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North Korea

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Last modified: 2022-07-30 by ian macdonald
Keywords: korea | north korea | democratic peoples repulic of korea | asia | star: 5-pointed (white) | sickle | powerplant | mount paektu | rice |
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[North Korea] [FIS Code] | 1:2 image by Željko Heimer


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Introduction

Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms, Crampton, 1985 states about the flag:

The flag created in 1948 consists of three stripes - blue, red, blue - separated from each other by two narrow white lines, the proportions being 6 : 2 : 17 : 2 : 6. The hoist of the red stripe is charged with a white disc containing a red five-pointed star. The blue stripes stand for the people's desire for peace, the red one symbolizes the revolutionary spirit of the struggle for socialism, and white - a traditional Korean color - represents the purity of the ideals of (North) Korea and national sovereignty. The five-pointed star signifies the happy prospects of the people building socialism under the leadership of the Korean Worker's Party. The white disc suggests the yin and yang symbol ("t'aeguk" in Korean) in the flag of the Republic of Korea.

Jarig Bakker, 28 Sep 1999

Smith (1975) wrote:

White has been the traditional colour of the Korean nation and figures in the flag of North Korea as a symbol of purity, strength and dignity. The blue stripes represent a commitment to peace, while the red indicates the nation is on a path to socialism. The star is a symbol of the leading role played by the Korean Workers Party, in creating the new economic, social and political of the country following World War 2. The white disk on which the star appears ma be reminiscent of the traditional Korean T'aeguk, symbol of the universe.

Rob Raeside, 16 Feb 2000

I run the facebook page Flags of DPR (North) Korea. If there is stuff here that could be useful on the page, please don't hesitate... (subtle hint).
Dean Thomas, 04 November 2014


Vertical Version

     [Vertical Flag (North Korea)]
     image by Jorge Candeias, 18 May 2005

It appears that the flag of the DPRK can be hoisted vertically, as shown in this photo taken outside Pyongyang Central Train Station. Also shown in this picture is a vertical hoisting of the flag of the Korean Workers' Party, which, it is worth noting, is not the only political party in People's Korea - also sitting in the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang are the Chondoist Chongu Party and the Korean Social Democratic Party. (Whether or not these parties actually do anything is another matter.)

Dafydd Young, 25 Nov 2003

The Público newspaper published on 11 Feb 2005 a report about the ongoing controversy about the North Korean nuclear potential. The article itself, albeit quite lengthy, was devoid of vex content, but it came illustrated by a photo of a military parade that was quite vexy.

It shows two North Korean national flags and a third flag, which I presume being red, and which seems to have no charges, all flown from the military vehicles up front. The building in the back is decorated by a very large arrangement of the national flag and the national coat of arms and its facade is decorated by what's the most interesting bit for us.

A portrait of Kim Jong-Il is in the center, but that's the irrelevant part. On the sides is the relevant part: two vertical flags, looking about 3:1 in proportions, on the left the national flag, on the right the flag of the Korean Workers' Party.

Jorge Candeias, 18 May 2005


National Flag at the London 2012 Olympics

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be.
For PR Korea: PMS 193 red, 300 blue. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees clockwise, but the star remains upright.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012


Coat of Arms

     [Coat of Arms (North Korea)]
source unknown, 23 Jan 2006

From the constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea:

Ch. VII Article 168

The national emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea bears the design of a grand hydroelectric power plant under Mount Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution, and bearing the beaming light of a five-pointed red star, with ears of rice forming an oval frame, bound with a red ribbon bearing the inscription "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

contributor and date unknown

I've accessed this site about the origins of the North Korean emblem and flag. On the last picture, there is a part of rejected proposals of the coat of arms and flags. It might be fanciful, but it could be helpful.
Kim, 04 August 2015