List of North Korean flags

This is a list of flags used by North Korea.

National

Main article: Flag of North Korea

Flag	Date	Use	Description
National Flag of North Korea
	1946–1948	Flag of the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea	A white rectangular background, a red and blue Taeguk in the center that symbolizes harmony, and four black trigrams, on each corner of the flag.
	1948–1992	Flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Red field with a blue bar on the top and bottom and a star in the center known as the red flag
	1992–present		The size of circle and star is enlarged.

Political

Flag	Date	Use	Description
President of the State Affairs of the DPRK
	2018–present	Flag of the president of the State Affairs	Emblem of the president of the State Affairs on a red field. First seen during the First DPRK-US Summit in Singapore.[ citation needed ]
Workers' Party of Korea
	1946–1949	Flag of the Workers' Party of North Korea
	1949–present	Flag of the Workers' Party of Korea	Combination of a hammer (workers), a writing brush (intellectuals) and a Korean sickle (peasants), crossed over a red field.
Social Organs of the Workers' Party of Korea
	1946–present	Flag of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League	Emblem of Youth League on a red flag, with "Youth" (청년) on the emblem.
	1945–present	Flag of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea	Flag with the name of the organization: "Women's League" (녀성동맹).
	1955–present	Flag of the Korean Youth League in Japan  [ ja ]	Tricolor flag with the League's logo.
Other parties
	1945–present	Flag of the Korean Social Democratic Party
	1946–present	Flag of the Chondoist Chongu Party

Military

Main article: Korean People's Army

Flag	Notes	Use	Description
Flags of Korean People's Army
	1948	Flag of the Korean People's Army	Initially designed along with the early draft for the Emblem of North Korea in 1948. The slogan reads: "For the unification and independence of the motherland and the people" (조국의 통립과 인민을 위하여). Used only as ceremonial unit color for historical units beginning 2013.
	1948–1961		Used only as ceremonial unit color for historical units beginning 2013, the latter used exclusively for Guards units.
			Used for Guards units only, in this case bearing a Guards badge with Korean letters reading "[Unit number] / 2nd (as in ceremonies) Infantry Division" (제2부병사단). Used only as ceremonial unit color for Guards units beginning 2013.
	1961–1992 [1]		Latest version shown; emblem adopted in 1992. [1] The slogan reads: "For the unification and independence of the motherland, and the freedom and happiness of the people" (조국의 통일, 독립과 인민의 자유와 행복을 위하여).
	1992–1993		Emblem of DPRK updated to the one featuring the Paektu Mountain.
	1961–1993		With a red star with golden border and bearing a hammer and two sickles.
	1993–2023	Flag of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army	Seen used during the October 1995 parade, observed very rarely.
	2023–present		Identical to the new flag of the ground forces except without the blue and white stripes. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of the founding of the KPA as 2 February 1948 in the canton.
			Party symbol placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. [2]
Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Korean Peoples' Army
	1996–2002	Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
	2002–2020 [3]		The Supreme Commander Star on a red flag. Sometimes used as a war flag during military exercises.
Flags of the Branches of the Armed Forces of the DPRK
	1993–2023 [4]	Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force	Emblem of KPA with slogan: "For the unification and independence of the motherland, and the freedom and happiness of the people" (조국의 통일, 독립과 인민의 자유와 행복을 위하여). [1] The 4.25 commemorates the foundation of People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army on April 25, 1932. [1] Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
			With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.425 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제425 군부대). The number 425 commemorates the foundation of People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army on April 25, 1932. Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
	1993–1994		Flag with a slogan for Kim Il Sung, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by dear Comrade Kim Il Sung with our lives!" (경애하는 김일성동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	1997–2011		Flag with a slogan for Kim Jong Il when he was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [1] His name is slightly enlarged. The word 혁명의 수뇌부 was later replaced by 당중앙위원회 (Party's Central Committee) in 2011.
	2012–2023		Flag with a slogan for Kim Jong Un, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (위대한 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	2023–present		Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPA is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. This flag is used by units of the Ground Forces to serve as a unit flag. The date of foundation on the canton differs among KPAGF units of regiment/brigade level and above, independent battalions and educational institutions.
			Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the facade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. The slogan reads "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (경애하는 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!) [2]
	1993–2023 [4]	Flag of the Korean People's Army Navy	Emblem of KPA with anchor. Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
			With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.415 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제415 군부대). The number 415 commemorates the birthday of Kim Il-Sung on April 15. Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
	1993–1994		Flag with a slogan for Kim Il Sung, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by dear Comrade Kim Il Sung with our lives!" (경애하는 김일성동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	1997–2011		Flag with a slogan for Kim Jong Il when he was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [1] His name is slightly enlarged. The word 혁명의 수뇌부 was later replaced by 당중앙위원회 (Party's Central Committee) in 2011.
	2012–2023		Flag with the slogan for Kim Jong Un, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (위대한 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	2023–present		Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPA is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and surmounted by an anchor and steering wheel. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. The representative flag of the whole branch displays the date 28 August 1949.
			Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. The slogan reads "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (경애하는 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!) [2]
	1993–2023, [4] (insignia updated in 2012)	Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force	Emblem of KPA with wings. Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
	1993–2023		With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.216 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제216 군부대). The number 216 commemorates the birthday of Kim Jong-Il on February 16. Still used by some units after its replacement in 2023.
	1993–1994		Flag with a slogan for Kim Il Sung, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by dear Comrade Kim Il Sung with our lives!" (경애하는 김일성동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	1993–2012		Flag with a slogan for Kim Jong Il when he was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [1] His name is slightly enlarged. Wings and a star above the KPA emblem. The word 혁명의 수뇌부 was later replaced by 당중앙위원회 (Party's Central Committee) in 2011.
	2012–2023		Flag with a slogan for Kim Jong Un, it reads: "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (위대한 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!). His name is slightly enlarged.
	2023–present		Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPAAF is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star with additional stars at the top. Lower stripes are arranged as chevrons, and with six trailing jet fighters emerging behind the emblem. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. The representative flag of the whole branch displays the date 29 November 1945.
			Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. The slogan reads "Let us defend the Party's Central Committee headed by Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!" (경애하는 김정은동지를 수반으로 하는 당중앙위원회를 목숨으로 사수하자!) [2]
	2018–2020	Flag of the Korean People's Army Strategic Force	Emblem of KPA on an upper half globe. Reverted to army flag in 2020.
			With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.108 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제108 군부대). The number 108 commemorates the birthday of Kim Jong-Un on January 8.
	2023–present		With the same pattern as army flag but has the date 3 July 1999 on obverse side.
	2023–present	Flag of the North Korea's Missile Administration (formerly in English "Missile General Bureau").	The Flag of the Missile General Bureau is seen with its Emblem in a large form with the founding date of 30 April 2016, The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)"
			Identical to the Backside flags of the KPA except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang.
	2018–2020	Flag of the Korean People's Army Special Operation Force	Emblem of KPA with the Big Dipper. Reverted to army flag in 2020.
			With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name]". / No.506 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제506 군부대). The number 506 commemorates the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on May 6, 2016.
	2023–present		With the same pattern as army flag but has the date 7 February 1969 on obverse side.
	2007–2023	Flag of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards	Slogan used until 2012, since then the flag shares the same motto as the rest of the KPA. Has the emblem of the Guards in center.
			With Korean letters reading "Worker-Peasant Red Guards".
	2023–present	Flag of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards	The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the security of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)"
			With Korean letters reading "Worker-Peasant Red Guards".
	2023–present	Flag of the Ministry of Social Security	A flag with the emblem of the Ministry of Social Security in the middle. Also used by Social Security Forces units.
	2023–present	Flag of the Ministry of State Security	The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and people's victory! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 승리를 위하여)"
Naval Ensigns
	1990s–present	Naval ensign of North Korea	Red flag with Paektu Mountain in rays in a disc with national color outlines and a red star.
	1990s–present	Naval ensign of North Korea for Guards Units
	1990s–present	Naval jack of North Korea	Identical to the naval ensign but has a white disc with a red star.

See also

• List of Korean flags
• List of South Korean flags
• Flag of North Korea

References

1. Tertitskiy, Fyodor (10 April 2018). "What North Korea's army flags can teach us about its recent history". NK News . Retrieved 9 September 2018.
2. "New Flags of the KPA".
3. "North Korea completes erasure of Kim Jong Un's 'supreme commander' symbol | NK News". NK News . 17 February 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
4. "Colors of KPA Redesigned". KCNA . 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.

Further reading

• Thomas, Dean (2014). "Flags and Emblems of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Raven: A Journal of Vexillology. 21: 95–115. doi:10.5840/raven2014215. ISSN   1071-0043.

External links

• North Korea at Flags of the World