Kim Jong Un Watches Firing Contest of AA Artillery Personnel

Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, watched a firing contest of AA artillery personnel.

The contest brought together AA artillery companies under the KPA Air and Anti-Air Force, KPA Large Combined Units 963 and 526 and companies composed of instructors and cadets of the AA Artillery Academy.

Standings of the contest were decided by the number of hits each company made by firing artillery pieces of different calibers at moving air, ground and naval targets in the order decided by lottery.

After receiving a report on the form and method of the contest at an observation post, Kim Jong Un gave an order to start it.

Then artillery pieces opened fire.

The AA Artillery Academy came first in the contest.

Praising the instructors and cadets of the academy, an icon unit and model unit to be proud of for distinguishing themselves in all aspects, Kim Jong Un called and met them and had a photo taken with them. Noting that he made sure that instructors of the academy took part in the contest, in particular, he said it was because when the instructors of military academies are fully prepared not only in theory but also in practice, they can train their cadets to be stalwart officers.

He expressed satisfaction over the success made by the contest amid the high enthusiasm of its participants.

Stressing the need for the KPA to map out a plan for making good use of AA artillery pieces in the future, he called for steadily improving education and drill methods in order to thoroughly implement the policy set forth by the Party for developing the KPA into an army with superb tactics and turning all the branches of its arms into strong ones.

He underlined the need to conduct drills under the simulated conditions of an actual war, put them on a scientific and modern basis and frequently organize contests among units and sub-units in order to train all the soldiers to be master gunners capable of hitting any target without fail in any conditions and circumstances.

Stressing once again that drills are essential for bolstering up military capability, he indicated tasks to be fulfilled to round off the combat readiness of the KPA and increase its combat power in every way.

Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Participants of 1st Reconnoitering Officers' Conference

Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, had a photo session with the participants of the 1st Reconnoitering Officers' Conference.

He highly praised the reconnoitering and intelligence officers and combatants of the KPA for dedicating their youth, families and lives to defending the most difficult and dangerous reconnoitering and intelligence front assigned by the party and leaving their praiseworthy traces on it.

Noting that the reconnoitering and intelligence officers and combatants who are devoting all their wisdom and enthusiasm without looking for any honor and appreciation are the staunch revolutionaries and genuine roots of the party, he stressed that the feats performed by them in reliably defending the socialist motherland would be always remembered by the party, the country and the people.

The 1st Reconnoitering Officers' Conference of the KPA marked an important occasion in bringing about a turning phase of preserving and eternally glorifying the immortal exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il in the field of the reconnoitering and intelligence service and improving and strengthening the reconnoitering and intelligence service as required by the tense situation, he said. Congratulating the participants on the successful conference, he had a photo session with them.

He was accompanied by Hwang Pyong So, Pak Yong Sik, Ri Yong Gil, Ryom Chol Song, Kim Yong Chol and Kim Rak Jun.

CRUSHING DEFEAT SUFFERED BY THE UNITED STATES

The Korean war (1950-1953) was the first war in which the United States, having boasted of its being the “strongest” in the world, suffered an ignominious defeat.

While starting a war in Korea, the US had reckoned that it could easily occupy the country by means of its numerical and technical superiority. The then US military brass hats bragged to the press that the war would be finished within 72 hours.

The US hurled into it a huge armed force over two million strong, including the one-third of its ground force, one-fifth of its air force, and most of its Pacific Fleet, troops of 15 vassal states, the south Korean puppet army, state-of-the-art combat and technical equipment, including B-29 strategic bomber, called as “air fortress,” and enormous amounts of war supplies worth over 73 million tons.

However, the US suffered in the Korean war tremendous loss nearly 2.3 times as much as that it had suffered in the Pacific war: 1 567 128 men including 405 498 US soldiers were killed, wounded or captured, and over 12 220 aircraft, 3 250 tanks and armoured vehicles, 13 350 trucks, 560 warships, 7 690 artillery guns, and 925 150 small arms were lost.

The US military celebrities, known as famous generals of the Pacific War, were either killed or sacked from their posts, being responsible for defeat in the war. The “General Christmas Offensive” at the end of November 1950 so vaunted by the US resulted in the “December general retreat.” Anti-war protests gained momentum within the US mainland, arousing the impeachment of the US President and the replacement of the State Secretary. Douglas MacArthur and Matthew Ridgway, who served as commander of the UN Forces, were ousted from their posts, and those in command of US 1^st, 2^nd, 7^th and 25^th Divisions fired. “Smith’s special attack unit” which was the first American unit that engaged in ground operation was smashed to bits, and the US 24^th Division, which had boasted of being “ever-victorious,” was encircled and completely routed, and many US army units were destroyed in succession. General Walker, commander of the US 8^th Army, was killed in a military operation of the Korean People’s Army, and Dean, US 24^th Division commander, was captured by a KPA soldier.

The myth of US “mightiness” was shattered in the sky and on the sea, as well. On October 30, 1951, US B-29s under the aegis of 90 fighter-bombers made sorties to the Korean front. But three B-29s were shot down and five damaged. That day was listed as “Black Tuesday” in the US Air Force. In the following week alone, 20 “air fortress B-29s” were destroyed. Since the breakout of the Korean war 2 200 US pilots were seized with war phobia and evaded their flying service.

On July 2, 1950, four torpedo boats of the KPA navy attacked on the sea off Jumunjin the US heavy cruiser Baltimore of 17 000 tons with an escort of a light cruiser and destroyer, sinking it deep in the sea, and damaging the light cruiser.

Omar Bradley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, confessed at a Congressional hearing in May 1951 that the US waged the wrong war at the wrong place and with the wrong enemy. It proved that the US already recognized its defeat in the Korean war when the war was at its height.

The US News and World Report wrote that the loss in the Korean war was over two times of the total of those the US had suffered in five great wars, the War of Independence, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War and the Philippine War.

After the Korean war the former US Defense Secretary George Marshall deplored, “The myth exploded to atoms, and it became clear to everyone that the United States was not so strong as others thought her to be.” Mark Clark, commander of the US Far East forces and concurrently commander of the UN forces in Korea, recalled the time when he signed the Korean Armistice Agreement, saying: In carrying out the instructions of my government I gained the unenviable distinction of being the first United States Army Commander in history to sign an armistice agreement without victory. I suffered a sense of frustration…”

The ignominious defeat suffered by the US was the first of its kind in American history. It can neither be retrievable nor removed, no matter how long time passes.

The US should never forget the loss in the past Korean war.

If it becomes oblivious of the lesson from it and starts another war in the Korean peninsula, it will suffer its complete doom beyond comparison with the past.

Kim Jong Un Watches Flight Training of First Women Supersonic Fighter Pilots

Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, watched a flight training of women supersonic fighter pilots Jo Kum Hyang and Rim Sol.

He learned about a taking-off and landing solo flight training plan of women fighter pilots at the airfield runway before watching their training.

Seeing their solo flight with satisfaction, he said with pleasure that young girls are very admirable, they are flowers of the sky and women supersonic fighter pilots came into being for the first time in the history of army building. Watching them promptly dealing with sudden circumstances, he said that he was very pleased with their brave training. He highly appreciated them, saying that the girls' solo flight of supersonic fighters in which it is hard for men to fly is a success to be proud of in the world.

At the end of the training he met with Jo Kum Hyang and Rim Sol and congratulated them on their successful training.

Warmly taking the hands of the pilots weeping tears of joy after receiving bouquets, he said that they successfully conducted solo flight though there are a few countries with women pilots of supersonic fighters. This is not because their physical conditions and technological preparations are good but it is a revelation of the noble revolutionary spirit in which they cherished the warm love for the country and the transparent spirit of defending the country and ideologically accepted the Workers' Party of Korea's training-first policy and remained loyal to the intention of the Supreme Commander.

He had a photo session with the pilots.

FOR GLOBAL INDEPENDENCE

Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), eternal President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, advanced an idea on making the whole world independent.

In April 1982 he formulated that the independent world means a world where all forms of dominationism and colonialism have been wiped out and the sovereignty of all countries and nations is fully granted. In September 1988 he elucidated that the essence of the struggle for making the world independent is to establish an international relationship based on independence and make the international community democratic.

He also clarified the main target and the driving force in the struggle for global independence. Defining as the main target of the struggle the imperialist and dominationist forces including the US imperialism, he illuminated that all the anti-imperialist forces that advocate independence across the world should firmly unite and fight resolutely against the imperialist reactionary forces.

President Kim Il Sung positively encouraged the people in the colonial countries in their struggle for national liberation. He met numerous revolutionaries and fighters from many countries of the world, explained the strategies and tactics on the struggle for national liberation in their countries and solved all complicated problems and difficulties.

Agostinho Neto, former president of Angola, said that as he fought with strategies and tactics indicated by President Kim Il Sung he was able to drive out the colonialists and achieve independence of the country. Samora Machel, former president of Mozambique, said that they could win victory as the great hero Comrade Kim Il Sung showed them the road ahead.

President Kim Il Sung rendered selfless material aid and moral support to the newly independent countries in their nation-building.

The developing countries who achieved independence through the national liberation struggle had been groping for the ways to build a new society, but in vain. Taking advantage of this, the imperialists attempted to intervene in the internal affairs of these countries, under the pretext of “aid.” The newly independent countries were liable to be caught again in the trap of the imperialists. Many heads of state who tried to find their way out paid attention to the DPRK that was building socialism successfully under the banner of independence. Leaders of many developing countries including Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Tanzania, Madagascar, Guyana and Malta, visited the DPRK.

President Kim Il Sung informed them of the valuable experiences the DPRK had gained. He added that they should not mechanically imitate those of the DPRK whole, but apply them in conformity with the specific situations of their countries, just as man swallows foods that are sweet, and, if not, spits them out. He saw to it that they saw the successes and experiences the Korean people gained in several sectors with their own eyes.

The greatest achievement he gained for the independence of the world was that he strengthened and developed the non-aligned movement.

The non-aligned movement, which emerged as an independent political force on the stage of history in the 1960s, faced the danger of decline owing to several challenges and difficulties entering the 1970s. At that time some developing countries hesitated or refused to be involved in the movement, watching the faces of big countries and the West. In order to strengthen and develop the movement into a powerful anti-imperialist independent force and enhance its role he paid a visit to former Yugoslavia, one of the founding countries of the non-aligned movement, in June 1975. He ensured that the DPRK joined the movement in August 1975, followed by many countries which supported and admired it. In the latter half of the 1970s the number of the non-aligned countries increased to nearly 100.

Many heads of state of the non-aligned countries requested President Kim Il Sung to take the lead in the non-aligned movement. Josip Broz Tito, president of former Yugoslavia, visited the DPRK in his advanced age of over 80, in August 1977, to express his thanks to President Kim Il Sung who saved the non-aligned movement from danger and said that the President must play the leading role in expanding and developing the movement in the future.

President Kim Il Sung showed his close concern on developing the world’s socialist movement for global independence.

He had long emphasized that world socialist movement should achieve genuine cohesion and development based on independence. He launched energetic activities for the reconstruction and a fresh upsurge of the socialist movement, holding high the banner of independence, in the face of collapse of socialism in former Soviet Union and other east European countries.

The achievements gained by President Kim Il Sung for making the world independent will shine forever.