[2] According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Il Sung's "peerless character" is "fully reflected in the immortal flower" which is "blooming everywhere on the five continents".

President Sukarno, seeing Kim's enthusiasm, proposed that the flower be named Kimilsungia, as a symbol of eternal friendship between the two countries.

[5][6] In North Korea, the flower was successfully cultivated in April 1975, in time for Kim Il Sung's birthday, and subsequently introduced to the North Korean populace for the first time in April 1977, for Kim Il Sung's 65th birthday.

The violet Kimilsungia orchid has since become a symbol of the late Juche leader, being used in floral arrangements representing the North Korean state.

Traditionally, embassies of foreign countries in North Korea each present their own bouquet of the flower to the annual exhibition.