History of the North Korea Flag: 1948 Adoption and the 2026 Proportion Change
North Korea adopted its red-star flag during the founding of the DPRK in 1948. The basic design endured for decades, but the Constitution changed its official proportions in 2026.
1945–1948: the Taegeukgi period
After liberation from Japanese rule, the traditional Korean Taegeukgi continued to appear in northern Korea for a transitional period.
1948: a new state flag
As the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was established, a new red-white-blue design with a red star was adopted.
September 1948
The flag was incorporated into the DPRK’s first constitutional framework in 1948 and became the national flag of the new state.
What did the new design emphasize?
The flag replaced the traditional Taegeuk symbol with socialist and revolutionary imagery centred on the red star and red field.
1992 legal standardization
Later national-flag law set detailed construction standards and continued the long-used 1:2 proportion.
March 2026: Constitution changes the ratio
A constitutional revision in March 2026 changed the stated flag proportion from 1:2 to 1:1.65.
Did the design itself change?
The constitutional description kept the same broad red centre band, white separators, blue outer bands and red star in a white circle. The principal confirmed change is the proportion.
Why older images differ
Most historical photographs, archives and vector files use the older 1:2 format. Current references need to distinguish pre-2026 and post-2026 specifications.
