The common practice of designating a "national tree" involves the official or symbolic designation of a specific tree species to represent a country’s natural landscape, history, culture, and overall national character, often holding significance similar to national flags or anthems.
National trees are chosen to embody the spirit or character of a nation, which may be influenced by various factors, such as:
being mentioned in history or mythology
religious significance
importance to the country's ecosystem
strength and endurance of the tree species
or other positive attributes chosen to represent the nation.
Pine is the national tree of the DPRK. For centuries, the Korean people planted and cultivated pine, and depicted it in art work and ornaments, as a symbol of long life and perseverance. Today, it continues to represent the national spirit. There is a proverb: “In winter we can know that pine is green, meaning a hero is only known in the time of misfortune”. >