Leader and Guards Unit
Korean leader Kim long Il started his Songun-based leadership with his inspection of the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division of the Korean People's Army on August 25, 1960. Up to the outset of this year he has visited this guard’s unit score of times.
Like Tank men in 1950s
Inspecting this unit on August 25, 50 years ago, Kim Jong Il said to the commanding officer of the unit that they should fight bravely for the country and the people as the guards tank men did during the Korean war (1950-1953).
When the United States unleashed the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the tank men of this unit, by counteroffensive order of President Kim Il Sung, liberated Seoul three days after the outbreak of the war. In high appreciation of the feat performed by the then 105 Tank Brigade in the battle, Kim Il Sung promoted the brigade to the division and conferred the title of "Seoul Guards Tank Division" on the unit.
Dumbfounded by the attack of surging tanks of the unit, the then brass hats of the Pentagon uttered troubled cries, saying that it is an attack without formalities and that surprise attacks by the tanks' and the infantry from different angles and with diverse scale and forms are elusive battles quite different from the street warfare learnt from the tactics department of the US land forces.
Tracing back to the world history of war, it was the infantrymen that charged into streets first to hoist the flag of victory. It can be said that the first example that the tank men blasted their way into a city to raise the flag of victory was set by the KPA tank men.
That day Kim Jong Il said to the commanding officers that the unit should, in the future, too, wipe out' the enemies as the guards tank men had trounced aggressors mercilessly during the Korean war, in case they dare pounce upon the DPRK.
Into invincible armoured force
One day in December 1996 Kim Jong Il visited again the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division and, in' spite of the biting cold, saw the tank men under training.
The tank men fully demonstrated their combat readiness, driving freely their tanks on the snow-covered steep mountains despite unfavourable conditions. While carefully watching the training of the tank men with a special attention to the advance speed and battle array of the tanks, Kim Jong Il gave detailed instructions on the use of tanks and their tactics in the modern warfare.
The commander of the unit was overwhelmed with surprise at his explanation as he was well versed in the tank and its tactics as much as the experts concerned.
That day he dropped in at a technology lecture room to acquaint himself in detail with the technical equipment for training and the indoor training and specified the ways and orientation to training soldiers into competent tankmen.
Making the rounds of a greenhouse, mess hall, bedroom and education room of the division, he learned in detail about the living conditions of the service personnel and earnestly stressed need for the division to prepare all its tankmen into the heroes who would devote their lives without hesitation for the country and the people.
One May day in 1999 and on April 15, 2000 he set forth tasks and ways of further strengthening and developing this guards unit.
Under his leadership the division has grown into an invincible armoured unit capable of repulsing any formidable enemy.
By dint of Songun
Kim Jong Il gave field guidance to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division at the outset of this year. It can be said that this is the demonstration of unshakable will of Kim Jong Il, who started his Songun-based revolutionary leadership with the inspection of this unit 50 years ago, to vigorously advance the socialist cause on the strength of Songun in the future, too.
That day, too, he saw the tank men under training for hours despite the biting cold.
Encouraged by his inspection, the tank men drove their tanks forward like the surging waves, smashing to pieces the "enemy's positions" with merciless firing in the fighting spirit to annihilate the enemies at a stroke if they dare to invade even an inch of the land of their country.
Noting that the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division always played the role as a guards unit not only in the battles but in ideology, he said that socialist Korea has been able to win victory after another, surmounting all trials-and challenges of history as it has such steel-like guards units as the 105 Tank Division.
The DPRK with many guards units like the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division will demonstrate its majestic appearance by dint of Songun in the future, too.