North Korean Orders David L. Cabral, Omsa #3478

NORTH KOREAN ORDERS DAVID L. CABRAL, OMSA #3478

North Korean decorations and honors are awarded by the Central Peoples Committee of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in accordance with President Kim II- Sung’s wishes. North Korean Honors are broken down into five general categories: orders, awards (which could include medals), medals, badges and honorary titles. The official policy on these honors, is that they play an important role in motivating individuals and groups to make sacrifices in their struggle to build a Socialist/Communist society. North Korean decorations are given to individual citizens, groups, overseas ethnic Korean movements or foreigners who perform meritorious acts or service in the struggle "... for the Fatherland Revolution, the South Korean l(evolution, the struggle for Socialist and Communist constr uction, and in the revolutionary struggle for the freedom and independence of the fatherland."1 In this article I would like to describe a few of the North Korean Orders that I have been able to find.

The second highest order a North Korean citizen can receive is the Order of the National Flag, ~Kukki Hun Chang". It was established on October 2, 1948 in three classes. It is awarded to individuals and groups who have demonstrated exceptional merit or service in the struggle "... for national development and in the struggle for our nation’s freedom and independence."2 It is believed that this award is also given to individuals who have 25 (First Class), 20 (second Class) and 15 (Third Class) years of distinguished service in the Korean Workers Party. The Order of the National Flag is one of the North Korean orders that can be awarded to foreigners.

At least twoversions of the badge of the Order of the National Flag, First Class, have been examined. The first version (Figures 1 and 2) appears to be of single piece construction. The badge is a pentagon shaped gilt colored breast star, 72mm from top to bottom, with a cluster of three small balls on each side of the pentagon. Inside the pentagon is a five pointed silver colored star, 55ram from top to bottom. The First Class badge is supposed to be entirely gilt (gold) colored and there is evidence that the silver star was at one time gold colored. However, it is strange that only the inner star shows signs of the color wearing off, while the rest of the breast star has its original color. The design in the center of the badge is intended to represent the national flag of North Korea. This consists of a small five pointed gold colored star on top of a silver circle, 16ram in diameter. The circle is surrounded by a red enamel ten pointed star with a narrow blue outer border. The reverse has a nut and bolt to fasten the badge to the clothing, and has the words *Chosun3 Order of the National flag 1st Class Number XXXX" in Korean. The number is engraved on the medal.

The secondversion (Figures 3 and 4), currently in use, is slightly smaller than the first version. It is of two-piece construction; the first piece consisting of the outer star (64mm in diameter) and infier star (50mm top to bottom) which are gold colored, and the second piece consis~t.~ng of a center piece of blue and red enamel (27mm in diameter) surrounding a gold colored star on a silver disk (12mm in diameter). The reverse has a pin attachment and has the words "Chosun Order of the National Flag 1st Class Number XXXX" in Korean. However, the Korean Characters are narrower than on the first version. The number is also engraved on the medal.

19 Figure 1. 1960’s Order of the National Figure 2. Reverse. Flag (First Class), obverse.

Figure 3. Current Order of the Figure 2. Reverse. National Flag (First Class), obverse.

The badge of the Order of the National Flag, Second Class (Figures 5 and 6) is similar in design to that of the First Class except that the pentagon shaped outer star is silver colored and the inner five pointed star is gold colored. The medal is of three piece construction; the outer silver piece (6~mm in diameter), the inner gold star (45mm in diameter) and the center piece (26mm in diameter), each separately struck and assembled one atop the other. The center design and colors are the same as that of the first class badge. The reverse has a pin attachment and has the words "Chosun National Flag Order 2nd Class" in Korean. Current versions of this badge are not numbered.

The Third Class badge (Figures 7 and 8) is similar in design to the first two classes except that the outer and inner stars are all silver. The badge is of two-piece construction; the outer star (52mm in diameter) and the inner star (42mm top to bottom) are one piece, and the center design is a separate piece (20mm in diameter).

20 The center design and colors are the same as those on the First Class badge. The reverse has a pin attachment and the words "Chosun National Flag Order,3rd ClassN in Korean. Current versions of this badge are not numbered.

Figure 5. Order of the National Flag Figure 6. Reverse. (Second Class), obverse.

Figure 7. Order of the National Flag Figure 8. Reverse. (Third Class), obverse.

The Order of Labor, "Noyok Hun Chang" (Figures 9 and 10) was established on July 17, 1951 to be awarded "... in accordancewith the consideration of the respected and beloved Leader Kim II-Sung and by the decree of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Central Peoples Committee to an individual or group that is firmly armed with the YUIL (Unique) Ideology and who distinguished himself in a revolutionary task or construction project by positively upholding the directives of Great Leader Kim I1-Sung and the policy lines of the party, while devoting oneself to continuous endeavors for self-regimentation and improvement.~4 The badge of the Order is of one-piece construction, of a light gilt colored metal. The design consists of a ten- pointed star, 60ram in diameter, composed of seven longer sword-shaped rays with shorter rays ir~ between. A red enamel flag shaped banner, 8mm wide, is at the top of the badge, with the Korean word "Noyokn (Workers Power) in gilt on the banner.