51 Years of Songun-based Revolutionary Leadership

Over 51 years have passed since leader Kim Jong Il visited Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division on August 25, 1960 together with President Kim Il Sung, and thus began his Songun revolutionary leadership.

Nobody knew then why he started his leadership calling at an army unit, not a factory or a farm.

It was on June 23, 1964, a few days after he started his work at the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Talking to an anti-Japanese revolutionary veteran working at the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, he said: I will in the future pay a great effort to strengthen the People’s Army as well as the Party. Without strengthening the People’s Army we cannot strengthen the Party, maintain the government and safeguard the security of the country and the people.

The veteran looked up at him with wonder and admiration.

Kim Jong Il went on to say: I spent my childhood in the anti-Japanese battlefield hearing gun report as a lullaby. That must be the reason why I like gun so much and want to spare nothing for the People’s Army.

He said that the gun was his first comrade and an eternal pillar in his mind.

Those were the remarks that could only be made by a great son of the guerrilla army with firm conviction and will.

With his steadfast resolve Kim Jong Il energetically pushed ahead with the cause of the leader-centered party and army building early from the 1960s.

On December 24, 1996, marking the fifth anniversary of his appointment as Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, Kim Jong Il talked to the KPA commanding officers.

He said it was his rock-firm decision to tide over severe trials by depending on the People’s Army as the pillar of revolution.

He told them that they must understand why he gives priority to the People’s Army and that he leads the revolution and construction on the principle of placing the army ahead of the working class.

The concept of carrying on revolutionary struggle and construction with the working class as their core and main force had so far been considered to be an inviolable formula of revolution for socialism.

Kim Jong Il, however, enforcing the Songun politics, defined the People’s Army, not the working class, as the main force of revolution.

In safeguarding socialism to the end it is a very serious problem to define its pillar correctly, he noted, and stressed the need to strengthen the People’s Army, the defender of our socialism centered on the people.

A house can be safe only when its pillar is strong.

Today Songun Korea demonstrates its might and dignity to the full with the KPA serving as a pillar of revolution under the energetic guidance of Kim Jong Il, brilliant commander of Songun politics.

Having keenly felt already five decades ago that the future of a nation lies in Songun and the welfare of people and the prosperity of a country also lie in Songun, Kim Jong Il started his Songun revolutionary leadership with his visit to an army unit and today leads the building of a thriving nation by relying on the revolutionary soldier spirit.

The 51 years of leader Kim Jong Il’s Songun revolutionary leadership are decorated with victory and glory to safeguard the safety of the nation and open the road of prosperity by strengthening the KPA.

President Kim Il Sung's Maxim

President Kim Il Sung in his reminiscences "With the Century" wrote, "Revolutionaries, believe in the people and rely on them at all times and you shall always emerge victorious; if you are forsaken by them, you will always fail. Let this be your maxim in your life and struggle".

With this maxim, the President successfully waged two decades of the anti-Japanese struggle for national liberation.

In the second half of the 1920s, Korean communists and nationalists were indulged in scramble for hegemony and empty talk, not devoting themselves to the struggle for the country's liberation.

Under the situation, the President keenly felt that the working people awakened in a revolutionary way can display great strength and make revolution by themselves under any unfavorable and difficult conditions and that those relying on the people in revolution find nothing impossible.

With the idea that as fish cannot live without water, so guerrillas cannot live without the people, he made the anti-Japanese guerilla army truly serve the people.

He always regarded it as a life-or-death issue of the army to love the people and enjoy their support.

Under his great leadership the Korean People's Revolutionary Army successfully accomplished the historic cause of national liberation, based on close relations with the people.

Three Charters for National Reunification Memorial Tower

Ten years have passed since the Three Charters for National Reunification Memorial Tower was erected in Pyongyang.

The memorial tower was unveiled on August 14, Juche 90(2001), a day before the 56^th anniversary of the country’s liberation from the Japanese colonial rule.

Thenceforth, more than 900 000 people have visited the tower.

Some 15 500 of them are overseas Koreans and foreigners belonging to nearly 3 000 groups.

The arch-style memorial tower covers over 100 000 square meters, with its platform embossed with group sculptures.

The tower is 30 meters high find 61.5 meters wide, symbolizing the three charters for national reunification and the June 15 joint declaration.

The tower portrays two women in Korean dress holding up the emblem of the three charters.

The tower’s weight, 7 000 tonnes, mirrors the strong will of the 70 million Koreans to pool efforts and reunify the country.

Standing near the tower is a monument containing President Kim Il Sung’s proposition.

On display there are some 820 stone pieces presented by state and party leaders and prominent figures of other countries, and south and overseas Koreans.

When the tower was unveiled, the stone pieces numbered 740.

Many pro-reunification events, including a grand festival for national reunification in 2001, took place there.