North Korean Orders and Medals

[Bill D.]

Here is a grouping of DPRK Orders and Medals from my collection displayed on the tunic of a Lieutenant of the Korean Peoples Army.

You might think it odd that a presumably young officer would wear such a display of decorations. But in north Korea, the rule in the military is that a soldier is authorized to wear the medals that his Father was awarded! It is obviously an attempt to foster the spirit of militarism and the idea of the need to be constantly ready for war, just as your Father was.

One note: The Hero of the DPRK award at the top of the uniform is a copy.

[Bill D.]

At the top right on the uniform is the copy of the Hero of the DPRK star. All of the other awards are original.

Beneath this is an Order of the National Flag, first class. This award was made with a Hero Star, just as the award of Hero of the Soviet Union carried with it the Order of Lenin.

Below this award on the left is the Order of the National Flag, second class. Next to it is the Order of Freedom and Independence, second class. This award, in my own opinion, is one of the most visually appealing of the DPRK awards and decorations.

Below these we have the medal for service in the Korean War itself.

On the upper breast on the opposite sides we see several "Red Flag compnay" awards. A military company that demonstrated both exceptional combat readiness and proficiency, together with outstanding political education, was awarded the title of a "Red Flag Company". Its members would be awarded a badge to wear reflecting this fact, and different badges designated it being a first, second, third, or fourth award of the title to the unit.

[jayhawkhenry]

Very interesting, I do not think I have ever seen any North Korean decorations, much less a uniform.

[LarryHW.]

North Korean Orders

Bill,

Are the orders of National Flag on this uniform screwback early ones, horizontal pinback like mine posted on this thread, or the later ones from the 70's/80's? From what I can gather, it seems that the Orders of National Flag were awarded in fairly limited numbers until maybe the late 60's.

Here is a grouping of DPRK Orders and Medals from my collection displayed on the tunic of a Lieutenant of the Korean Peoples Army.

You might think it odd that a presumably young officer would wear such a display of decorations. But in north Korea, the rule in the military is that a soldier is authorized to wear the medals that his Father was awarded! It is obviously an attempt to foster the spirit of militarism and the idea of the need to be constantly ready for war, just as your Father was.

One note: The Hero of the DPRK award at the top of the uniform is a copy.

[Bill D.]

The ONF's shown on the uniform are all pinbacks.

As to numbers of ONF's awarded, and when, I think that it is probably correct that the 1960's and after saw the expansion of awards and the increase in numbers awarded.