This is a list of flags used by 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 a balance, and four black trigrams, on each corner of the flag. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1948–1992 | ![]() | 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. |
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 | 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 | |
Flag | Notes | Use | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Flags of Korean People's Army | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1948 | Flag of the Korean People's Army | Initially designed in 1948 with 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 especially 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. | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1948–1993 | With a red star with golden border and bearing a hammer and two sickles. | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1948–1961 | 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. | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 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 health 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] Also used since 2020 by the Special Operations and Strategic Forces as branch and unit colours. 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. | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1997–2011 | Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il 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] The name of Kim Jong Il 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 health 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. [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. | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1997–2011 | Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il 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] The name of Kim Jong Il 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 health 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. [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. | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1993–2012 (modified slogan 1997–2011) | Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il 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] The name of Kim Jong Il is slightly enlarged. Wings and a star above the KPA emblem. | |
![]() ![]() | 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 health 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. [2] | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 2018–2020 | Flag of the Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Emblem of KPA on an upper half globe |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 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 | Flag of the Missile General Bureau | The Flag of the Missile General Bureau is seen with its Emblem in a large form with the founding date of 2016.4.30, The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health 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. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 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. | ||
![]() ![]() ![]() | 2007–2018 | 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 health 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 | The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)" |
![]() | 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 | ![]() | Red flag with Paektu Mountain in rays in a disc with national color outlines and a red star. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | 1990s–present | ![]() | |
![]() ![]() | 1990s–present | ![]() |
The Korean People's Army encompasses the combined military forces of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The KPA consists of five branches: the Ground Force, the Naval Force, the Air Force, Strategic Force, and the Special Operation Force. It is commanded by the WPK Central Military Commission, which is chaired by the WPK general secretary, and the president of the State Affairs; both posts are currently headed by Kim Jong Un.
The national flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as the Ramhongsaek Konghwagukgi, consists of a central red panel, bordered both above and below by a narrow white stripe and a broad blue stripe. The central red panel bears a five-pointed red star within a white circle near the hoist.
The Joint Security Area is the only portion of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where North and South Korean forces stand face-to-face. The JSA is used by the two Koreas for diplomatic engagements and, until March 1991, was also the site of military negotiations between North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC).
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the commander-in-chief of the Korean People's Army, the military of North Korea. The office was established on 4 July 1950 and abolished with the passing of a new constitution in 1972. Since then, the office of President of North Korea, the Chairman of the National Defence Commission and the President of the State Affairs Commission have been referred to as supreme commanders in accordance with the constitution.
Kim Yong-chun was a North Korean soldier and politician. He was a leader of the North Korean military. He held the North Korean military rank Chasu, was Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, and was Minister of People's Armed Forces. He held a minor post within the Workers Party.
Kim Jong-gak is a Korean People's Army (KPA) official. He was a member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). He served as Minister of Defence briefly in 2012, and Director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA in 2018.
Choe Ryong-hae is a North Korean politician and military officer who currently serves as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission, holding both positions since April 2019. Due to holding the first office, he was considered the head of state of North Korea before the country's constitution was amended to transfer this position to the President of the State Affairs Commission, Kim Jong Un. He is also a member of the Presidium of the Politburo and Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). He also served as Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un's military second-in-command, currently being third top-ranking official in North Korea after Kim Jong Un and premier Kim Tok-hun.
The Ministry of Defence is the government agency under the State Affairs Commission tasked with general administrative and logistical coordination of the Korean People's Army (KPA). The current Minister of National Defence is General Kang Sun-nam.
Kim Won-hong is a North Korean politician and military general.
Hwang Pyong-so is a North Korean general and politician who held the rank of Vice Marshal in the Korean People's Army (KPA). He was a member of the Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea and the top-ranking vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
Military Foundation Day(Korean: 조선인민군 창건일) is an annual public holiday in North Korea falling on 8 February.
The Day of Songun is a public holiday in North Korea celebrated on 25 August annually to commemorate the beginning of Kim Jong Il's Songun (military-first) leadership in 1960.
Day of the Foundation of the Republic is the Republic Day and National day of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, held on 9 September.
Ri Pyong-chol is a North Korean marshal and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD).
Chongnyon Jonwi is a daily newspaper in North Korea. It is the official organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League. It is one of the three most important newspapers in the country, the other two being Rodong Sinmun and Joson Inmingun. Chongnyon Jonwi is particularly known for jointly publishing New Year editorials with the two papers under the rule of Kim Jong-il. Most of its regular articles are commentary on the contents of Rodong Sinmun from a youth perspective. The editor-in-chief is Choe Sun-chol.
This is a list of military parades held in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 1948. All military parades consist of troops from the Korean People's Army and the paramilitary Worker-Peasant Red Guards. All military parades of a national nature are held on Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square with the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs Commission and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea in attendance. These parades are broadcast live on Korean Central Television.
Pak Jong-chon is a North Korean Marshal who is a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).