The North Korean flag was designed by an unknown Soviet official and ordered to be adopted when the traditional Korean flag was not deemed suitable for a socialist country. It was formally approved in July 1948. The colours – red, white and blue – symbolise respectively: revolutionary traditions; purity, strength, and dignity; and sovereignty, peace, and friendship. Rewriting history, the flag is now claimed as the creation of Kim Il-sung, the “Eternal President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea”, himself.