Sign for North Korea (right one)

[video description below]

Sam: This video is to inform everyone the correct sign for 'North Korea.' All along people have signed it as NORTH and KOREA ('5' handshape slope downward from head and then fingertips touch side of eye). The same sign is also commonly known in International Sign. It so happens that at the World Federation of the Deaf conference here in Istanbul ('B' on forehead, palm out), Turkey (bent 'L' with thumb touching forehead, palm on the side) a group from North Korea was in attendance. One of them explained to me that their sign for North Korea is: 'L' handshape making a 'Z' movement in front of the body. That is the sign that they use in their country. In fact, history was made as it was the first time that North Korea has ever attended a WFD conference.

[Video cuts to a WFD conference scene with 6 people from North Korea (4 men and 2 women) standing in a line with Colin (WFD president) on the far left talking to the group. A white male interpreter is between Colin and the group. Behind them is a huge projector screen and in front of the group is a podium. Colin had just signed a message for the group and in this video, the interpreter steps forward and translates Colin's message. Camera light flashes reflect the scene. The group responds to Colin's message by thanking him in their language: weak hand with closed '5' handshape, palm down in front of body while dominant hand has the same handshape but palm orientation is to the side, side of pinky touches the top of weak hand several times.]

[Video cuts back to Sam signing]: So it is confirmed that this is the correct sign for North Korea: 'L' handshape making a 'Z' movement in front of the body. Now what about South Korea? I asked someone who is actually from South Korea and they responded that they sign KOREA: closed '5' handshape slope downward from head and then fingertips touch side of eye. That's it. (They do not sign SOUTH.) Again, the sign for North Korea is: 'L' handshape making a 'Z' movement and the sign for South Korea is: '5' handshape slope downward from head and then fingertips touch side of eye.

[Video goes black as Sam gives the 'F' handshape OK hand signal.]

Note: video transcription credit goes to Keri Brooks.

Видео Sign for North Korea (right one) канала Jay Harris