Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1948
The North Korean flag was designed by an unknown Soviet official and ordered to be adopted when the traditional Korean flag was not deemed suitable for a socialist country. It was formally approved in July 1948. The colours – red, white and blue – symbolise respectively: revolutionary traditions; purity, strength, and dignity; and sovereignty, peace, and friendship. Rewriting history, the flag is now claimed as the creation of Kim Il-sung, the “Eternal President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea”, himself.