The State Emblem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

The state emblem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea features a red star at the top—symbolizing socialism and revolutionary leadership—radiating light over Mount Paektu, which is mythologized as the sacred birthplace of the Korean revolution. Below the mountain is a hydroelectric dam and power station, representing industrial development and self-reliance, alongside electric transmission lines symbolizing modernization. The emblem is framed by sheaves of rice, signifying agriculture and the peasantry, and tied with a red ribbon bearing the country’s name in Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국.

Adopted in 1948 and later modified, the emblem reflects the DPRK’s early emphasis on people’s democracy, industrialization, and socialist construction, rather than overt Juche ideology, which became dominant later.