by giving lectures and tours, as a guide, for as long as I can."
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North Korean bride Ri Ok Ran, 28, and groom Kang Sung Jin, 32, pose for a portrait at the Moran Hill where they went to take wedding pictures, in Pyongyang, North Korea. The couple were married after dating for about two years. Their motto: "To have many children so that they can serve in the army and defend and uphold our leader and country, for many years into the future."
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Capt. Ri Ok Gyong, 24, poses for a portrait at the Fatherland Liberation Museum in Pyongyang, North Korea. Ri has been a guide at the museum for two years. She studied at Pyongyang University of Foreign Language, where she learnt to speak English and Chinese. She enjoys her job because she wants to help foreigners understand the "real history of the Korean War, and the United State's false propaganda about North Korea." Her motto: "I want to serve in the army forever, uplifting the Songun idea (military first) of Kim Il Sung."
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Pak Su Won, 66, a retired local physician, poses for a portrait along Mirae Scientists Street in Pyongyang, North Korea. His motto: "To devote myself to leader Kim Jong Un for the rest of my life. For him, and for the fatherland."
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Kim Jin Ok, 25, poses for a portrait as she feeds catfish at the Pyongyang Catfish Farm, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Her motto: "Working hard at my job pleases our leader Kim Jong Un."
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Kil Jin A, 29, poses for a portrait at the entrance of the Pothonggang Hotel where she works with mobile phone service provider Koryolink, in Pyongyang, North Korea. She has been working with Koryolink for 8 years and enjoys her job as a sales executive because it gives her opportunities to meet visitors from abroad. Her motto: "To always help others, but of course, patriotism towards my country is most important."
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Pak Hyon Sun, 18, poses on a horse at the Mirim Riding Club, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Pak has been a riding instructor for one year and she hopes to become an expert one day at horse riding.
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North Korean People's Army Lt. Col. Nam Dong Ho poses for a portrait at the entrance to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the North Korean side.
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Kim Una, 23, studying to be an obstetrician at the Pyongyang Maternity hospital, poses for a portrait in Pyongyang, North Korea. She enjoys the work because it is about "bringing new life into the world." She hopes to "meet a good man and have five children with him."
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Ri Chun Im, 71, poses for a portrait as she dances with other elderly North Korean men and women at a park in Moran Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea. Ri has been dancing everyday for the past 4-5 years. She loves dancing because it keeps her young and healthy. Her motto: "To live a healthy life devoted to supporting the country's ruling party."
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Won Dae Chol, 20, poses for a portrait at the Taekwando Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea. His motto: "I want to win medals in this sport to please our leader Kim Jong Un."
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North Korean London 2012 Olympics Judo gold medalist, An Kum Ae poses in her bedroom with her gold medal in Pyongyang, North Korea.
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Pak Chol, 27, a professional long distance runner, poses for a portrait after winning the Pyongyang marathon in Pyongyang, North Korea. Pak has won three marathons in his life. His motto: "I want to please leader Kim Jong Un through my sporting successes."
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Ri Yong Ok, a 57-year-old pharmacist whose heavy-smoking husband nearly died of lung cancer, poses for a portrait with a box of anti-smoking medicine she developed at a small anti-smoking center she manages in Pyongyang, North Korea. Her motto: "I hope every man quits smoking for his health and family, and I will help."
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Jong Kun Song, 70, a guide at the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities, poses for a portrait in front of an old photograph of himself as a child on display, in South Hwanghae, North Korea.
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Ri Nam Hae, left, and Kil Myong Kyong, both 16-years old, pose for a portrait at a pier in Wonsan, North Korea. Ri wants to be a journalist and her motto is to "spread the country's propaganda to the world." Kil's motto: "I want to uphold Marshal Kim Jong Un and North Korea with my rifle."
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Kang Jong Jin, a 28-year old former soldier who attaches soles onto shoes at a shoe factory in Wonsan, North Korea, poses for a portrait at his work station. Kang, who has been working longer hours during this 200-day "speed campaign" in line with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's vows to raise the nation's standard of living and energize his five-year plan to develop economy, says that he wants to contribute to Kim's plan by taking courses to improve his scientific and technological skills.
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Pak Sin Hyok, 16, a student of the Pyongyang University of Fine Art, poses with his unfinished water-color painting of trees in Moranbong or Moran Hill, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Pak has been studying art for three years and hopes to be a professional artist after he graduates in this course that lasts for nine years. His motto: "To give focus to producing Juche-oriented art and bring glory to the Juche idea, which is the idea of self-reliance."
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Village elder Song Hong Ik, 77, right, poses for a portrait on Ryongyon-ri hill in Kujang county, North Korea. Song was 13-years old when the Korean War began.
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Pyongyang subway officer Ri Ok Gyong, 23, holds up a signal as she poses for a portrait in Pyongyang, North Korea. Ri has been working at the station for six years. She says that she is proud of her job because the subway station was one of the places where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited. Ri Ok Gyong's motto: "I want to server people because Marshal Kim Jong Un loves his people and so must I."
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North Korean wrestler Hwang Myong Hyok, 19, has been wrestling for four years.
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Sin Ji Ye, 9, left, An Rye Jong, 10, center, and Kim Ye Yon, 8, right, pose for a portrait as they attend a singing class in Pyongyang, North Korea.
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Jang Sol Hyang, 19, a Kim Il Sung University student majoring in Mathematics, poses for a portrait at the newly opened Ryomyong Street in Pyongyang, North Korea. Her motto: "Being a girl doesn't stop me from upholding the leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un and it drives me to be even better."
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Jo Myong Sim, 42, a farmer who has worked at the Chilgol vegetable farm on the outskirts of Pyongyang for 15 years, poses for a portrait between spraying fertilizer on cabbage crops which will be harvested and used to make Kimchi in Pyongyang, North Korea. Her motto: "Family togetherness".
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Kim Guan Huan, 60, a concierge, poses for a portrait at the entrance of the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim has been working at the hotel for the past 30 years.
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