The national bird of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is magpie.

Magpie can be found everywhere in the country all the year round. It is a beneficial bird which lives on harmful insects.

When fully grown up, it is 44-46cm long and the tail is about 26cm long. It is black in the head and the back, and white in the shoulder, breast, stomach and sides.

It dwells in the vicinity of villages, in parks and other places where people live.

From olden times, the Korean people, believing that if one hears magpies chirp early in the morning, one could have a welcome guest or news that day, have regarded it as a messenger bird, a clever and magical bird, and loved and protected it.

Magpie symbolizes the peace-loving stand of the DPRK.