The Order of the National Flag (Korean: 국기훈장) is the second highest order of North Korea, after the Order of Kim Il Sung and the Order of Kim Jong Il.
It is the oldest order in the country, having been established in 1948, just six weeks after the North Korean state was founded.
The order is awarded to both individuals and organizations, for political, cultural or economic work. The order, which comes in three classes, is automatically conferred upon recipients of the titles of Hero of the Republic and Hero of Labour and various "People's" honorary titles. The Order of the National Flag is also awarded to recipients of the Order of Freedom and Independence and Order of Soldier's Honor in the appropriate class. Recipients are entitled to benefits such as a salary or free public transport.
Domestic recipients include both leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and other notables. Foreign recipients include politicians such as Fidel Castro, Hosni Mubarak and Siad Barre.
Contents
History
When the order was instituted on 12 October 1948, six weeks after the foundation of the North Korean state, it was the first and highest order of the country. It is named after the flag of North Korea.
Eligibility
It can be awarded to individuals and to organizations or workplaces for achievements in military service or political, cultural, or economic work. It is also awarded to officers of the Workers' Party of Korea for longstanding service (25 years for the first class, 20 years for the second class and 15 years for the third class).
Those who are awarded the title of Hero of the Republic or Hero of Labour are always awarded with the Order of the National Flag as well, as are laureates of "People's" honorary titles. Recipients of the Order of Freedom and Independence receive the Order of the National Flag of the same class, but Order of Soldier's Honor recipients receive the Order of the National Flag in a lower class. Recipients have the right to use public transport free of charge. Disabled and retired recipients receive an annual salary along with the order.
Precedence
The Order of the National Flag is the second highest order of North Korea, after the Order of Kim Il Sung and the Order of Kim Jong Il, which share the first place. The order has three classes.
Recipients
North Korean recipients
Kim Il Sung (6 February 1951, first class; 28 July 1953, first class)
Han Sorya (26 April 1951, second class)
Im Hwa (26 April 1951, second class)
Cho Ki-chon (26 April 1951, second class)
Ri Ki-yong (26 April 1951, second class)
Yi T'aejun (26 April 1951, second class)
Kim Chogyu (26 April 1951, third class)
Pak Unggŏl (26 April 1951, third class)
Shin Kosong (26 April 1951, third class)
Pak Chong-ae (July 1953, second class; first class)
Thae Byong-ryol
Jang Chol (August 1961, first class)
Ri Tu-il (June 1968, first class)
Kim Ryong-yong (January 1976, first class)
Choe Sam Suk (1982, first class)
Kim Jong Il (1982, first class)
Jong Chang-ryol (June 1986, first class)
Kim Su-jo (October 1989, first class)
Paek Hak-rim (April 1997, first class)
Ri Ul-sol (April 1997, first class)
Foreign recipients
Peng Dehuai (China, 1951 and 1953, first class)
Antonín Zápotocký (Czechoslovakia, 1955, first class)
Alois Barvínek (Czechoslovakia, 1955, third class), Czechoslovak composer
Nureddin al-Atassi (Syria, September 1969, first class)
Siad Barre (Democratic Republic of Somalia, 1972, first class)
Gustáv Husák (Czechoslovakia, first class, awarded twice 1973 and 1988)
Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo, September 1974, first class)
Didier Ratsiraka (Madagascar, 1978, first class)
Samora Machel (Mozambique, March 1975, first class)
Ferdinand Kozovski (Bulgarian Lieutenant general of Bulgarian army, deputy komander of Bulgarian army 1944-1945 in Second World War, Chairman of National assembly of Bulgaria 1958-1965)
Leonid Brezhnev (Soviet Union, 18 December 1976, first class)
Juvénal Habyarimana (Rwanda, 1978, first class)
Jean-Bédel Bokassa (Central African Empire, 1978, first class)
Choi Eun-hee (South Korea, 1983, first class)
Hosni Mubarak (Egypt, 1983, first class)
Agatha Barbara (Malta, August 1985, first class)