Here is a Type 4. Dating from the rather recent past (c2005-date) this new pin style has been adopted throughout many (if not all) of the Orders.
When I first saw this sort of pin about 2 years ago in the ROK (on an ONF3) I thought that it may well be a copy made for educational purposes. It is in fact the new officially produced "lighter" style of DPRK awards. Expect to see more in the future, lots more.
The only Orders I don't think have this "hairpin" are the two highest ones.
The quality of the colouring isn't as poor as earlier (mid 90's) awards. In fact, less the poor pin, the award is rather solidly made.
Thinking about this objectively someone has actually destroyed a "factory escaped" unfinished piece of the OSH that is rather rare. The Order it has been affixed to is now completely worthless (though they are exceptionally common) but I would have certainly paid a quarter for the uncut soldier before it was slapped on here. (Some would not believe how ridiculously inexpensive most DPRK pieces can be - with a seemingly never ending flow of them onto the market.) There is now a considerable number of DPRK awards I won't fork out as much as a dollar for and this Order is in that number. I would pay over a dollar for this Order with a matching unaltered document however - not much over a dollar though.
I should have a new consignment of unseen DPRK goodies landing next week that I'll post, that's without looking over the piles that are here already for variations. Later - much later.
