{
  "id": 19832342,
  "title": "North Korea changes flag after 78 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/north-korea-changes-flag-after-78-years",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T16:03:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/month-after-kim-jong-un-death-rumours-north-korea-makes-historic-flag-change-for-first-time-in-78-years/articleshow/135809247.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korea has altered the proportions of its national flag for the first time in 78 years, reported Korea Joon Gang Daily. This alteration follows rumors of leader Kim Jong-un's death, which circulated online and led to speculation about the country's future. The DPRK government's official website, Naenara, recently displayed a new flag with a width-to-length ratio of 1:1.65, replacing the previous 1:2 ratio.\n\nThe change aims to create a unique national identity under Kim Jong-un, following his removal of reunification references from the constitution under his \"two hostile states\" policy. The DPRK government's official website explained the flag's colors: the red band symbolizes the blood of anti-Japanese revolutionaries, the white circle and stripes represent loyalty to the ruling party and its leader, and the blue stripes signify anti-imperialist independence, world peace, friendship, and the country's sovereignty.\n\nKim Jong-un's death rumors surfaced after unverified social media claims about a brain haemorrhage, leading to widespread speculation. North Korea later shared images of Kim attending a garment and footwear exhibition with his daughter. A high-profile defection claimed he died following cardiovascular surgery, but he soon appeared in public, dispelling the rumor. South Korea's intelligence agency warns that Kim's lifestyle, including his weight and heavy smoking, puts him at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}