This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Down-with-Imperialism Union (1926-, North Korea)

Last modified: 2021-08-25 by ian macdonald
Keywords: sickles: 2 | rice plant | rice wreath | korea |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



See also:


Introduction

On Italian Ebay there is an interesting North Korean stamp containing a flag labelled "Bandiera del Partito dei lavoratori della Corea" (flag of the Korean Workers' Party). Obviously it is different from the rather well-known party flag as well as from the other flags shown on FOTW website. Anyone knows what this flag is representing?
Marcus Schmöger, 24 Jan 2011

According to this page (which seems to be an authority on N. Korean stamps, and include Scott and other number as well as other philatelic details) the flag is that of the DIU, issued on the occasion of 80th anniversary of the organization. DIU is the "Down-with-Imperialism Union", explained there so:

"In order to open up a new way for revolution in the darkest period of the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule over Korea, President Kim Il Sung conceived a plan to form a revolutionary vanguard organization that would conduct the anti-Japanese national liberation struggle in reliance upon popular masses with a correct fighting program and organized the DIU on October 17, Juche 15 (1926)."

Željko Heimer, 24 Jan 2011

Stanley Gibbons lists this as SG N4638, issued 17th. Oct. 2006 on the 60th. anniversary of the Anti-Imperialism Union.
Richard Mallett, 24 Jan 2011


Description

The stamp design is explained "Reflected in the individual stamp are a red flag bearing the words "DIU" and Mt. Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution. It shows the unswerving faith and will of the Korean people to carry out the revolutionary cause of Juche under the red flag of the revolution raised by the DIU."
Apparently, the glyphs therefore stand for the DIU organization. The DIU is considered a predecessor of the now ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
Wikipedia provides the name of the organization in several script system, and apparently the abbreviated name of the organization indeed resembles the Latin letters E.C. The full name of the organization provided on Wikipedia does resemble close enough the inscription at the top of the stamp, at least to my uninitiated eye.
Željko Heimer, 24 Jan 2011