North Korean propaganda uses slogans to tell citizens how to behave, think, and dress. Their themes echo the propaganda of socialist countries in emphasizing the strength of the military, the creation of a utopian society, and devotion to the state and the Supreme Leader. Some slogans have urged Korean reunification (or support for bilateral relationship-building efforts such as the April Spring Friendship Art Festival) but leader Kim Jong Un formally abandoned reunification as a goal in 2024.
Recurring themes Many slogans encourage the timely production of crops, such as vegetables, mushrooms, and other staple foods. These messages became more prevalent following the 1990s North Korean famine. Slogans frequently contain calls to action designed to bolster patriotic feelings, encourage citizens to further the country's economy, or support the sustainability and creation of renewable and non-renewable resources, such as electricity, coal and water. They were also written to remind citizens of tasks and plans set up by the government, such as the "2010 Policy", which aims to build "modernized" factories in 20 cities and counties per year over the course of 10 years. Posters have been created to promote the April Spring Friendship Art Festival, the largest international competition in North Korea.
Soldiers from capitalist countries, such as South Korea and the United States, are portrayed in a negative light, often depicted being killed or humiliated by North Korean soldiers. In propaganda slogans, the American government and military are often referred to as "imperialists". Posters have occasionally been made in support of Korean reunification, especially after the Inter-Korean summits, but in 2024, North Korea formally abandoned efforts to peacefully reunify Korea. A fundamental ideology in the country, single-hearted unity, also referred to as "single-minded unity", is the practise of uniting to pursue a common goal. In the case of North Korea, Kim Jong Un has stated that the population's thinking and morals are "united closely around the leader". Following the Korean War, North Korean slogans promote Confucianist values, such as a patriarchal and collectivist society.
Slogans by decade The following is a non-exhaustive list of North Korean slogans with propagandic intent sorted by original decade of release. Each slogan originates from North Korea, and has significant coverage.
Pre-1990s + Slogans in Korean and English first published before the 1990s, with relevant detailsKoreanEnglishYear of creation Death to the U.S.!1950s Self-reliance1950s Let's study for Korea!1953 Let's live our way!1978 Young people! Let's all become young heroes in the northern railway construction!1985 More seafood for the people!1987
1990s + Slogans in Korean and English published during the 1990s, with relevant detailsKoreanEnglishYear of creation The Flower Girl1991 "My Country is the Best"1990s Let the patriotic forces of the North and the South join forces to crush the "two Joseon" maneuvers of the separatists at home and abroad and unify the country!1991 Hold fast to the Juche idea!1991 Live and work in the spirit of the great Chollima Movement of the post war period!1991 Let's provide a strong line of defence for the Republic's honour and sovereignty!1991 Get more rice to the front!1997 Crush U.S. attempts to provoke a nuclear war!1997 A warm welcome to those long held in foreign prisons, resistors who held steadfast to their faith!1997 The General's soldiers stand always at the ready!1997 Train harder, so each of us will equal one hundred of our enemies!1997 Strong and Prosperous Nation1998 Socialism is invincible!1998 Our style of socialism. Socialism our way!1998 Wear traditional Korean clothing, beautiful and gracious!1998 Let's defend the party, its leader, and the socialist fatherland by arming all citizens!1998 Working on Friday is patriotic. Let's all work on Fridays!1998 We will blast the U.S. from the face of the earth!1998 Nation and Destiny1998 Let's achieve bigger harvests by double-cropping according to each region's conditions!1998 We do not like empty talk!1998 Protect the Great Leader and the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea!1999 Join the young vanguard, pledge faith to the Party!1999 Get more food to the frontlines!1999 Work to increase energy production as quickly as possible!1999
2000s + Slogans in Korean and English published during the 2000s, with relevant detailsKoreanEnglishYear of creation We never forget until we die!2000 Never forget the U.S. imperialists, those wolves!2000 We denounce the violent crimes against South Korean women committed by U.S. soldiers!2000 Put an end to sexual violence in the 21st century!2000 Guns mean victory, advance onward!2000 Let us live and fight with pure conscience and loyalty!2000 Military First policy is the right way to show love of the land, the nation, and the people!2000 A human bomb, with gun and grenades!2000 Soldiers of the Korean People's Army! Fight for our country, our fatherland and to defend our native village!2000 Let's hold forever high the banner of socialism, which our revolutionary forebears defended with their blood!2000 Strive to become like Jong Song-ok, an athlete of great conviction and faith whose sole inspiration was the General!2000 Keep working hard to increase land reclamation!2001 Continue the progress of the Seed Revolution, the key to agricultural development!2001 Kimjongilia, the flower of reunification, flourishes!2001 May comradeship be the eternal emblem of unity and victory for our revolution!2002 Let's create a nuclear-free zone!2002 Let's defend our respected Supreme Commander by force of arms!2002 The ideological perspective and fighting spirit are in line with the demands of the Songun movement!2004 Let us trim our hair in accordance with Socialist lifestyle2004 Our beloved father, Comrade Kim Il Sung, will live forever in the hearts of the people!2007 With the General, we will win!2008 It is exciting to play as soldiers beating and seizing the Americans.2009
2010s On 11 February 2015, a joint declaration of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea was published, featuring 310 new slogans. Additionally, 349 new slogans were created the following year. For the sake of this list, only those with significant coverage will be included. + Slogans in Korean and English supporting scientific and technological advancements, with relevant detailsKoreanEnglishYear of creation Long live the great victory of Songun!2011 Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il will always be with us!2012 Long live the Great Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Ilism!2012 Let's defend the Party Central Committee headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Un with our lives!2012 No more belt-tightening2012 Great Comrade Kim Jong Un, we will remain faithful to you to the last!2013 Let's spark a great leap forward and great innovation across the country with Masikryeong Speed!2013 When provoking a war of aggression, we will hit back, beginning with the U.S.!2013 Let's greet the 7th Party Congress with proud achievements in the improvement of the people's living standard!2015 Complete with credit the construction of Mirae Scientists Street and other major projects and thus splendidly adorn the venue of the grand October celebration!2015 Let us spruce up more wonderfully the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun as befitting the holy land of the eternal sun and devotedly defend it!2015 Create new legendary stories about sports of heroic Korea in international games!2015 Bring about a revolution in media and literature and arts in the new century!2015 Let us further expand the external relations in the idea of independence, peace and friendship!2015 Learn from the revolutionary and militant creative style of the Moranbong Band!2015 Compete with the world, challenge the world, get ahead of the world!2015 This year we will mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the sub-workteam management system by the great Comrade Kim Il Sung, which is the advantageous form and method of our style to organize and manage for production.2015 Let us carry through the great Generalissimos' instructions on "grass for meat"!2015 Long live Comrade Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of our party and people!2016 Let us thoroughly implement the programmatic tasks presented by respected Marshal Kim Jong Un in his New Year's address this year!2016 Let us further establish the sole leadership system of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un throughout the Party and society!2016 I will protect General Kim Jong Un with my life.2016 Let us become the creators of achievements that glorify the great era of Kim Jong Un!2016 The party is calling everyone to the 70-day battle!2016 We must glorify the 7th Party Congress, which will be a historic watershed in the accomplishment of the Juche revolutionary cause, as a congress of victors and a congress of glory.2016 Let's become an honourable winner in the 200-day battle of loyalty!2016 Everyone, join the Mallima Speed Creation Movement!2016 Unification of the Fatherland2016 Single-hearted unity is the great foundation and ever-victorious weapon for the Juche revolution!2016 Single-hearted Unity2016 Paektu's Cold Wind Spirit2016 Paektu's revolutionary spirit2016 For the great people!2016 The best civilisation at the highest level!2016 Let us make the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea shine with great victory!2016 Let us open the golden age of building a strong and prosperous nation this year when the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea is held!2016 We give the noblest respect and eternal glory to Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il2017 Embrace of the General2017 We give the noblest respect and greatest glory to Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il!2017 Long live Marshal Kim Il Sung!2017 Long live our beloved Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong Un!2017 Embrace of the Leader2017 The leader and the general are together2017 The 7th Regiment is in front of us again today!2017 We will continue the march of Paektu2017 Let us defend the party center with our lives!2017 Long live the invincible Party!2017 Long live the Workers' Party of Korea, the undefeated party that has won every battle!2017 Joseon's answer!2017 Let us complete the cause of Juche socialism to the end, using the ideas and achievements of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il as the foundation for the rest of our lives.2017 Let's hold the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il high as the eternal sun of Juche!2017 Let's complete the Juche revolutionary cause to the end, following the leadership of Respected Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong Un!2017 The entire United States is within our range!2017 Serve for your country and people!2017 Long live the heroic Korean Peoples' Army!2017
2020s