Kim Il Sung was the founder and first leader of North Korea. According to North Korean sources, the country awarded him "the title of Hero of the DPRK three times, the title of Labour Hero of the DPRK, 26 orders and 3 medals". In addition, foreign countries and organizations conferred upon him 74 orders and 152 medals. [1]
 |
| Award or decoration | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Order of the National Flag (1st Class with Neck Chain, six times) | 6 February 1951, 28 July 1953 | [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] |
 | Hero of Labor | 7 September 1958 | [7] |
 | Hero of the Republic (thrice) | 28 July 1953, 15 April 1972, April 1982 | [7] [8] [3] [9] |
 | Order Commemoration of the Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (twice) | [7] | |
 | Order of Freedom and Independence (1st Class, twice) | 1953 | [2] [10] |
 | Medal for Agricultural Merits | [11] | |
 | Medal of Military Service Honour | [11] | |
 | Commemorative Order "60th Year Anniversary of the Fatherland Liberation War Victory" | posthumous | [12] |
| Commemorative Order "70th Year Anniversary Of the Fatherland Liberation War Victory" | posthumous | [13] | |
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) is the state news agency of North Korea. The agency portrays the views of the North Korean government for both domestic and foreign consumption. It was established on December 5, 1946, and now features online coverage.
Kim Jong Suk was a Korean anti-Japanese guerrilla, a Communist activist, North Korean leader Kim Il Sung's first wife, former leader Kim Jong Il's mother, and current leader Kim Jong Un's grandmother.
The award system of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was initially created less than one month after the foundation of the Republic. During the years of Japanese occupation of Korea, many of the future leaders fled to the Soviet Union. During World War II many if not close to all party leaders and Korean People's Army commanders served in the Soviet Army and as such adopted many of the Soviet awards criteria for their own. During the late 1940s and until the Sino-Soviet Split in late 1958, orders and titles were made in the Soviet Money Mints in Moscow or Leningrad. Soviet made awards were modeled after Soviet orders and made of sterling silver. Initially the orders were attached to clothing with a screw-plate, but after Soviet production stopped, production was moved to North Korea. The screwback was replaced with a pin and the silver content was replaced with cheap tin. With the exception of a few examples of modern orders, Soviet and Czech KPA awards are the most sought after in current militaria markets.
The National Order of Mali is the highest of honorific orders of Mali.
Ri In-mo was an unconverted long-term prisoner who spent 40 years in prison and under the restriction of freedom in South Korea.
Upon its liberation in 1945 and subsequent foundation in 1948, North Korea adopted national symbols distinct from the national symbols of South Korea. The traditional flag of Korea, the Taegukgi, and the symbol Taeguk, were swapped for socialist symbols.
The Order of Kim Il Sung is the highest order of North Korea, along with the Order of Kim Jong Il, and only second to one honorary title, the Hero of Labour.
The Order of Freedom and Independence is one of the highest North Korean orders. It is divided into two classes: the first class is awarded to commanders and partisan units of brigades, divisions, and higher military groups for bravery, courage, and auspicious command of military operations. The second class is awarded to the commanders of partisan regiments, battalions, companies, and detachments, as well as to civil professionals employed in the industry for the military. The order is awarded with the Order of the National Flag of the same rank.
The Chollima Statue (Korean: 천리마동상) is a monument on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The monument symbolizes the "Chollima speed" of the Chollima Movement. The legendary winged horse Chollima depicted by the monument is said to travel 1,000 ri (400 km) a day.
Pyongyang International House of Culture, also known as the Pyongyang International Cultural Center, is a cultural venue in the Central District of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. It was opened on 2 April 1988. It serves as venue for cultural exchange with foreigners.
The Pyongyang Maternity Hospital is a maternity and teaching hospital in Pyongyang. Nurses and midwives are educated in the hospital for work outside the North Korean capital. There is a neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital. In addition, there are multiple different wards, such as dental and breast cancer wards, to treat mothers' various health problems.
The Kim Il Sung Prize (김일성상) is an award given by the Government of North Korea to persons in various fields who demonstrate exemplary service to the values of Juche idea. Past winners include the Korean composer Kim Won-gyun, judoka Kye Sun-hui, and the Arirang Festival.
People's Athlete is a North Korean honorary title awarded to sportspeople. It was created in 1966. It is usually reserved to those who have won in the Olympic Games or have won a world championship, as it is the most prestigious award for North Korean sportspeople.
Labor Hero is one of the highest titles of honor of North Korea and the highest decoration of the country overall. The award was probably scheduled for establishment in the summer of 1950, but the Korean War postponed these plans. When the war had entered a phase of stalemate along the 38th parallel, the government had time to officially launch the decoration, originally under the name Korea Hero of Labor. 16 people were decorated Labor Heroes during the war and more since then. The decoration is based on its Soviet equivalent, Hero of Socialist Labour.
Merited Athlete is an honorary title of North Korea given to sports persons. It is awarded to "athletes and workers engaged in the athletic field who make distinguished contributions to the nation's athletics, receiving the love and respect of the people for devoting themselves to national and social projects". A typical achievement is winning a regional competition in Asia. The title was instituted in November 1960.
Revolutionary Sites are designated historical sites in North Korea. The sites were designated by Kim Jong Il when he began working at the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1966. He would send troops all over the country to unearth sites that "were supposedly once forgotten and undiscovered". By converting North Korea into a "huge open museum", Kim's goal in designating the sites was to solidify the North Korean cult of personality centered around him and his father Kim Il Sung.
Jong Kyong-thaek is a North Korean politician. He served as the Minister of State Security from 2018 to 2022, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), an alternate member of the Politburo of the WPK, and a member of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.
The Workers' Party of Korea Publishing House is the principal publishing house of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and one of the two main publishers in the country. It publishes magazines and books on politics, such as the works of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, posters and works of fiction. The current director-general and editor-in-chief is Ri Yong-chol.
Ri Yong-suk was a North Korean politician and revolutionary. A veteran of the anti-Japanese struggle, Ri had close relations with all three generations of the Kim dynasty. During WWII, she was with Kim Il Sung in the Soviet 88th Separate Rifle Brigade. During the Korean War, she took care of Kim Jong Il, eldest son and future heir of Kim Il Sung. Under Kim Jong Un, she was portrayed as a link between the original guerrilla generation and the current leadership. Ri was elected to the Supreme People's Assembly in 1998 and 2003.
This is a list of awards and decorations received by Kim Jong Il. According to North Korean sources, North Korea "conferred ... the title of Hero of the DPRK four times, the Order of Kim Il Sung four times, Kim Il Sung Prize two times, 22 orders and 9 medals" on Kim Jong Il. Additionally, "[m]any countries and international organizations conferred 39 orders, 141 medals and 201 honorary titles on him".
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