🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Infantry Senior Captain's Overcoat (1984) Original 1984 produced Korean People’s Army overcoat for a Senior Captain (대위) of the infantry branch. The distinctive red arrow shaped piping exclusive to the Korean People’s Army can be observed on the sleeves. The construction of this coat is quite sturdy and similar in quality to Soviet overcoats of the time, using heavy wool as the material and the interior being half-lined. This coat style is still in use by the Korean People’s Army today, with this darker green shade commonly seen worn by guards at Panmunjom. This display also includes a blue scarf, commonly observed worn by officers with their overcoats, and a 1984 produced ushanka. The last photo shows Korean People’s Army officers in the late 1980s wearing this coat paired with ushankas.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Soldiers' Group Photo (1950s) Original undated photo of three soldiers of the Korean People's Army, likely taken postwar. The soldier on the right has branch insignia attached to his shoulder boards. Unfortunately due to the original photo's poor quality, the finer details of the branch insignia cannot be confirmed.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Female Sergeant's Studio Portrait (1980s) Original undated studio portrait of an unnamed female Sergeant of the Korean People's Army likely taken in the 1980s. Curiously she has an English edition of the Selected Works of Kim Il Sung, suggesting possible proficiency in the language. Her rectangular portrait badge of Kim Il Sung in his marshal uniform is also noteworthy, as well as her singular plastic Military Merit ribbon and early variant Red Flag Company unit badge.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Staff Sergeants' Group Portrait (Post 1953) Original undated postwar studio portrait of six Staff Sergeants (하사) of the Korean People's Army. It is interesting to note that one of the soldiers is from the Korean People's Army Air Force as evident by his cockade and epaulette insignia. Curiously though, he does not have the wings insignia above his regular cockade. The Chinese awarded "Long Live Peace" commemorative badge can also be seen worn alongside other Korean medals.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Motorised Major's Portrait (1970s) Original undated portrait of an unnamed Major of the Korean People's Army's motorised branch, likely taken in the 1970s. The most interesting detail worth noting are his medals, specifically the Type 1 variant Military Merit Medal on the bottom row second from the right. The suspension of that medal is noticeably different from the others, being shorter with slightly different colours. This is one of very few known photos of the Type 1 Military Merit Medal being worn, and the later date of this photo alongside newer variants makes it even more interesting.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army 1st Lieutenant's Portrait (1953) Original postwar portrait of an unnamed First Lieutenant of the Korean People’s Army taken in Kaesong in July 1953, immediately after the armistice. It is possible that he was present at Panmunjom during the signing of the armistice given the close distance to Kaesong.

🇰🇵 Two Korean People Army Soldiers' Portrait (1950s) Original undated photo of two unnamed soldiers of the Korean People's Army wearing the pre-1958 wartime regulation winter telogreika uniform. The soldier on the left has the rank of Sergeant (상급병사) while the one on the right is a Sergeant Major (특무상사). The details of their insignia are also quite visible with the crude hand manufactured quality of their cockades being especially apparent.

🇰🇵 Private Ju Jeongwon's Enlistment Photo (1988) Original portrait photograph of Private Ju Jeungwon (주정원) commemorating his enlistment in the Korean People’s Army. The photograph was likely sent by his parents, intended as a gift for his relatives. The inscription on the reverse reads: “Son, Ju Jeungwon 1988 September 21st Enlistment in the Korean People’s Army This is a photo taken while (he is) wearing a military uniform.”

🇨🇳🇰🇵 "Korean-Chinese Friendship" (1952) Original wartime studio portrait of two Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers and two Majors of the Korean People's Army Air Force, dated January 20th of 1952. Wartime photos of Korean People's Army Air Force officers are scarce, and this photo is a decent reference for wartime air force insignia.

🇰🇵 Female Korean People's Army Officer's Family Portrait (1980s) Original undated group photo of an unnamed female officer of the Korean People’s Army with her family. The photo was likely taken in the 1980s, based on details of the portrait badges. The insignia on the officer’s collar tabs are interesting as they appear to be for the Korean People’s Army Art Troupe. Even more interesting is her portrait badge, which is a Chinese made Kim Il Sung Marshal portrait badge manufactured in Shanghai on behalf of the North Korean government. Such badges appear to have been worn occasionally by honour guards, or art troupe members and military band personnel.

🇰🇵🇨🇳 Chinese and Korean Soldiers' Postwar Group Photo (Mid-1950s) Original undated postwar photo of a group of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers with a Staff Sergeant (하사) of the Korean People's Army and two Korean children. Interestingly, it appears that some Chinese soldiers have the People's Volunteer Army chest patch whereas others do not.

🇨🇳🇰🇵 Unknown Soldier's Studio Portrait (Late 1950s) Original undated studio portrait of an unnamed Chinese or Korean soldier taken in the late 1950s. This is one of the more interesting photos in my collection due to its unusual content. It is not exactly clear if the soldier here is Chinese or Korean. The uniform is clearly that of a Korean People's Army soldiers', but the belt is a Chinese Type 55 People's Volunteer Army officer belt. The Chinese text in the photo also translates to "Commemoration of Korea", which would make no sense for a Korean soldier to have. I believe the most likely explanation is that this is a Chinese soldier wearing a borrowed Korean People's Army soldier's uniform with a Chinese belt for the purpose of dressing up, to embellish his commemorative portrait to make it more distinct and notable.

🇰🇵 Ministry of Social Security Art Troupe Shoulder Boards (2010s) Original shoulder boards for a member of an art troupe of the Ministry of Social Security. Unlike the regular shoulder boards used by the MSS, these ones are devoid of ranks and only display the art troupe insignia. The last two photos show these shoulder boards in use by a "mobile propaganda team" in a KCTV news segment dated May 19th 2026 about rice cultivation.

🇰🇵 Temporary Military Merit Medal Citation & Youth League Membership Booklet (1951) Original set of documents belonging to a 20 year old soldier named Kim Oksun (김옥순). Based on the name, it is possible that the original owner was a woman. The first document is a temporary award citation for a Military Merit Medal awarded on November 21st 1950 while the second document is a temporary membership booklet for the Democratic Youth League of Korea (known as the Socialist Patriotic Youth League today). Interestingly the temporary membership booklet was used into 1952, likely due to difficulties securing a permanent replacement due to the war.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Soldier's Family Portrait (1980s) Original undated portrait photo of an unnamed Major (소좌) and Sergeant Major (특무상사) with their family. This photo was likely taken in the 1980s. The difference in colour of the fabric on the Major's uniform and the Sergeant Major's gymnastyorka is interesting.

🇰🇵 Order of Marine Industry Service Honour 1st Class (1986) Original Order of Marine Industry Service Honour 1st Class. This Order was established on January 9th 1986 and awarded to personnel and labourers working in the marine industry. This Order is divided into two classes and the medallion is made from plated copper. The Order of Marine Industry Service Honour remains a relatively rare award for collectors, especially in complete condition with the suspension.

🇰🇵 Kim Il Sung & Kim Jong Il Western Suit Double Portrait Badge (2000s) Original double portrait badge of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il wearing Western suits. While Kim Jong Il is most frequently depicted wearing the People’s Suit, Marshal’s dress uniform, or his iconic tracksuit, portraits of him in a Western suit are relatively rare. This badge was produced in the 2000s.

🇰🇵 Korean People's Army Soldiers' Group Photo (Late 1950s) Original undated photo of four unnamed soldiers of the Korean People's Army taken after the war. It is interesting to note the peaked cap worn by the officer, which even after the war was a rarely worn uniform piece. Unfortunately this photo was not well preserved.

🇰🇵 Kim Il Sung University Student's Portrait Badge (2012) Original Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il double portrait badge worn by students at Kim Il Sung University. The design consists of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il overlaid on a yellow rising sun over a banner of Kim Jong Il's calligraphy of the school's name, Kim Il Sung University (김일성종합대학). This badge design was established on April 26th 2012 and is the current one issued to students at the university.

🇰🇵 Order of Railway Service Honour 1st Class (1988) Original Order of Railway Service Honour 1st Class set with matching ribbon bar. This Order was established on October 6th 1988 and awarded to personnel and labourers working in any transportation departments. This Order is split into three classes and the material is plated aluminum. The last photo shows an army veteran of the Korean War wearing an Order of Railway Service Honour 1st Class.

🇰🇵 Order of Teacher's Honour 1st Class (2008) Original Order of Teacher's Honour 1st Class issued to outstanding teachers and educators in North Korea. Under Kim Jong Il, teachers were seen as career revolutionaries and much effort was made to increase their ideological, political, scientific, and "theoretical" qualifications. To encourage this, the Order of Teacher's Honour (divided into three classes) as well as a Medal of Teacher's Honour was established in 2008. The text at the front of the Order translates to "Juche Education" and "1st Class" while the back translates to "Order of Teacher's Honour".