Book review: Photos that aim to show real North Korea behind nuclear posturing | NK News
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September 24, 2026Sep 24, 2026

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Book review: Photos that aim to show real North Korea behind nuclear posturing

‘Picturing the DPRK’ offers a sympathetic look at DPRK life but sometimes omits context needed to understand country

Glyn Ford is no stranger to North Korea or its people. Following on from his 2018 book “Talking to North Korea,” which encouraged a more open and less hostile approach to dealing with Pyongyang, his latest offering presents photos taken by him over nearly 50 visits to the country spanning a quarter of a century.

“Picturing the DPRK” again offers a sympathetic window into North Korean life. More specifically, it aims to look beyond the missiles and ruling elite and focus instead on the citizens of the country. 

This is emphasized by a front cover that shows hundreds of North