NORTH KOREA
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was founded by Kim Il Sung, who fought the Japanese military as a guerilla fighter during World War Two. The nation sees itself as a self reliant socialist state that follows the Juche ideology created by Kim Il Sung. In an effort to reunify the Korean peninsula that was divided after WWII along the 38th parallel, Kim Il Sung started a military campaign to unify Korea under his leadership. UN intervention headed by the US helped stave off defeat and, by 1953, the Korean War ended in a stalemate along the 38th parallel where the war had begun.
The DPRK survives into the 21st century as a totalitarian state with a people on the edge of starvation, a network of concentration camps where human rights abuses comparable to the Nazi camps take place daily, and a personality cult around the Kim family dynasty. Today, the nation continues to maintain a high level of military readiness with its military first policy, long service times, and a nuclear weapons program.
The objects of the North Korea collection bring attention to the armed conflict that shaped the mentality of the leadership that continues to influence their policies to this day. Since the military is such a major focus, our collection reflects the importance of the armed forces while complementing those objects with civilian material as well.
 "On the Juche Philosophy" by Kim Jong Il2002 Paper North Korea |  Kim il Sung and Jong il Pinc. 1990s Plastic North Korea |  "Kim Il Sung: Selected Works"1976 Paper, leather, cardboard North Korea |
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 Panmunjom English Language Propaganda Book1969 Paper North Korea |  Army Winter Coat with Chinese Shoulderboardsc. 1980s-90s Wool, cotton, brass, bakelite North Korea |  North Korean National Flag1953 Silk, dye North Korea |
 40th Anniversary of Korean War Badge1993 Brass, gilt, silver finish, enamel North Korea |  Currencyc. 1970s-80s Paper North Korea |  Order of Military Service, 3rd Classc. 1980s Brass, gilt, silver finish, enamel North Korea |
 Order of the March 5th Commemorationc. 1980s-90s Gilded brass North Korea |