The national flag of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is fluttering in the clear blue sky over the country on its birth anniversary.

The Korean people cherish the national flag as their life and soul, dignity and honour.

With growing pride in their national flag, they feel heartfelt gratitude to and reverence for President Kim Il Sung who founded and strengthened the truly people’s government.

Looking back, the resourceful and diligent Korean people were forced to be deprived of their beautiful country with a 5 000-year history by Japan. But they came to have a genuine state of people and a true motherland after Kim Il Sung won back the country and founded the DPRK on September 9, 1948.

The national flag was designed and completed under the direct guidance of Kim Il Sung in the run-up to the foundation of the country.

It has been 77 years since the national flag was hoisted for the first time. In the period, the Korean people have traversed the road of victory and glory and exalted the dignity and honour of the country over the world, holding Kim Il Sung in high esteem as the founding father of the country.

Throwing in their lot with the DPRK through thick and thin, they devoted their blood and sweat, kept firm faith and conscience, and achieved happiness and wishes—all this is embodied in the tricoloured flag, red, blue and white, with a five-pointed star.

Preserved at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum on the bank of the Pothong River in the capital city of Pyongyang is a national flag with more than 270 bullet holes, which 12 soldiers passed over to one after another when each fell under the hail of enemy fire until it was finally hoisted at the height engulfed in flames. The faded, torn flag is a good reminder to the young generations that the national flag represents their country and they will be reduced to slaves again if they lose it.

The militant flag-hoisting ceremony of servicemen at Kim Il Sung Square, people proudly carrying national flags every holiday morning, schoolchildren flying kites painted with the national flag and little children drawing the national flag–these are all a real feast to the eye.

The sacred symbol of the DPRK can be seen anytime and anywhere from the capital city to remote island where citizens ever live and work.

Recalling the immortal exploits of the peerlessly great men who founded a genuine people’s state for the first time in the 5 000-year history and turned it into a socialist power independent in politics, self-sufficient in the economy and self-reliant in defence, the Korean people are further determined to hasten the overall development of socialism under the leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un .

Yang Ryon Hui