DPRK — Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

Mark Pearson

I went on assignment to the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) a few times, and these images reveal daily life in the rural southeast, offering a unique perspective beyond the typical propaganda of military parades in Pyongyang. Authorities restrict photography in the remote regions, and this collection provides insight into everyday North Korean realities. Depicting poverty in the region, the photos also highlight the deprivation faced by many under Kim Jong Un's authoritarian rule. North Korea ranks among the world's poorest nations with an average annual income of $1,700, according to the CIA since December 2011.