A Joseon Dynasty battle flag seized by a U.S. Naval fleet during its 19th century invasion of Korea has returned home after 136 years.

The command flag belonged to Joseon General Eo Je-yeon who died while trying to defend the nation in a 1871 battle at Ganhwa Island off Incheon.

The Culture Heritage Administration says the flag will be displayed at the National Palace Museum of Korea in March and then museums in Incheon and Ganghwa on a lease of maximum ten years.

The square flag, measuring four-and-a-half meters to a side, is a representative commanding flag of the period and a rare military article.

It has been displayed at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland since the U.S. Navy took it as part of spoils from the battle.

Three U.S. warships invaded Ganghwa Island in retaliation for the Joseon government's burning of the U.S. commercial vessel General Sherman, which had come to Joseon demanding trade.