N. Korea changes national flag's aspect ratio for 1st time since 1948

North Korea has made a significant change to its national flag, altering its aspect ratio for the first time since the regime's inception in 1948, according to a revised constitution posted on the website of the country's propaganda outlet. The new aspect ratio, as stipulated in Article 166 of the amended basic law, is 1 to 1.65, a shift from the previous ratio of 1 to 2.

This change occurred as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un endeavors to forge his distinct governing style and national identity while preserving elements of his predecessors. The alteration in the flag's aspect ratio was not reflected in the law until North Korea's constitutional revision in September 2023. Despite this modification, the flag's overall design remains largely unchanged.

It features a broad red stripe in the center, flanked by narrow white stripes above and below, blue stripes above and below the white stripes, and a red five-pointed star within a white circle. The constitution explains that the red stripe symbolizes the blood shed by anti-Japan fighters who selflessly dedicated their lives to defending the country.