Democratic People's Republic Of Korea Uniforms In Wear.

[January]

Here's a picture of Kim Jong Il in the same uniform to accompany the above Kim Il Sung pic. You are correct about the Marshal's star; in Korean, they call him Wonsu, which is like a Marshal of the Soviet Union or else one symbolic rank higher (I forget which). It might seem ridiculous for someone from such a small country to have such a high rank until you consider how huge their military is (fourth largest in the world).

[Esteban_cool]

Here's a picture of Kim Jong Il in the same uniform to accompany the above Kim Il Sung pic. You are correct about the Marshal's star; in Korean, they call him Wonsu, which is like a Marshal of the Soviet Union or else one symbolic rank higher (I forget which). It might seem ridiculous for someone from such a small country to have such a high rank until you consider how huge their military is (fourth largest in the world).

Actually, I think the rank of Wonsu (supreme marshal according to the world uniform rank insignia source) is considered to be the equivalent of the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union(the symbolic higher rank you talk about), since the rank was created for Kim Il Sung and now is being held by his son Kim Jong Il. However, I don´t know if these higher ranks (Marshal and Supreme Marshal) were copied from the chinese system to the korean or vice-versa, since both countries had them (China had it at least until 1965).

The International Encyclopedia of Uniform and Rank Insignia around the World

[January]

Ah, yes--I'd forgotten about the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union rank; that would be equivalent to Kim's rank, I believe. I think that I actually discovered the Wonsu (Daewonsu?) rank while reading up on the GSU rank. I seem to recall having read that the idea was to outrank any Marshal of the Soviet Union, or any other military commander elsewhere in the world, for that matter.

Thanks greatly! Amazing that I can reply to a post from 2005 and get a response from the original poster only hours later!

[kliment]

Kim Il-sung was marshal since the Korean War. A grade of vice-marshal was also created in 53 for Choi Yong-gun. In april 92, Kim Jong-il and O Jin-u (vice-marshal since 85) became marshals and Kim Il-sung grand marshal.
The difference between Kim Jr. and the others marshals is subtle: he is marshal of the DPRK, the others, marshals of the KPA.

[January]

I found a little unsourced info about the Dae Wonsu rank. Of possible interest, there is an additional crest on the Marshal's star.

Dae Wonsu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Commissar]

Wow, that is an insane amount of medals.
You think those dress uniforms double as flak jackets?

[kliment]

I was quite frustrated by the lack of info about north korean uniforms. Since the nineties, I collect pictures and I have made a sort of database, in fact a series of plates of all the uniforms I have meet.
I have choose to post 2 of these plates (work in progress):
1-Marshal, vice-marshal and generals in parade, everyday and service dress
(the parade cap of the vice-marshal (2nd from the left) is now obsolete, the gold collar tab of the last general is also obsolete)
2-Admirals, parade, everyday and service, winter and summer.

I'm not an artist nor very computer-capable, don’t be too severe for the techniques I have used (real painting and photoshop).

[Esteban_cool]

I'm not an artist nor very computer-capable, don’t be too severe for the techniques I have used (real painting and photoshop).

Don´t worry, your work is much better than lots of official regulation books of some countries. I recall seeing a pic of a vietnamese regulations book, and the drawings looked like made by a 10 year old kid.

A big Thanks again for sharing your research with us.:thumbsup

[DougD]

Kliment,

Great job, quite well done!

Doug

[kliment]

When he had met President Clinton, the vice-marshal Jo myong-Rok still wore the old style cap embroidery. Below a picture of the new style (less sophisticated).
Some more pictures: trench- and greatcoats for marshals and generals, air force generals.