Metro stations that can double as bomb shelters. Mass synchronized swimming displays. The pastel-colored buildings that resemble a “socialist fairytale” and the everyday life, which is in the background but defies assumptions and snap judgments. Six photographers reveal the DPRK’s complex picture, behind closed doors, with access and photography restricted.

A Piece of the Jigsaw that is North Korea

“Tariq’s Zaidi project Photography North Korea took place during a trip from Dandong on the North Korea/China border to the DMZ, in the south and from Pyongyang, the capital, to Wonsan. The final edit only shows the photos that Zaidi was allowed to take by the North Korean guides, not the ones that were deleted after he left the country.

Zaidi says, ‘Overall if you set politics aside – which I’ve tried to do with this photo essay – it is a beautiful country. It’s one of the most clean you’ll ever see, and its people are hospitable, going out of their ways to help you. The only thing I don’t know is if it was all staged or real. ‘”