Over the past couple of weeks, talk of a possible war has reached something of a fever pitch. North Korea has been trumpeting terse warnings and threats to demonstrate its military might, while a US aircraft carrier made a symbolic move by sailing to waters off the Korean peninsula.
As tensions continue to escalate to new heights, it’s important to remember in this apprehensive period that the North Koreans are living their everyday lives just like us, albeit in different circumstances. What better way to humanize their citizens than with gorgeous shots of everyday life in North Korea — supplied in mass quantities by Singaporean photojournalist Wong May-E.
As an Associated Press staff photographer who’s been tasked to cover the world’s most reclusive state since 2014, North Korea gets extensively documented in a new light through her lens. As an exhibition of her works last year described, her pictures reflect the “the deep complexities of the identity and image of North Korea and its people”.
“(Her work) showcases picture perfect state parades alongside quieter moments of citizens going about their daily business, giving dimension to a carefully cultivated national image through photographs from an extensive body of work built over two years.”
What makes it even more amazing is the fact that most of the gorgeous images on her Instagram feed were shot on her smartphone — an iPhone 7+, that is.
So while you’re reading about North Korea detaining three US citizens in the country, or learning about it working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States, it’s important to remember that it’s not all black and white when it comes to life in the hermit state. Though it does get pretty fucking grim.
