National symbols are official emblems of a state that has been established to distinguish it from other countries. Those of the DPRK are eternal treasures of the Korean revolution which were instituted and glorified personally by the great leaders Comrades
The respected Comrade
"We should conduct effective education in valuing our country's national symbols like its name, flag, emblem and flower so as to instill in the schoolchildren the pride in and honour of being members of the Korean nation as well as the spirit of patriotism."
All nations have their own aesthetic tastes and emotions unique to them.
Starting from such unique national sentiments, each nation has its own conception of animals, which has been traditionally established throughout history.
For example, the Chinese people love panda as their national symbol and the Hindus worship cattle and do not eat its meat. Such customs have been created, developed and established traditionally based on national emotions, feelings and tastes.
The magpie, the national bird of the DPRK, is also one of the birds which have been loved by the Korean people from olden times.
Inhabited in all parts of the country, it is a sedentary bird living on hillocks, lowlands and in residential neighborhood, centering around its nest.
The wingspan is 18~22.1 cm, the tail is 20.6~27.8 cm long and the beak is 2.9~3.9 cm long.
From its head to the back and upper part of the chest is covered with dark black feathers that have a purple gloss.
The shoulders, lower chest, and ventral flanks are white and the waist is gray white.
Female and male feathers have the same color.
Occasionally, there is a white magpie among them, which is a variety of magpie.
In summer they eat a variety of insects like coleoptera, lepidoptera, cicadas, etc., invertebrate such as earthworms, fish, amphibians, etc., and in winter they eat seeds, berries, grains or dead animals.
In particular, it is a beneficial bird that feeds on many harmful insects.
The magpie finishes nesting from February to mid-March and lays four to six eggs in early April.
The custom of regarding magpie as a lucky sign has been handed down in Korea from ancient times.
The simple and distinct body color of black and white and light and clear call of the magpie are also well suited to the sentiments of the Korean nation, who likes simple and elegant things rather than gaudy and artificial ones.
From olden times, it has been called "a joyful bird" that brings happiness, and regarded as a "lucky bird" that carries good news or makes things go well.
It has been said that the singing of a magpie in the morning would bring a welcome guest or good news that day, and if it was heard for the first time on the way in the early morning on the New Year's Day, that would mean a rich harvest and luck of the year.
For the children looking forward to the New Year's Day, the New Year's Eve was called the "Magpie New Year's Day" and their dress for that day "Magpie dress".
That is why many paintings, old stories and poems depicting magpies can be found in historical literature of Korea, and there are also peculiar dance movements called "magpie step".
To sum up, magpie is a bird that has become familiar with the customs of the Korean nation throughout its long history.
It became the national bird of the DPRK under "The Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on National Symbols" adopted by the Decree No. 1220 of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly on February 2, Juche 112 (2023) as it is in conformity with the sentiments of the Korean nation, friendly to their customs, and symbolic of the peace-loving stand of the DPR Korea.
