Anecdotes of the Days of the Anti-Japanese Struggle

  

During the days of the arduous anti-Japanese armed struggle in the first half of last century when Korea was under the military occupation of Japan (1905-1945), President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) always shared weal and woe with the people without expecting any special favour or privilege for himself.

 

Commander Is also a Son of the People

One day in early April, 1933, the guerilla unit led by Kim Il Sung was having a rest in front of a farmer’s house in the vicinity of Liangshuiquanzi on the shore of the Tuman River. 

There was a wounded soldier in the unit. The guerrillas wanted to bring him into a warm room and knocked at the door of the house. But there was no answer.

Kim Il Sung covered the wounded soldier with his overcoat and took an axe to chop firewood.

Following him, some soldiers swept the yard and others hurried to make fire to prepare a meal.

Having never seen the guerrillas before, the host of the house and his wife had taken the guerrillas for Japanese soldiers and hid themselves inside the house. But after seeing what the guerrillas were doing, they ran out of the house.

Kim Il Sung courteously said hello to the old man, offered him a cigarette and asked about the living conditions of his family. 

He asked why they, apparently old-time farmers, were not raising chickens and could not buy fur caps for their children.

The man answered that it was because they were ill-starred.

Kim Il Sung explained that it was all because of the inhuman exploitation and plunder by the Japanese imperialists and landlords that the Koreans and Chinese were living in poverty like his family, and that the only way to be well off was to fight against the Japanese imperialists. 

Before leaving the house, Kim Il Sung gave some money to the old man.

It was only at that time when the old man came to know that he was General Kim Il Sung. He was surprised that the commander had chopped firewood himself. 

With a smile on his face Kim Il Sung said: The commander is also a son of the people; why should I not do what others do?

 

Price of Potato Paid

In the second half of April 1933, the food situation in the Wangqing guerrilla zone was very difficult.

Two guerrillas who had been dispatched on a mission to obtain food had to come back with empty hands for the enemy’s control was strict. After thinking much, they went to a harvested potato field. While digging the frozen earth hoping to collect remaining potatoes, they happened to find a potato cellar. 

They could not find the owner of the cellar, so they came back to the guerrilla zone each carrying a sack of potatoes.

On learning this, Kim Il Sung called the soldiers to him, and said: There is a strict rule in the guerrilla army which should never be violated in any circumstances however harsh they might be; it is the revolutionary discipline with regard to the masses of the people; how can we be called an army for the people and revolution if we lay hand on the people’s property on the excuse that our food situation is difficult; when we founded the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army, we named it so in the sense that we should not forget the people even a moment, and put forward the revolutionary slogan “As fish cannot live without water, so the guerrillas cannot live without the people”; we should never put our hands on the property of the people even though we should die of hunger and cold; this is the strict rule of the guerrilla army which is made up of the sons and daughters of the people and fights for the interests of the people.

As they were remorseful for what they had done, Kim Il Sung told them to find the owner of the potato cellar, apologize to him and generously pay him for the potatoes.

It took them a long time to find the owner. They apologized to him and offered him a liberal amount of money for the potatoes even though he declined.

 

Price of an Axe Paid

It happened when the anti-Japanese guerrilla army was staying for several days in a village called Liangshuiquanzi on the shore of the Tuman River. 

Kim Il Sung stayed in the house of an old Chinese man. Every morning he would wake up earlier than the host and hostess, clean the house inside and outside, go to the Tuman and bring water from the hole he made on the frozen river.

One early morning he went to the river to fetch water. It was a very cold day and the water hole was frozen hard. When he had nearly finished making a hole in the ice, the head of the axe slipped from the handle and fell into the hole.

 He raked about for hours with a long pole with hooked prongs on its end, but it was in vain because the river was so deep. Though it had happened while he was doing the host a favour, he did not give up his search.

His soldiers told him that it would do if they paid the host for the axe.

Kim Il Sung said to them that no amount of money would be able to make up for the host’s loss of his cherished tool. He continued to search for the axe, but he could not find it.

Having nothing else to do, he generously paid the host for the axe and apologized to him again.

In May 1959, he asked a group of visitors to the battlefields of the anti-Japanese armed struggle in northeast China to find the whereabouts of the old man and apologize once again in his place.

August 25 and the Meaning of the Day for the DPRK

 

 

August 25, 1960 is the day when Chairman Kim Jong Il (1942-2011) commenced his leadership over the revolutionary armed forces of his country, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The DPRK celebrates this day as a meaningful one.

 By leading the Korean People’s Army for several decades since then,     Kim Jong Il safeguarded the security of the country and regional peace and turned the DPRK into a world-class military power.

One of the important meanings of August 25 is that the day was a watershed in the effort to make the KPA an army loyal to the Workers’ Party of Korea and the leader. As is acknowledged by many military experts of the world, the spirits unique to the KPA including the thoroughgoing spirit of defending the country and the spirit of devotedly serving the people were formed and consolidated under the leadership of the WPK and Chairman Kim Jong Il.

When he inspected Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105^th Tank Division of the KPA on August 25, 1960, he attached the greatest importance to making the KPA an army absolutely faithful to the leadership of the WPK.

After his inspection of the tank division, he directed special attention to consolidating the WPK organs and other political bodies in the KPA and intensifying the ideological education of the service personnel. In the course of this the WPK’s command system, Kim Jong Il’s command system, was thoroughly established in the KPA.

Since the mid-1990s when the imperialists’ aggressive manoeuvres grew ever more undisguised and the country’s economic situation was difficult, Chairman Kim Jong Il firmly safeguarded socialism by placing the KPA in the vanguard. He continually visited KPA units, leading the service personnel to reliably defend the foremost posts of the country, and on the other hand, he dispatched them to major sites of economic construction so as to ensure that the KPA played a great role in laying a firm foundation for building the country into a socialist power.

Another meaning of August 25 is that the day made it possible to remarkably consolidate the fighting efficiency of the KPA and the nation’s defence capability, to creditably defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country.

Kim Jong Il energetically led the work for strengthening the fighting efficiency of the KPA with extraordinary strategic wisdom and outstanding art of command.

The DPRK always emerged victorious whenever the US made provocative manoeuvres including the incident of Pueblo, a US armed spy ship, and the incident of EC-121, a US large espionage plane, in the 1960s. The country owed these victories to his wise leadership.

There is another example.

In 1983 the US conducted the Team Spirit 83 joint military exercise which was planned to be climaxed with the landing of air-borne troops on an imaginary point in north Korea and gave wide publicity to the landing drill. Later the US, to its utter surprise, came to know that their dropping point was identical with the point Kim Jong Il had selected for the KPA to conduct an anti-air-borne troops drill.

Kim Jong Il directed great efforts to developing the national defence industry and thereby provided a guarantee that the KPA can win victory in confrontation with any enemy. With a noble sense of duty to defend the destiny of the country and people to the end, he channelled primary efforts into developing the national defence industry even in the period when the imperialists’ manoeuvres to isolate and stifle the DPRK went to extreme. Under his leadership the national defence industry of the DPRK developed into a modern and self-sufficient industry which can make necessary military equipment by its own efforts. In addition, the DPRK became a nuclear power. This ensured the strategic balance in the region and consolidated peace and security of the Korean peninsula.

In those days the US media organs commented that if a war broke out, over 70 percent of the population of south Korea would be killed and the total amount of loss would be worth 21 020 440 million dollars. The world media unanimously voiced that the formidable war deterrent of the DPRK improved the situation and safeguarded peace on the Korean peninsula.

 

 

Brilliant Victory Gained by Great People of DPRK National Meeting of Reviewing Emergency Anti-epidemic Work Held

  

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Makes Important Speech at Meeting

Pyongyang, August 11 (KCNA) -- All the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are dynamically opening up a new phase of the comprehensive development of socialism and the building of the state anti-epidemic capability full of confidence and optimism about sure victory, successfully securing the favorable situation in the war against the malignant pandemic disease under the leadership of the great Party Central Committee.

In the course of putting an end to the severest pandemic-brought health crisis ever after the foundation of the country, the leadership and fighting efficiency of the Party and justice and scientific accuracy of the state anti-epidemic policy have been more clearly proved, the politico-ideological superiority of the Korean-style socialist system and the organizing ability and the might of unity peculiar to it fully displayed, and the people's trust in the Party Central Committee and their revolutionary faith and fighting will further deepened.

A national meeting of reviewing the emergency anti-epidemic work, convened by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the Cabinet of the DPRK, took place in the capital city of Pyongyang on Wednesday.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the WPK and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, guided the meeting.

When the respected General Secretary appeared at the platform of the venue of the meeting, all the participants broke into enthusiastic cheers for him, peerless leader, who has vigorously led the Party, state and people to the final victory of the great anti-epidemic war with his tireless and devoted efforts and noble love for the future, out of his heavy duty for taking care of the destiny of the country and the people.

Attending the meeting were Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., WPK, and Ri Il Hwan, Pak Thae Song, Kim Yo Jong, Ri Chang Dae, Pak Su Il, Kim Yong Hwan and other senior officials of the Party and the government, officials in the anti-epidemic and public health sectors, the Party representatives and members of the Party guidance teams dispatched to border areas, commanding officers of the army units performing the blockade duty, members of the emergency anti-epidemic commands at all levels, the volunteers who contributed to the emergency anti-epidemic work, and officials of the relevant departments of the Party Central Committee.

Ri Yong Gil and officials in the emergency anti-epidemic sector of the Ministry of National Defence were present at the meeting.

The national anthem of the DPRK was solemnly played.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made an important speech at the historic meeting that declares victory in the maximum emergency anti- epidemic campaign.

After making a general analysis of the anti-epidemic situation that has been encountered since the activation of the maximum emergency anti- epidemic system, he, on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the government of the DPRK, solemnly declared the victory in the maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign for exterminating the novel coronavirus that had made inroads into our territory and protecting the lives and health of the people. He also offered warm congratulations and greetings of thanks to the people and the service personnel of the People's Army across the country who successfully concluded the great anti-epidemic campaign.

Affirming that the priceless victory gained by us constitutes the victory of our Party's anti-epidemic policy, the victory of our state's counter-crisis strategy, the victory of the tenacity and the single-minded unity peculiar to our people and the great victory brought by the advantageous Korean-style socialist system, he highly praised the workers in the anti-epidemic and public health sectors across the country and army medics for having dedicated all their strength, wisdom and sincerity to the hard and active work for bringing earlier the victory in the maximum emergency anti- epidemic campaign for protecting the security of the state and the people's wellbeing from the grave health crisis.

Analyzing and reviewing the invaluable successes, experience and lessons gained and drawn in the efforts for ceaselessly carrying out this year's plans in agricultural, constructional and key industrial sectors and for maintaining smooth progress in the overall state work under the emergency crisis situation, he clarified the principles and important tasks to be fulfilled in further consolidating the victory in the maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign, maintaining the steel-strong anti-epidemic barrier and intensifying the anti-epidemic work until the end of the global health crisis.

Calling on the participants to creditably guarantee the security of the state and the people and dynamically accelerate the great historic cause for the comprehensive development of Korean-style socialism with firm conviction and optimism in our struggle and future, he wished all the most esteemed and beloved people good health and all the families across the country wellbeing.

When the General Secretary of the WPK concluded his speech, all the participants raised thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!" repeatedly, recollecting in tears the great exploits and devoted service for the people he has made to bring about a shining victory to be etched in history, steering the great and acute anti-epidemic war in the van with his death-defying will for the people's happiness and wellbeing.

The meeting heard a report made by Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet.

Then, Ri Chung Gil, department director of the C.C., WPK who is commander of the state emergency anti-epidemic headquarters, Kim Yong Hwan, chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK who is commander of the Pyongyang City emergency anti-epidemic division, Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence who is deputy commander of the emergency anti-epidemic division of the Ministry of National Defence, Ri Song Hak, vice-premier of the Cabinet, and Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, took the floor.

Saying with pride that our country had prevented the inroads of the malignant virus for two years and three months to hit a new record in the history of the anti-epidemic work despite the global health crisis and that it restored the complete stability in the anti-epidemic work in a short period, the reporter and speakers stressed this is a miracle unprecedented in the world's public health history.

They recalled that the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee led by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, in its capacity as the de facto general headquarters for the anti-epidemic work, had led the anti-epidemic war to a great victory by focusing all the manpower, materials and sci-tech forces of the country on the anti-epidemic work after turning it into a sacred war for protection of the people just since the outbreak of the most serious emergency in which the malignant virus made inroads into the country.

Noting that the remarkable success in the great anti-epidemic war is the brilliant victory of the Party Central Committee's outstanding and seasoned guiding ability and of the people remaining faithful to the Party's idea and leadership, they extended warmest thanks in reflection of all the people's unanimous desire to the General Secretary who has reliably defended the security of the country and the people's wellbeing in the unprecedented health crisis.

They expressed their resolutions to demonstrate the dignity and might of our state to the full by thoroughly carrying into practice the new orientation of the anti-epidemic policy and tasks set forth by the Party Central Committee and putting spurs to the struggle for the comprehensive development of Korean-style socialist construction, keeping in mind the unshakable faith that only victory and glory are always in store on the road of following the General Secretary.

The national meeting of reviewing the emergency anti-epidemic work, held under the guidance of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, served as a grand gathering of the victors who demonstrated once again the power and spirit of heroic Korea vigorously advancing toward the bright future of Korean-style socialism in the face of any tempests of history, closely rallied in one mind around the great Party Central Committee, and as an important occasion for opening up a new development stage in building up the state anti-epidemic capability.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Meets Officials and Scientists in Anti-epidemic and Public Health Sector

 

Pyongyang, August 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on August 10 met and congratulated exemplary officials and scientists in the anti-epidemic and public health sector who contributed to winning victory in the maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign.

The participants could hardly repress their surging emotion resulting from the great happiness that they came to meet at the venue of the glorious meeting with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who reliably protected the wellbeing of the country and the people and demonstrated before the world the indomitable stamina of socialist Korea by bringing about a miraculous victory to be specially recorded in the world health history with his far-sighted wisdom and tirelessly energetic leadership.

Kim Jong Un gave pep-talks to those officials and scientists, who made a special contribution to the combat against the malignant epidemic during the maximum emergency anti-epidemic system, true to the popular and scientific anti-epidemic and health policies of the Party and the government, warmly taking hands of them one by one.

He said with high appreciation that the workers in the anti-epidemic and public health sector are the genuine patriots in our era, little different from the brave frontline fighters who devotedly defended the security of the country and the people at cost of their blood during the Fatherland Liberation War, as they have exerted all their energy, wisdom and sincerity on the struggle for protecting the lives of the people entrusted by the Party and the state.

Noting that they had played the biggest role in successfully defusing the serious epidemic spread crisis in the country and restoring the stable anti- epidemic situation, he said that the Party Central Committee holds the loyalty to the Party and the revolution, the devotion to the people and the responsibility for duty displayed by the red anti-epidemic and health workers of the Party more valuable than anything.

Saying that the Party's expectation for the workers and scientists in the anti-epidemic and public health sector, the defenders of our social system which is the best in the world and the reliable protectors of the people's lives, is very high, he stressed the need for them to enhance their responsibility and role in the work for ensuring that our people lead a long life in good health under the substantial benefits and protection by the best public health and anti-epidemic systems.

Expressing his belief that all the participants would meet the demands of the times and the revolution and make a positive contribution to the advance and development of the country by registering bigger successes in the anti-epidemic campaign while further consolidating the already-achieved victory with their invariable loyalty and spirit of devoted service to the people, he had a meaningful photo session with them.

Presenting their deep gratitude to him who personally brought about a great victory, being active as the commander-in-chief of the anti-epidemic war but bestows all honors on them, the participants pledged to work hard as befits a genuine communist who thoroughly embodies the advantages of our Party's policy and our social system in the anti-epidemic and public health practice, regarding the great trust of the Party Central Committee as the most valuable asset for life.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Participants in National Meeting for Reviewing Emergency Anti-Epidemic Work

 

Pyongyang, August 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), had a photo session with the participants in the national meeting for reviewing the emergency anti- epidemic work on Wednesday.

Attending the photo session were Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, and Ri Chung Gil and Choe Kyong Chol.

The participants were filled with great excitement and joy of having a significant photo taken with the respected General Secretary

Kim Jong Un at the supreme temple of Juche, which would be kept as the honor all their lives, on the historic day that witnessed the declaration of a great victory in the maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign for tiding over the grave health crisis by dint of the tremendous might of the single- minded unity of all the civilians and service personnel closely rallied around the great Party Central Committee.

When the General Secretary arrived at the venue of the photo session, all the participants raised thunderous cheers of "Hurrah!"

Looking up to the General Secretary with tears of great excitement in their eyes, all the participants paid the highest tribute to him, recollecting the painstaking efforts he made to firmly defend the dignity and security of our state and people, continuing his great journey of devoted service at the forefront for protecting the people out of his noble sense of duty and intense love for the country and the people, and with his great foresight, iron will, extraordinary decision and outstanding guidance.

The General Secretary extended his warm militant salute to the participants who have put the idea and determination of the Party Central Committee into thorough practice in the van of the all-people anti-epidemic front, upholding the Party line and policies as absolute truth and heartily responding to them.

Saying that the victory gained by our people is a historic event that once again showed the world what the greatness of our state, the indomitable tenacity of our people and the beautiful national customs we are proud of are like, he stressed that the strength of the unity of the Party and the people in one idea and faith and the bonds of kinship serves as the invincible revolutionary asset of Juche Korea that no other country can ever have or imitate and as a powerful treasured sword for breaking through any unprecedented hardship.

Expressing expectations that all the participants would consolidate the might of the most advantageous Korean-style socialist system in every way by turning the priceless victory in the maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign into new source of energy for redoubled efforts to accelerate the bolstering of the state anti-epidemic capabilities, he had a photo taken with them.

All the participants renewed their firm will to dynamically accelerate the great historic cause of comprehensive development of socialism, more firmly defending the security of their precious country, life and hopeful future by dint of the indomitable spiritual strength and heroic mettle displayed to boldly overcome the worst-ever crisis under the guidance of the respected General Secretary.

Statement of Director General of Department of Press and Information of DPRK Foreign Ministry

 

Pyongyang, August 6 (KCNA) -- Jo Yong Sam, director general of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, released the following statement on Saturday:

As reported, Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives of the U.S., who had come under a volley of due criticism from China for destroying regional peace and stability by visiting Taiwan, stirred up the atmosphere of confrontation with the DPRK during her visit to south Korea.

She, with the south Korean authorities, talked about "strong and expanded deterrent" for coping with "threat from north Korea" and made her appearance even in the joint security area of Panmunjom, utterly betraying the vision of the hostile policy of the current U.S. administration towards the DPRK.

Lurking behind it is the sinister scheme of the U.S. to further escalate the already- tense situation in the Korean peninsula and the region by pushing the current ruling south Korean conservative forces into confrontation with the fellow countrymen in the north, and to use it as an excuse for justifying its anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK and reckless arms buildup.

The U.S. is just adding fuel to the fire.

Pelosi, the worst destroyer of international peace and stability, had incited the atmosphere of confrontation with Russia during her visit to Ukraine in April, and incurred the wrath of the Chinese people for her recent junket to Taiwan.

It would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went.

Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry Stresses that U.S. Attempt at Hindering Implementation of the Chinese Cause of Unification Is Doomed to Failure

 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave the following answer on August 3 to a question put by KCNA as regards the fact that the recent trip to Taiwan by the House Speaker of the U.S. is arousing serious concern of the international society.

Commenting on this matter, China expressed its stand several times to certainly take resolute and strong measures, saying the U.S. will be held entirely accountable for all the consequences.

The current situation clearly shows that the impudent interference of the U.S. in internal affairs of other countries and its intentional political and military provocations are, indeed, the root cause disturbing peace and security in the region.

Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and the issue of Taiwan belongs to the internal affairs of China.

It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state to take countermeasures against the moves of the outside forces openly interfering in its internal affairs and destroying its territorial integrity.

We vehemently denounce any external force’s interference in the issue of Taiwan, and fully support the Chinese government’s just stand to resolutely defend the sovereignty of the country and territorial integrity.

The U.S. will certainly suffer a setback in its attempt to hinder the growth and development of China as well as its accomplishment of the cause of unification.

Press Statement of DPRK Permanent Mission to UN

 Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- The Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations on Aug. 3 released the following press statement regarding the anti-DPRK confrontational clamor by the United States and some servile States Parties with unwarranted accusations against the DPRK at the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT):

A long time ago, the DPRK pulled out of the NPT through the legitimate procedure under the relevant article stipulated in the NPT. Accordingly, nobody has the right or justification to accuse the DPRK, a nuclear possessing state outside the NPT, of its exercise of the right to self-defense.

Today, the mastermind that undermines the foundation of the non-proliferation regime is none other than the United States which is hell-bent on nuclear threats and blackmail against sovereign states and even does not hesitate nuclear proliferation with a view to realizing its strategy of hegemony in flagrant infringement upon and violation of the treaty anchored on the main pillars of nuclear disarmament, non- proliferation and peaceful use of atomic power.

The United States itself would not deny the fact that it has transferred the technology of a nuclear-powered submarine to Australia and connived at and patronized Israel's possession of nuclear weapons.

It is the peak of busy blaming that the United States alleges somebody's "nuclear threats" given the fact that it is the kingpin of nuclear proliferation which has historically and systematically violated its obligations under the treaty one article after another and disrupted international peace and regional security.

In order to genuinely ensure international peace and security, it is imperative to put in the dock of an international court and bring to justice the United States hell- bent on high-handedness and arbitrary practice by wielding a nuclear club.

We will never tolerate any attempt by the U.S. and its servile forces to groundlessly accuse our State and encroach upon our sovereign rights and national interests. 

Liquidation of the Past Is the Only Way out

 

Against a backdrop of vigorous struggle for building a new world free from aggression and war, domination and subordination, African countries are now making progress in their efforts to eradicate the aftereffects of colonialism.

The Democratic Republic of Congo strove to retrieve the remains of Lumumba, the first Prime Minister, who was killed by the Belgian colonialists while waging a struggle for freedom and liberation of Africa. As a result, the DR Congo recently got the remains back from Belgium, and received an apology again for killing the prime minister.

Cameroon also conducted a campaign to retrieve the cultural assets which were plundered by Germany in the past colonial period 120 years ago. In the end, it is about to take back the sculpture “Ngonnso”, a historic relic.

Nigeria, Benin, Namibia, Tanzania and other countries in the region are making great successes in their efforts to receive apologies and compensation from the European colonialists for their past crimes.

These successes are the precious fruition of the struggle of African countries to eradicate the aftereffects of the past colonial domination and enslavement and to build a new independent and equal world.

The international society is now strongly demanding that former colonial suzerain states clearly liquidate their past and establish new state relations with other countries, where the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs are applied.

However, there is one state which defiantly refuses to apologize and compensate for its colonial rule and crimes against humanity, going against such a trend. It is none other than Japan.

Even a mere child knows about the immeasurable damage which the Japanese imperialists inflicted upon the people of Asian countries, clamoring for “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” in the last century.

In particular, Japan abducted 200,000 Korean women and turned them into sexual slaves of the Japanese army. It also schemed to efface the Korean nation itself from the history by eliminating Korean language, family names and given names, and obliterating Korean culture. These are the most heinous crimes against humanity committed by Japan.

Nearly 80 years have passed since the defeat of Japanese imperialism but the world’s criticism against Japan’s past crime is still growing stronger. The reason, in a word, lies in the immorality of the Japanese authority which is playing all kinds of tricks to deny its past history stained with aggression and plunder, far from apologizing and compensating for it.

Distortion of history, visit to Yasukuni Shrine and moves to become a military power perpetuated by the Japanese authorities even in the present century  are indicative of Japan’s brazenness to restore the militarist specters and carry on the policy of overseas invasion and obliteration of other nations.

Japan does not feel any guilt nor qualm about its last century’s crimes of massacring tens of millions of innocent civilians and plundering a large amount of assets in several Asian countries. But it is now trying to stage a highly hypocritical development conference in Africa, acting slyly as if it is interested in development of health service and civil sector of the developing countries.

However, crimes against humanity can never be forgiven in any part of the world and the unliquidated guilt-ridden history can never be hidden, though it is clad in silk.

Japan should sincerely reflect on and completely liquidate its past crime if it wants to coexist with other countries with an easy mind. This is the only way out.

Han Chol Gyu

Member of Korea-Africa

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Friendship Tower

 

Pyongyang, July 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the Friendship Tower on Thursday on the occasion of the great war victory day.

He was accompanied by Jo Yong Won, Pak Jong Chon, Ri Pyong Chol, Ri Il Hwan, Ri Yong Gil, Jong Kyong Thaek, Ri Thae Sop, Kim Song Nam, Ri Son Gwon and Choe Son Hui.

A wreath in the name of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was laid at the tower amid the playing of the wreath-laying music.

Also laid there were wreaths in the names of the WPK Central Committee and the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

Written on the ribbons of the wreaths were the letters "Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers will always be alive".

Kim Jong Un paid high tribute to the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) who unsparingly shed their valuable blood in the same trenches for repulsing the imperialist aggression for the sake of the common cause.

There was a march past of the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army.

Kim Jong Un went round the Friendship Tower together with cadres accompanied.

He stressed that the brilliant combat merits and feats of the CPV officers and men, obviously recorded in the history of the great victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, would be immortal and that the DPRK-China friendship, sealed in blood and further cemented in all sorts of trying ordeals of history, would be carried forward and developed generation after generation along with the dynamic advance of the socialist cause.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Lecturers Engaged in Administration of Revolutionary Relics Associated with Victorious War

 

Pyongyang, July 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and had a photo session with lecturers engaged in the administration of revolutionary relics associated with the victorious war who participated in the 8th National Conference of War Veterans at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum on July 28.

The lecturers were overcome with great emotion and delight of having a significant photo session with the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un, their long-cherished desire, at the grand seat for education in the victorious tradition conveying the Party's immortal exploits for war victory generation after generation.

When Kim Jong Un arrived at the central hall of the museum, all the participants shouted enthusiastic "Hurrah!", looking up to him who invited them to the grand festival of victors to celebrate the eternal V-day of the great country and bestowed warm love and trust to them again and again.

He extended warm greetings of encouragement to the lecturers who have sincerely performed their duties as the frontline soldiers and guardsmen in the field of ideological education with high pride of defending the sacred sites associated with the glorious and revolutionary exploits of President Kim Il Sung who won the brilliant victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.

Saying that the lecturers engaged in the administration of revolutionary relics associated with victorious war are the direct performers and cores who provide the masses with full understanding of the Party's leadership history for war victory, he called upon them to give popular, vivid, honest and impressive lectures with their high politico-theoretical level, skillful art of lecturing and exhaustive knowledge and thus to firmly prepare the people, service personnel, youth and students as resolute revolutionaries who devote themselves to the Party and the country like the first and second generations of the revolution.

Expressing conviction that the lecturers and officials engaged in the administration of revolutionary relics associated with victorious war who take an important share in glorifying the traditions of the great victory through generations would make bigger achievements in the preservation of revolutionary sites and education, not forgetting the Party's expectation for them even a moment, he had a significant photo session with them.

All the participants made a firm resolution to fulfill their responsibility and duty as powerful explainers and educators who deeply implant the heroic fighting spirit and traits of the great years in the minds of the people, service personnel and new generations as the eternal soul and weapon of struggle and advance, keeping his deep trust as the biggest asset of their life.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with War Veterans

 

Pyongyang, July 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met and had a photo session with the participants in the 8th National Conference of War Veterans who significantly commemorated the great V- Day before the Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War on July 28.

The venue of the photo session was overflowing with the boundless reverence for the respected General Secretary

Kim Jong Un who holds up the war veterans as the most heroic generation and model of the indomitable and great Korean people who laid the cornerstone of the DPRK remaining stable and unchanged despite the trials of history and repeatedly bestows warm benevolence on them so that they can gain in vigor despite their advanced years and continue to add luster to their lives with pride.

When Kim Jong Un arrived at the venue of the photo session, all the participants raised enthusiastic cheers for him, the peerlessly iron-willed commander and the ever-victorious banner who adds luster to the tradition of victory and the heroic spirit of July 27 that brought immortal glory and honor to our country century after century and who fully demonstrates to the world the dignity and mightiness of socialist Korea.

He again paid his deep respects to the participants in the Fatherland Liberation War who defied death to repel the gangster-like U.S. imperialists' aggression in the

 

hard-fought revolutionary war unprecedented in history through their bloody distinguished service and set a good example to be followed by the rising generations in defending the country and the revolution and fighting a sacred class war and are still now serving as the inexhaustible strength and mental mainstay of our Party and people that can never be substituted by anyone, though their hair turned grey.

Saying that everything dear to dignified socialist Korea is associated with the immortal feats of the defenders of the country in the 1950s, he stressed that the precious ideological and moral wealth of the generation who won the victory in the war serve as the blood and flesh of the descendants and as a nutrient for their true life and struggle and therein lies the source of invincibility of our country.

He had a meaningful photo session with the war veterans, affirming his firm will to turn the land of the country, defended and ardently loved by the generation of war victors at the cost of their lives, into a powerful and eternally prosperous socialist paradise where all the people enjoy a happy life.

At the end of the photo session, all the participants again broke into cheers of "Hurrah!"

He warmly grasped the hands of war veterans coming near to him with tears of emotion and extended warm greetings to them for a long time as a token of his wish for their longevity in good health.

 

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery

 

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on July 27, the 69th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.

He was greeted by Pak Jong Chon and Ri Pyong Chol, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence, Jong Kyong Thaek, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), Ri Thae Sop,  chief of the KPA General Staff, and other  commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence, commanders of the KPA services and military and political commanding officers of the KPA large combined units and combined units.

Kim Jong Un laid a flower before the cemetery.

Kim Jong Un paid his high tribute to the martyrs of the great years who brought about the July 27 miracle, recorded as the eternal tradition of victory for the country and the nation, in the raging flames of war with absolute loyalty to the Party and the leader, love for their own things and confidence in their strength and victory.

There took place a march-past of the KPA guard of honor.

Kim Jong Un looked round the cemetery with the attendants.

He said that the victory, won by the victorious wartime generation at the cost of their blood through the all-people resistance to defend the country in the middle of the 20th century called "the century of war", was a heroic myth unprecedented in the history of the Korean nation and the history of the world revolution and a historic event which laid the groundwork for valor and mightiness of the newborn DPRK, adding this serves as our state and people's best asset, solid root for invincibility, that cannot be bartered by anything.

Stressing the need to always remember and creditably carry forward the heroic spirit and fighting traits of the great revolutionary generation, who laid firm foundation for an independent power with their devoted sacrifice and undying feats, whenever the country grows stronger, he affirmed that our country will always emerge victorious along with the miraculous victory when the entire Party, all the people and the whole army fully arm themselves with the indomitable fighting spirit of the forerunners and thoroughly apply it.

Event Held with Splendor to Mark 69th Anniversary of Great War Victory Respected Comrade

 

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- Amid the vigorous advance to open up the broad avenue for socialist victory under the guidance of the ever-victorious Workers' Party of Korea, the civilians and servicepersons of the DPRK are significantly celebrating the 69th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War with the high pride of heroic Korea and the heroic people who have been glorified century after century.

A grand celebration event took place in front of the Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War in the capital city of Pyongyang when the whole country is overflowing with a firm faith and will of the people to succeed as blood vessel the fighting spirit and tradition of victory, the revolutionary legacy bequeathed by the heroic generation of war participants, and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche without fail on the occasion of the great war victory day that provided an eternal foundation for all victories in the development course of the glorious Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, attended the celebration event.

The grand seat for education in victory tradition, which imposingly stands as the main statue of victor representing the dignified picture of heroic Korea that pronounced for the first time in history the shameful destruction on the U.S., the chieftain of the world imperialism, was filled with delight and passion of all the participants who are to significantly commemorate the great war victory day as a grand festival of glory and succession with Kim Jong Un in attendance.

A ceremony of the commemorative event was held.

The central military band of the Ministry of National Defence made different formations to the tune of revolutionary military songs full of the fighting spirit and members of the honor guard of the Korean People's Army (KPA) showed dexterity with rifles.

Then paratroopers and combat flying corps demonstrated their skills.

A paratrooper dropped at an altitude of 1 200 meters, released a control parachute and threaded the nocturnal sky like a dazzling flower presenting to the defenders of the country in the great years of war victory.

The participants warmly applauded the paratrooper solemnly flying in the sky of July the sacred flag of the Republic, which the heroic soldiers, sung and unsung, defended with blood and handed down by sacrificing even their families, love, dreams, hope, youth and lives to bring about the victory of July 27.

Combat pilots of the KPA air force units, which were awarded the guard unit title with military merits for opening the way to a charge for southward advance earlier than other units during the Fatherland Liberation War, began demonstrating their aviation skills.

The participants raised cheers of admiration at the flying corps letting off fireworks of celebration and respect in the nocturnal sky on the war victory day while displaying such aerial combat flying movements as zero feet flight, vertical zooming and spiral climb blowing off shower of fire.

Light melodies, dynamic rhythms and seasoned dropping and flying skills colorfully decorated the prelude of the commemorative event, indicating that during 1 129 days of the Fatherland Liberation War the service personnel and civilians of the DPRK performed great feats unprecedented in the world war history, created the great war victory myth and crowned their proud nomenclature and national flag with the laurels of a full-fledged world power, under the guidance of the great leader, the peerlessly brilliant commander.

The respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju appeared at the event venue together with war veterans amid the playing of the welcome music.

All the participants burst into stormy cheers of "Hurrah!", looking up to Kim Jong Un, the symbol of all victories and glory of our Party and state, who has put Juche Korea up on the peak of the century despite the unprecedented hardships, making a great history of victory to be immortal for all ages of the nation.

Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju were presented with bunches of fragrant flowers by members of the Children's Union.

Kim Jong Un warmly waved back to the enthusiastically cheering participants, extending warm greetings to the war veterans across the country and all other people on the war victory day.

Invited to the event were participants in the Fatherland Liberation War including Choe Yong Rim, Thae Jong Su, Ri Myong Su, An Sim, Kim Kyong Ok, Kim Si Hak and Ri Kil Song.

Attending it were cadres of the Party and the government together with lecturers in the field of revolutionary history of war victory, students of revolutionary schools, university students, officials of ministries and national institutions and Pyongyangites.

Also present were senior officials of the Ministry of National Defence, commanders of the services, military and political commanding officers of large combined units and combined units and other officers and men of the KPA.

There was a ceremony of hoisting the national flag.

Members of the KPA honor guard solemnly entered the venue to the tune of the song "Our National Flag", upholding the DPRK flag.

Amid the solemn playing of the DPRK national anthem, the sacred national flag was gradually hoisted up to the nocturnal sky of the war victory day.

Kim Jong Un made a significant speech commemorating the war victory day.

His speech greatly stirred up the hearts of all the participants as it was pulsating with warm love, respect and noble moral obligation toward the great revolutionary generation who honorably defended the glorious fatherland and provided an mental and moral asset making our revolution always emerge victorious through generations to come and with the solemn declaration of the will to display forever the most dignified and independent powerful country of the people, provided at the sacrifice of forerunners, to the whole world.

When he concluded the speech, thunderous cheers of the generation of war victors and their descendants rocked the sky and the earth again.

The event venue was overflowing with conviction that the future of socialist Korea will be eternally bright and rosy as it is led by Kim Jong Un, who has wisely guided the work to give steady continuity to the Republic's history of war victory as the ever-victorious history, implanting in the minds of our people and servicepersons the spirit of the 1950s as golden letters.

Amid the enthusiastic cheers, the display of spectacular fireworks started.

Fireworks were gorgeously displayed in the sky over the immortal statue of victory and group of sculptures of the heroic fighters like congratulatory bouquets to the generation of war victors who created a new history of building a prosperous country by creditably inheriting the tradition of the anti-Japanese war.

Fireworks continued to be set off amid the playing of songs in praise of war victory associated with the ardent desire and will to bring earlier a fresh victory of Korean-style socialism true to the noble soul of forerunners, more deeply implanting the immutable truth that all victory and glory are in store on the road of faith advancing unyieldingly by dint of great ideology and unity.

The fireworks depicting the flag of the Republic and the Hero Medal and letters "Long live July 27, the day of great war victory" were also displayed in the sky, reflecting the high tribute the motherland and the descendants pay to the heroic soldiers in the war.

A unique performance began to commemorate the great V-Day.

Put on the stage were wartime songs and pieces of popular music echoed as songs of struggle and faith in the annals of victory.

Singing "Song of National Defence", the first wartime song loudly sung as a song of all-people volunteering to the front and as a song of advance for annihilating the enemy from the beginning of the war, and other songs of death-defying resistance created in the flames of the war, the performers highly praised the legendary feats of the defenders of the country who repelled the U.S. imperialists' armed invasion and won the victory unprecedented in history, united as one in mind and purpose around President Kim Il Sung.

When the sacred image and recorded rotund voice of Kim   Il Sung making a historic radio speech to arouse the whole country to the sacred war for defence of the country and announcing the victory of the Korean people at the military parade venue celebrating the war victory were shown and played, the audience broke into stormy applause as a token of their boundless reverence for him, the peerlessly brilliant commander who worked military miracle of the 20th century at the forefront of anti-U.S. showdown with his distinguished military idea and theory, superb strategy and tactics, bold pluck and ardent love and trust.

The stage was full of respects to the war victors who saved the destiny and future of the country by smashing an A-bomb with a rifle and handed down the great fame and honor of being heroic Korea and heroic people to the coming generation. Put on it in succession were "For My Only Motherland" and other songs telling the noble spirit and soul of the generation of war victors?

Amid the playing of the song "My Life" recalling the worthwhile memoirs and pride of the great history of war victory, the stage electric display showed the images of anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters and veterans of the DPRK armed forces organs who performed immortal feats on the sacred road for strengthening the revolutionary armed forces.

The performance reached its climax with the narrative poem "Warriors' Soul" reflecting the respects to the generation of war victors who turned the war, the worst disaster, into the most sacred glory called war victory.

The audience was deeply moved by the narrative poem reflecting the solemn pledge of the successors to steadily write a history of war victory in the new century, a heroic epic of the indomitable victor nation, at the cost of their blood and sweat to be proud of in the world, with the absolute faith that victory always belongs to our people and the DPRK as long as they inherit the great heroic spirit of the defenders of the country in the 1950s.

They enthusiastically applauded the programs full of the will to reliably carry forward our idea and social system and valuable tradition of victory, defended by the first defenders of the Republic at the cost of their blood, through generations and develop the sacred motherland into the most powerful and eternally thriving country in history.

The performers also sang "Song of Combating Chinese People's Volunteers" dealing with the military merits of the excellent sons and daughters of the Chinese people who fought, shoulder to shoulder with the Korean people, in the same trench of the war against the imperialists' aggression.

The performance redoubled the people's readiness to always remain strong and emerge victorious, holding higher the banner of self-sustenance and self-development under the leadership of Kim Jong Un for a wealthy country with powerful army, preciously pictured by the first and second generations of our revolution in the flames of the war, and for the absolute prestige of socialist Korea which no formidable enemy in the world dare provoke. It ended with "Tell, Fireworks of War Victory" and "July 27, Our Victory Day", songs in praise of the war victory created in the era of the Workers' Party.

Again jubilant fireworks were set off to decorate the nocturnal sky of the holiday beautifully.

Kim Jong Un warmly took the hands of war veterans following him step by step, expressing the conviction that the victory traditions and fighting traits of the great years would become a good nutrient for training our people and younger generation into indomitable patriotic fighters and an inexhaustible source giving steady birth to new victories and miracles.

The commemorative event, which adorned the 69th anniversary of the great war victory with glee, was a significant occasion that demonstrated the steadfast faith and will of all the people and service personnel across the country to more proudly display under the guidance of the great Party Central Committee the country as a thriving power of Juche to be admired by the world, with the invincible truth implanted by the July 27 miracle, the great victory of the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. struggle which will remain forever in the history of the country, as a powerful driving force of the revolution.