12(^10)
A woman in pink stands out in a crowd of
soldiers in a square in North Korea. I could
only take one shot before my guides asked
me to stop and leave. This was the first
picture I took on my first trip to North Korea
(^11)
Young “pioneer girls” clean the Mansudae
Square in Pyongyang. This is one of the duties
that every citizen needs to do with their school,
factory, or work unit. Pyongyang is one of the
cleanest cities in the world. North Koreans
attribute this ultra cleanliness to their respect
for the late leaders who are buried in the city
(^12)
A couple sit on a bench in a park in Pyongyang.
North Koreans are sometimes shown as robotic
in the press, but they are just human, and this
quiet affection is often seen in public spaces
ERIC LAFFORGUE started taking photographs
10 years ago. He has been published in
numerous international magazines and
newspapers, including Geo, National
Geographic and Lonely Planet. His work on
the people of Papua was displayed at the
prestigious VISA photojournalism festival in
Perpignan. He is a Sony ambassador. Visit
http://www.ericlafforgue.com for more of his work.
For an exclusive interview with Lafforgue
about his experiences in North Korea, go to
http://www.asiangeo.com/gallery/north-korea
PICTURESQUE