News

Jo Dec 27, 2022

Every country has their symbolic animals that reflect the history and culture, excellent dispositions and extraordinary abilities of their people. Among them is a dog.

Phungsan Dog is a native breed of Korea that has left an indelible mark in the history of our nation for thousands of years. It has been tamed for ages by our ancestors in severe natural environments of the northern uplands where there were a large number of beasts such as a tiger, a bear, a wild boar, a wolf, etc.

Well adapted to the topography and climate of the mountainous forest areas in our country, the dog has features of a typical hunting dog. It is famous for its cleverness, persistence, bravery and swiftness. Though this dog is of smooth nature and quite obedient to its keeper at ordinary times, it shows a strong fighting spirit and bravery at the time of hunting and it never gives a fight up. Full of vitality, it is resistant to the cold and diseases.

It was registered as a state natural monument in April, Juche 45 (1956) thanks to the state measure taken by President Kim Il Sung to preserve well the country's vestiges and relics and scenic spots.

When visiting Ryanggang Province in May, Juche 47(1958), the President said that Phungsan Dog thoroughbred is a very good breed, underscoring the need to survey its thoroughbred.

Chairman Kim Jong Il indicated the issues arising in breeding Phungsan Dog and visited Kim Hyong Gwon County in the middle of the 1970s to take necessary steps to quickly breed its thoroughbred. Accordingly, the whole Kwangdok ri, Kim Hyong Gwon County, was designated as a sanctuary for Phungsan Dog in March, Juche 57(1968).

On November 7, Juche 103(2014), the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un designated Phungsan Dog, which resembles the spirit of the Korean nation, as the national dog of the DPRK.

Today, Phungsan Dog is widely known as a national dog that symbolizes the spirit of properous Juche Korea and as a world’s famous dog.