A Rank Above, Still Us

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Na-ri (33) to: Portrait Image of Person Ha-yoon

A man and woman sit on a bench outdoors, with the woman wearing a yellow floral dress and the man dressed in a military uniform adorned with red epaulettes and a badge. Both are looking at the camera with neutral expressions. Pink flowers and tree branches frame the foreground, while a cityscape blurred in the background shows tall buildings and what appears to be a military parade on the right. The image has a vintage, sepia-toned effect, giving it an aged appearance.

Dear Ha-yoon,

Today was his big day.
My husband was officially promoted to Colonel. You should have seen his face this morning—half pride, half panic. He insisted on wearing the uniform an hour early and stood in front of the mirror like he was preparing for a performance. (I told him not to fidget with the belt so much, but you know him.)

After the ceremony, we found a quiet bench not far from the parade grounds. Cherry blossoms were falling all around us like in the dramas. For a moment, it felt like we were just two people, not a soldier and a soldier’s wife. He even smiled—briefly!

I wish you could’ve been here. The city was loud, but somehow that little spot felt like ours alone.
We asked someone to take a photo. It’s not perfect, but neither are we.

Write soon.
Love,
Na-ri

Postcards from Pyongyang

A Rank Above, Still Us