These Photos Taken in Secret Were Never Meant to Make it Out of North Korea

In North Korea, military service starts in the mid-teens and lasts about ten years, as seen in the picture of a young, malnourished soldier walking among flowers while tasked with farm work. This highlights possible labor shortages or a service culture.

The image unsettlingly showcases a boy, seemingly too young for labor or military duties, embodying the poignant reality of soldiers’ youthfulness and the harsh conditions they endure.