page_title: Military colours, standards and guidons
section_title: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
hierarchical_section_title: Military colours, standards and guidons / Colours / Asia / Democratic People's Republic of Korea
caption_attribution_description: English: Flag of the Korean People's Army, with no fringe. العربية: علم الجيش الكوري الشعبي (كوريا الشمالية).
context_page_description: In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also made battle standards a part of their vast armies. It was formalized in the armies of Europe in the High Middle Ages, with standards being emblazoned with the commander's coat of arms.
context_section_description: The Korean People's Army is the overall body for the entire armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Until 1993 the KPA was, following the example of the PLA in China, represented by a single flag, which served as a ceremonial colour for all regiments, educational institutions and larger formations. The colour is on the basis of the national flag but with the national emblem replacing the star and on parades the colours were surrounded by gold fringe. The gold lettering in Hangul was until 1992 "For the unification and independence of the motherland and the people" (조국의 통일 독립과 인민을 위하여), replaced by the current motto  "For the unification and independence of the motherland, and the freedom and happiness of the people" (조국의 통일 독립과，인민의 자유와 행복을 위하여).
  In 1993, as part of the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean War and the 45th since the founding of the DPRK, the old color was replaced by the designs currently seen today in major holiday parades. All the colours share the same reverse with the emblem of the Worker's Party of Korea in gold and, save for the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, have identical gold letting in Hangul which states  "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 425 number honoring the date (25 April) of the 1932 foundation of the People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army, whose lineage is continued by the current service, but with the same colours as in the observe, which also shows the 4.25 mark in gold numbering. These colours are in gold fringe when brought out in public parades in Pyongyang, the national capital, and during state visits by the honor guards of the Supreme Guard Command, which is an inter-service formation unlike the rest of the command whose personnel are drawn from the Ground Forces. The 1948 and 1992 design colours, since the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean War in 2013, have been brought out only by guards units and KPA battalions sporting historical dress uniforms of the 1940s and early 1950s, the 1992 colors have a gold Guards Badge outline in the reverse to denote Guards status of the unit's colour while the colours only use the 1948 arms and motto instead of the current one.
  Ground Forces 1993–97 and 2012–present (also used as unofficial flag of the entire KPA): Colour in national flag colors but with KPA emblem in gold (sheaves of wheat and a stylized dam with a red star surrounded by a gold circle with wreath below) and gold Hangul motto in the obverse
  Ground Forces 1997–2011 (also used as unofficial flag of the entire KPA): Colour in national flag colors but with KPA emblem in gold and gold Hangul motto on the top and bottom blue stripes reading "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！) with the name of Kim Jong Il slightly enlarged, gold motto also used in the flags of the other branches
  Air Force 1993–present:  Emblem of KPA with wings (emblem updated in 2012), top large half in air force blue and small bottom half dark blue, with 6 alternating stripes (3 dark blue, 3 air force blue) below the emblem, formerly gold wings and a gold star above the emblem
  Navy 1993–present: Emblem of KPA with gold four anchor above, bicolor of white and navy blue with 5 alternating stripes between the large stripes (3 dark blue, 2 white)
  Strategic Forces (present colour): Green with emblem of the KPA and a larger wreath above a stylized top of a globe, with light yellow stripes below the globe
  Special Operations Forces: Dark Blue with emblem of the KPA and a larger wreath, with the Big Dipper below the 4.25 mark
  Revolutionary military schools: Red with KPA emblem and Hangul motto in gold lettering above and below
  Worker-Peasant Red Guards: Red with service emblem (red star and gold wreath) in the center and the Hangul motto in gold above and below the emblem in the observe, and name of the service in Hangul below the 
caption: The KPA's flag from 1992 to 1993. Since this flag's retirement in 1993, the KPA has not had its own dedicated flag, but the 1992 design has been reinstated only as a ceremonial colour for guards units but retaining the arms and motto from the earlier flag of 1948
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