KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 51 the 60Th Anniversary of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Order and Its Miniature Decoration

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 51 The 60th Anniversary of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Order and Its Miniature Decoration

With a view to carrying forward the history and tradition of victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and the following 60-year-long anti-imperialist, anti-US confrontation for ever and giving greater importance to celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the victorious war, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea decided April 24, 2013 on instituting the 60th Anniversary of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Order.

52 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 KOREA TODAY Monthly Journal (685) Printed in English, Russian and Chinese

C O N T E N T S

Anecdotes of Foreign Visits ································································································· 3

Kim Il Sung Is the Eternal Sun of Mankind (4) ···································································· 4

His Greatest Concern ········································································································· 6

Unexpected Result of War ··································································································· 7

“Let Us Defend Every Inch of Our Motherland at the Cost of Our Blood” ···································15

In the Same Trench ···········································································································18

Confessions of the Defeated ································································································20

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 1 Notable Notes

DPRK Heroes Produced 20 Days After the Start of the War ···········8

A Special Task ······································································13

To Make a Breach ································································15

Chronicles of the Feudal Joson Dynasty Rescued ·······················16

For the Sake of the People ·····················································18

Height 332.2 Defended by Two Soldiers ···································22

Front Cover: The Kumsusan On Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Foundation ·································23 Palace of the Sun is the home of President Kim Il Sung and On the Journey of Songun Leadership ········································25 Chairman Kim Jong Il for New Strategic Line ··································································26 their eternal life. Silk Thread and Women ···························································27 Photo by Ra Phyong Ryol Towards a Higher Goal ·····························································28 Developers of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine ································29

Scientists Live in Soldier Spirit ··················································30 Pyongyang Jang Chol Gu University of Commerce ·······················31

Vitality-giving Regeneration Medicine ·······································32 Starting Line ··········································································33 Tǒk-do Seabird Reserve ····························································34

By Their Own Efforts ······························································35 Note of Visit to the Central Zoo (2)··············································36 Koguryo’s Fort Unearthed and Ascertained··································38 Pagoda of Kumgang Temple (model) ···········································39 Korean Central History Museum (2) ···········································40

Back Cover: A view of the Pyongyang Undergoes Facelift ··················································42 park of the Kumsusan Palace Short Novel of the Sun Lifeline ···················································································44 Photo by Ra Ju Hyok The Motive Force of National Reunification Rests on the Koreans’ Efforts······························································46 ㄱ- 13502 38214 Malevolent Distortion of Criminal Sexual Slavery ························47

2 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Anecdotes of Foreign Visits

E WHO HAS A STAND OF SHARING LIFE Unusual toast H and death and joys and sorrows is a true comrade-in-arms and a genuine internationalist. While Kim Il Sung was on a formal goodwill This is the view President Kim Il Sung of the DPRK visit to the former Soviet Union at Stalin’s invita- kept towards internationalist obligation all his life. tion in early 1949, Stalin arranged a grand banquet For his noble view the President left many impres- in honour of the Korean leader. sive anecdotes on his way of foreign visits covering At first, Stalin made a toast. Speaking highly over 1 306 000 ris (one ri equals 0.4 km) during his of Kim Il Sung as an outstanding leader of world- 50-odd-year-long revolutionary career since Korea’s wide reputation and a great hero who had accom- liberation in August 1945. plished immortal feats in defending the Soviet revolution, he concluded his toast by saying, “Comrade Laudable act of internationalism Kim Il Sung is a genuine proletarian internationalist, a model in the communist movement, who de- In November 1945 units under the Liaoning fended the Soviet Union at the cost of blood and with Military District Command of the Northeast Democ- arms from the imperialists’ aggression in the East. It ratic Allied Forces of China were surrounded by is thanks to the struggle of genuine communists like Chiang Kai-shek’s forces in Dandong. Having got Comrade Kim Il Sung that the Soviet Union is into such a fix, Shao Hua, commander of the Military engaged in socialist construction in a peaceful at- District, asked General Kim Il Sung for help. At mosphere now. Availing myself of this significant that time there were going fierce battles in the sub- opportunity I propose to offer our wholehearted urbs of Dandong against the offensive of the Nation- thanks to Comrade Kim Il Sung with a big hand, alist forces, and nobody knew when there would be representing a unanimous desire of me and many air raids. comrades and friends.” However, Kim Il Sung went over to Dandong, All those present gave Kim Il Sung an enthusi- defying all the dangers. After acquainting himself astic applause. with the enemy’s movements at an operational con- This was unprecedented for Stalin. It was very ference of the Chinese command, he told the com- unusual and beyond imagination that Stalin who, manding officers that they should give up cities enjoying respect as veteran politician of the global while avoiding reckless conflicts with the enemy and revolution, had hardly revealed his emotion spoke establish bases in the countryside while dispersing highly of the Korean leader and extended his heart- and sapping the enemy forces as much as possible. felt thanks to him at such a big banquet with many And he put forward special operational and tactical foreign diplomats present. ideas including the task of conducting political work more intensively so that the soldiers and the people Story about Kimilsungia would be firmly confident in victory and fight valiantly against the enemy, carrying out guerrilla In April 1965 when President Kim Il Sung paid activities and large-unit mobile operations expan- a goodwill visit to Indonesia, the then Indonesian sively while defending the liberated area centred on President Sukarno guided him to the Bogoru Bo- Mt. Paektu, and weakening the enemy with unin- tanical Garden. terrupted battles of attrition. He went on to say Sukarno led him to an orchid and explained about encouragingly: “If you find yourselves in a tight the flower. Looking at the full-bloomed flower for a corner, you can enter Mt. Paektu. Korea will be your while, said that it was very beautiful. reliable background.” Kim Il Sung His proposals changed the atmosphere of the Sukarno said in satisfaction, “Your respected command from uneasiness and apprehension into Excellency Premier Kim Il Sung, please allow me to hope and confidence at once. call this new born species of orchid Kimilsungia. This That was why a commanding officer of the former is a unanimous desire of not only me and Indonesian Northeast Democratic Allied Forces wrote later, people but all the people around the world as well.” “Always remembering the devotion and sacrifice of Kim Il Sung, however, declined the request. the Korean comrades who had shared life and death, Sukarno said again earnestly, “You have already Chairman Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Zhou rendered enormous services to mankind. To name Enlai expressed their deep thanks to President this orchid after your august name is the desire of mankind. From now on we’ll call this flower Kim Il Sung for his full support and encouragement Kimilsungia.” for the Chinese revolution and said that the national An enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted, flag of China is permeated with the precious blood of demonstrating infinite respect and admiration. the Korean comrades. We can hardly forget the meaning of their remark.” Kim Son Hyok

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 3 Kim Il Sung Is the Eternal Sun of Mankind (4)

By Secretary General Ogami Kenichi of the International Institute of the Juche Idea

(Continued from the last is- President decorated with magno- sue) lia flowers. Song of General Kim Il Sung, instead of the fu- The cause of the sun neral music, was solemnly played shines brilliantly along the 40-odd-kilometre-long route lined by people who HE HISTORY OF THE bid their last farewell to the T sun lasts for ever. The cause President. Indeed, I saw again of President Kim Il Sung, the President Kim Il Sung beaming sun of mankind, was brilliantly as the sun of mankind. Witness- carried on by Chairman ing the new history of the cause Kim Jong Il, and is now being of immortalizing the President done by the leader Kim Jong Un. pioneered by Chairman I was convinced of the fact Kim Jong Il, I more keenly real- President Kim Il Sung held in through my past experience and ized that the President was in- esteem and reverence as a peer- my visits to Pyongyang in Decem- variably being held in respect as less great man by the world and ber 2011 and February 2012. the eternal sun of mankind Chairman Kim Jong Il of the On July 9, 1994 the world thanks to the Chairman. National Defence Commission public felt as if the sky had fallen Today the cause of the regarded as a supreme statesman and the land had sunk at the President and the Chairman is in our time, and his appearance shocking news of Kim Il Sung’s laudably being carried on by the reminds them of his predecessors, demise (July 8, 1994), the great- respected leader Kim Jong Un. which enables him to enjoy abso- est loss unprecedented in the His first presence on a public lute trust and enthusiastic cheers history of humankind and the occasion was in the world spot- from all the people. The world was greatest sorrow to the progressive light. I saw the following article not excited at his appearance peoples. But a miracle was on the Internet: “Vice-chairman alone. After the official announce- wrought: The people, who had of the WPK Central Military ment of his being the successor to been shedding bitter tears crying Commission of the north his predecessor, the north was for the President, rose up again Kim Jong Un became a world- more energized in such a way as withstanding their sorrow. Be- famous man as soon as he openly to do world-amazing things one cause Chairman Kim Jong Il showed up as successor to after another. In the short period pioneered a new history of the Kim Jong Il. CNN of the United of three months after the estab- cause of immortalizing a national States selected Kim Jong Un as lishment of the succession system leader. On the day of bidding the one of the Ten Persons of Primary in the north the world witnessed last farewell to Kim Il Sung I Concern of the world… for the first time his ability of saw the portrait of the beaming “Kim Jong Un takes after doing all things such as consoli- ►

4 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► dating the political system, build- is infinitely loyal to his predeces- told, said full of confidence in his ing up the national defence and sors, wisely guides the affairs of lifetime that he always felt opti- developing the economy while all sectors with outstanding po- mistic about the future of the dealing with the US as he litical and military abilities and Korean revolution and was filled pleased, and could predict the matchless courage and takes with confidence in victory of future of Kim Jong Un’s era.” boundless care of the army and the revolution as there was Kim Jong Un is identical to the people. The Korean people Kim Jong Un, and that the his predecessors, indeed. After would not forget the benevolent Juche revolutionary cause pio- receiving the sad news of measures he had taken for the neered on Mt. Paektu would be Chairman Kim Jong Il’s demise sake of them in the period of their brilliantly carried on by him. in December 2011 I arrived in mourning over the demise of the Today the Korean people are Pyongyang by air on the 27th of Chairman, though he was filled firmer in their will to build a that month and rushed to the with greatest sorrow. All the Ko- thriving socialist nation under the then Kumsusan Memorial Palace reans I met would say in a tearful wise leadership of Kim Jong Un without delay. As I stood before voice about the benevolence of while holding him in high esteem the bier of the Chairman my heart Kim Jong Un. as the supreme leader of the seemed to be rent, and tears I saw on TV the scenes of his Party and the revolution. The blurred my vision. I did not still inspecting the Seoul Ryu Kyong cause of the sun of mankind is recover from the sorrow of 1994, Su Guards 105th Tank Division on being creditably carried on by so I could hardly bear the pain by the New Year’s Day of 2012 and the leader, another great man of another loss. But when seeing having a photo session with sol- Korea. Kim Jong Un on the venue of the diers there arm in arm with them, funeral ceremony the following and visiting the Mangyongdae * * * day, I felt as if I had seen Revolutionary School on the lunar President Kim Il Sung and New Year’s Day of that year, wip- The sun is the symbol of eter- Chairman Kim Jong Il as young ing tears off the faces of the stu- nity. President Kim Il Sung, the generals, and I shouted inwardly dents weeping with joy and strok- sun of mankind, is always with that they were not dead but were ing their cheeks and looking humankind. The Juche idea always with us. The look of round the mess hall of the school, founded by the President will Kim Jong Un was just that of asking the students what dishes always illumine the way ahead of the President and the Chairman they liked best and tasting soy humankind to the last, the peo- in their youth. sauce on a table. The scenes ple-centred socialism of Korea When I revisited Pyongyang in showed the generosity of a great established by him will always February 2012 I learned that father, and were the historic ones shine as an ideal of humankind Kim Jong Un had already per- that announced to the whole and the lever of independence laid formed great exploits while as- world his invariable will to carry by him will move the earth sisting the Chairman in his on the cause of his predecessors to through all ages. Songun revolutionary leadership, the last. Kim Jong Un is really A disciple and soldier of the and enjoyed respect and trust identical to his predecessors in President, I will keep living as an from the Korean people. The peo- not only appearance but also ide- ardent supporter and propagator ple’s trust in and respect for him ology, leadership traits, and vir- of the Juche idea and striving for can be explained from different tues. the victory of the cause of global aspects. What I can say is that he Chairman Kim Jong Il, I was independence.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 5 His Greatest Concern

HE SECTOR OF LIGHT INDUSTRY IS working as Vice Prime Minister of the Administra- “T most associated with the guidance of the tion Council. Phoning me, the President said with leader (President Kim Il Sung).” This is anxiety that that morning he went out to the Tae- what Chairman Kim Jong Il said after examining dong riverside and saw children riding sleds or slid- designs and samples of clothes made in preparation ing on the ice, and suggested that the Administra- for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in tion Council should consider the issue of skate pro- 1988. The stories about the President’s guidance are duction and take a necessary measure. Later, still all tearfully moving. concerned about the matter, he gave instructions on As one of the first batch of graduates from production of skates on four occasions, the ones on Kim Il Sung University I was posted to the depart- increasing the annual production, selling them at ment of light industry of the State Planning low prices, supplying the necessary materials for Commission at the end of 1950, in the early days of the production and increasing the sorts of skates the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950–July and so on. 1953). While working as senior official in the sector Listening to his instructions I looked back upon of light industry for a long time since then, I experi- my childhood. I was born in a village on the Amnok enced the President’s concern for and devotion to riverside, and as a child I frequently slid on the ice. the improvement of the people’s living standards Once I hurt my head when I fell while sliding on the more keenly than anyone else. ice down a mound at a branch of the river. My One November day in 1971 after I was ap- mother then reproached me for playing like that as pointed as Minister of Textile Industry, I got a a girl. phone call from the President. He said in a sad Now, as a mother, I would also ask my children voice that in rural areas he had seen children in to ride a sleigh carefully whenever they fell riding a poor attire and earnestly instructed that lined sleigh and soiled their clothes, but never did I think suits and cotton-padded coats should be made and of providing them with a better thing for them to supplied to the children as it was getting cold. His ride. But the President concerned himself about the words made me feel guilty of failing to pay atten- matter of producing and supplying skates to all chil- tion to the matter, and I said, “I will make sure dren across the country. that all the rural children are supplied with double He was wont to call upon us officials to strive to suits and cotton-padded coats as you instructed.” make sure that our people live in good houses while Only then did he feel satisfied and ask me to do eating and wearing well. it without fail. And he said it would be advisable On July 6, 1994, in the last period of his life, the to put 300 grams and 170 to 180 grams of cotton President said that only when the vinalon produc- into such coats in cold and warm regions respec- tion was normalized would it be possible to imple- tively, and showed concern about the colour of the ment the Party’s light industry-first policy, and coats. taught in detail what to do to that end. True to his instructions all officials and workers It is nearly 20 years since he passed away. It is of textile mills, knitwear factories and garment fac- said that mountains and rivers change in ten years. tories turned out as one in the endeavour to make But our people’s reverence for him has never and supply smart school uniforms and cotton- changed. With the passage of time he will be always alive in the memory of our people. padded coats to all rural and other schoolchildren. Little children were provided with nice sweaters, Kim Pok Sin, and little girls with tights. . honorary councillor of It was one day in January 1989, when I was the Cabinet of the DPRK

6 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Unexpected Result of War

Raising cheers for a victorious battle.

IXTY YEARS HAVE Kim Il Sung, banner What the Koreans S already passed since the of victory are made of gunfire of war died down in the Korean peninsula. On July 27, Clark, the then commander June 25, 1950, was Sunday. 1953 the Korean people won vic- of the US Armed Forces in the The day dawned with the crack- tory in the three-year Fatherland Far East and concurrently the ing of enemy rifles and the roar of Liberation War against the US commander of the UN forces in enemy artillery all along the 38th imperialist aggressors. the Korean War, wrote in a parallel dividing Korea into north In the war between the only book as follows: It can be said and south. The US imperialists, two-year-old DPRK and the US that the north Korean army… who had long resorted to ceaseless that had grown wild and fat by achieved success… thanks to provocations while making prepa- way of over 110 wars of aggres- Kim Il Sung’s excellent rations for war, launched a sur- sion, the odds seemed too heavily prise attack to invade the DPRK. stacked against the Oriental command. Kim Il Sung… per- The marauding enemy were country. Hearing the media re- formed fine exploits as the making inroads deeper into the ports on the outbreak of the war commander of a guerrilla army north. The apprehension of all the in the peninsula, many people that put up armed resistance people there mounted as the around the world took it for against the Japanese army for granted when the US imperial- many years until Japan was de- front-line situation grew threat- ists bragged that they would feated in World War II … and the ening by the minute. finish the war within 72 hours. name of Kim Il Sung was held That morning Kim Il Sung They predicted that the outcome in honour among all Koreans and called a meeting of the Political of the war was a “foregone con- regarded as a symbol of patriotic Committee of the Workers’ Party clusion.” They did so not without acts … of Korea Central Committee and reason. Supreme Commander then an extraordinary meeting of On the contrary, the Korean Kim Il Sung of the Korean Peo- the Cabinet. After coming into the people defeated the Americans, ple’s Army (KPA) led the Father- conference hall and taking his who had been intimidating the land Liberation War to victory by seat on the platform, he looked world by means of the myth of dint of his matchless courage and around at the people present their “mightiness,” and defended grit, adroit strategy and tactics there, and said, “The Americans their country with honour. and warm care for the people. look down on us. As the saying ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 7 ► goes, wolves must be ruled over of the WPK and the DPRK was a led the work to strengthen the with a stick. Those who look down historic event that established the Party, the army and the people’s on us must be shown what the Korean people as a dignified peo- power so that all the people, Koreans are made of.” His words ple who could manage their des- firmly rallied around the Party, inspired the Cabinet members tiny by themselves and create a directed everything to the en- with confidence in victory. new life. The historic event in- deavour for victory in the war. He The next day Kim Il Sung spired each of the people with convened the 4th plenary meeting delivered a historic radio address, national pride in being a citizen of of the Party Central Committee titled Go All Out for Victory in the a full-fledged sovereign and inde- and a meeting of the Political War, in which he said, “The his- pendent state and the confidence Committee of the Party Central tory of mankind shows that a that they could overcome any Committee in which he taught in people that defies death and rises difficulties and hardships as long detail the ways and means to in the struggle for freedom and as they were led by Kim Il Sung. expand and strengthen the Party independence is always victori- Well aware of the condition ranks and the ties between the ous. Ours is a just struggle. Vic- Kim Il Sung firmly believed that Party and the masses. tory for our people is certain. I am they would be able to win the Under his wise guidance all confident that our just struggle fight against the US imperialists the people and army braved for the country and the people (who boasted of their being the through the ordeals of the war for will triumph.” “most powerful” in the world) if the one and the same purpose at His confidence in victory was they enlisted the inexhaustible the front and in the rear. based on his absolute trust in the strength of the Korean people and Busy as he was leading the Korean people. During the 20- demonstrate what the Koreans Fatherland Liberation War to year anti-Japanese revolutionary were like to the world, and victory Kim Il Sung pushed struggle and while leading the aroused the entire Party, army ahead with the preparations for building of a new country for five and people to the war of resis- postwar reconstruction. In Janu- years, he had regarded the idea of tance to repulse the US imperial- ary 1951, he gave city-planning “The people are my God” as his ist aggressors. He took measures officials the task of drawing up a motto of life and had always been to reorganize all the national master plan for rehabilitation of among the people. In the course of efforts on a war footing, and Pyongyang City, saying, “If the this he realized the truth that formed the Military Commission US imperialist aggressors destroy there is nothing impossible when of the DPRK, the supreme na- one, we must erect ten, a hundred addressing problems on the tional leadership vested with total or a thousand and build more strength of the popular masses’ state power to control and super- magnificent and modern cities, efforts and wisdom. vise all affairs at the front and in farm villages, factories and enter- And the Korean people, the rear and the supreme com- prises than the destroyed. We through their practical experi- mand of the Korean People’s thus must demonstrate the mettle ence, had come to firmly believe Army. of the Koreans in the postwar that there is only victory and Entrusted with the heavy reconstruction as well.” glory on the road of their advance responsibility of the supreme At a meeting of the Political under his guidance. The founding commander of the KPA, he wisely Committee of the Party Central ►

then Seoul 105th Tank Division DPRK Heroes Produced 20 Days who performed feats in liberating Seoul three days after the After the Start of the War start of the war, company leader Kim Pong Ho who supported KPA units’ successful advance N JUNE 30, 1950, THE by destroying enemy warships by conducting prompt recon- O Presidium of the DPRK by means of only four torpedo naissance activities, Kim Il Sop Supreme People’s Assembly speedboats, airmen Kim Ki Ok who put up a daring fight in a made public a decree on insti- and Ri Mun Sun who shot down rain of shells to help KPA tuting the title of DPRK Hero. and destroyed many enemy units cross the Han River, and Fifteen days later, on July 15, aircraft including two B-29s Ri Hun, Kim Hong Yop, Jong there was issued a decree on with matchless courage and by Hak Bong and Kim Jin Gol conferring the title upon 12 dint of their wonderful art of who wiped out enemy troops by KPA officers and noncommis- flight in their first battle skilfully commanding bold op- sioned officers. They included against the enemy nearly ten erations. All of them were ordi- Kim Kun Ok and Ri Wan Gun times greater in number, tank nary officers and noncommis- who made a contribution to the company leader Kim Tu Sop and sioned officers of the two-year- victorious battle off Jumunjin tank driver Jon Ki Ryon of the old KPA.

8 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Kim Il Sung, leader of the victorious Fatherland Liberation War.

The military parade (August 15, 1953) and the Pyongyang City Mass Rally (July 28, 1953) held in celebration of the victorious Fatherland Liberation War. KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 9

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 9 KPA soldiers fight valiant defence battles based in tunnels.

► Committee held in July 1953 agenda and the chairmanship soldier counted at the front, a the master plan for rehabilitation of the committee for rehabilita- measure was taken thanks to his of Pyongyang City was put on tion of the city was given to initiative to recall those soldiers Kim Il Sung. who had been at college before the At the time when even a single war from the front and send them ►

KPA artillery men pull direct-firing guns up to ridges and use them to deal a telling blow at the aggressors.

10 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Members of a storming party raid an enemy pillbox.

Members of an aircraft-hunting group shoot down aircraft of the US imperialists.

A KPA sniper.

A member of a tank- hunting group.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 11 Fighters of a KPA unit active at the Second Front behind the enemy line give a crushing blow to the enemy from behind.

► again to college. In December 1952 he founded the Academy of Sciences to conduct researches in a perspective view regarding urgent problems in wartime production and the postwar reconstruction. ►

A KPA cavalry unit enters Taejon City annihilating the enemy.

12 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► His outstanding foresight ral barriers of the Kum River and stroyed the 24th US Infantry Di- and extraordinary revolutionary Mt. Sobaek. They bragged that vision, captured its commander sweep became the main source of the defence line was an and completely liberated Taejon courage of all the people to fight “unbreakable line” which would by noon. with confidence in victory and “hold out for three years without The operation to liberate Tae- demonstrate the mettle of the question.” But when the line was jon which was organized and nation in the decisive war against broken, the 24th US Infantry Di- commanded by Kim Il Sung was the US imperialists. vision, which had boasted of its a model of modern siege warfare being “ever-victorious,” and pup- in which a large unit of the enemy We must fight by our pet army units built up strong was destroyed at a stroke by own methods of war defences in the area, and the First means of a combination of various US Cavalry Division was moved combat modes. During the Fatherland Lib- towards Taejon in haste. He made sure that the KPA eration War Kim Il Sung put In mid-July Kim Il Sung successfully frustrated the en- forward unique strategic lines went to the Front Command to emy’s “Thanksgiving Day offen- and methods of war and thus organize the operations to liberate sive,” “Home by Christmas offen- defeated the enemy's numerical Taejon. Chairing a meeting for sive,” “summer and autumn of- and technical superiority by the operations, he ordered that fensives,” and “new offensive” by means of strategic and tactical KPA units should strike intensive putting forward varieties of tac- superiority. blows at the enemy from the tics such as launching an imme- In the early days of the war north and northwest of Taejon diate and decisive counteroffen- the enemy bragged that they and the latter’s flank and that sive action against the enemy's would eat breakfast in Haeju, some of the units should quickly surprise attack, waging a con- lunch in Pyongyang and supper in go around the city to the south- tinuous striking action, establish- Sinuiju and that they would take east of Taejon and advance deep ing a second front behind the the whole of Korea at a dash by a into the rear of the enemy so as to enemy lines with regular armed “blitz.” Their wild dream, how- block the way of the enemy's re- units, conducting a great encir- ever, was shattered by the instant treat and the route by which their clement operation with the con- counterattack of the People’s reinforcements could come, thus certed efforts of the units both on Army. Then, in July 1950, Wash- completely encircling and annihi- the main front and the second ington took the Korean question lating the enemy in the area. front, combining large-unit bat- to the UN Security Council and In response to his order, KPA tles with small-unit ones, combin- had a “resolution” adopted on soldiers marched over 40 kilome- ing regular-army warfare with forming a “UN Forces” so as to tres overnight, crossing rugged guerrilla warfare, waging moun- hurl large numbers of troops from mountains, to dominate the area tain and night actions, conducting the US and its satellites to the southeast of Taejon and com- defence battles actively based on Korean front. pletely surround Taejon. At the fixed positions, carrying out an Kim Il Sung aroused all the time, reported that KPA soldiers aircraft hunters’ team movement, people and KPA soldiers to the had appeared in their rear, the a tank hunters’ team movement, a heroic struggle to beat back the commander of the 24th US Infan- snipers’ team movement and the US imperialists’ large-scale try Division would not believe the like. armed invasion, and led the op- fact while mistaking the soldiers Former Portuguese President erations to liberate Taejon to vic- for their reinforcements. At the Gomez, who was the chief of staff tory. The enemy declared Taejon dawn of July 20, under the of the Portuguese forces stationed as “temporary capital” and at- command of Kim Il Sung, KPA in Macao during the Korean War, tempted to check the KPA’s ad- units commenced an all-out at- said, “The plan of operations vance by making use of the natu- tack to liberate Taejon. They de- drawn up by the United States ►

alone in an enemy-controlled fighting even at the cost of our A Special Task area. Very worried about the blood?” he said, and made sure fact, the supreme commander that the father of the child was NE DAY DURING THE said that though it was a hard soon sent together with soldiers O KPA’s temporary strategic time they should not leave the to bring it. So, some soldiers left retreat in the war, Kim Il Sung, child behind in the enemy-held for the enemy-held area to carry while acquainting himself with area as it could not live on apart out their special task to rescue the state of military personnel’s from its mother. “Isn’t it for the the child, and finally the child families’ retreat, learned that a future of our country, for the was brought back into its child of a family had been left sake of our children, that we are mother’s embrace.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 13 ► was, in fact, the result of repeated the orders. comrades-in-arms as national discussions made by chiefs of staff “Sure, we can do it,” came a treasure that could not be bar- and scores of bourgeois generals, confident reply not just from the tered for anything and that, as military strategists, of Western young soldier but from all the chilly weather had already set in, countries that sided with Wash- other men as well who answered he must take good care of them so ington. General Kim Il Sung, in chorus as if they had all made a that they could eat warm meals however, foiled the plan single- solemn vow. and sleep in warm shelters. And handedly. Witnessing the event I As he returned after parting he made sure that a rest home came to know that General with the soldiers, he told himself was created at the front for the Kim Il Sung was the only bril- that such an army and such a fighting soldiers. There are too liant military strategist and out- people would be unconquerable many similar stories to be all standing commander in the and that the Korean people would mentioned. world.” not fail to emerge victorious in the He told officials that when the end. people were eating boiled millet 20 480 kilometres One day in June 1952, he vis- they should do so. And, saying ited the then Ragwon Machine that he could hardly get to sleep During the Fatherland Lib- Factory, when he found ten Party at the thought of orphans, he eration War, Kim Il Sung found members of the cast-iron shop brought and took care of some his biggest spiritual and technical having a Party cell meeting. He orphans at his home. support in the people and the sat together with them and had a Prior to an all-out attack on army. He regarded it as the first friendly talk with them. He said Seoul, he fixed a morning hour factor of victory in the war to that after the war was over they after daybreak as the time of at- mobilize all the army and people should build a large factory build- tack lest the Seoulites’ lives and for victory and give full play to ing, furnish it with modern ma- properties should be harmed. And their strength, not merely modern chinery and equipment and ex- in the tense situation of the tem- military equipment, and made pand the factory area. Then a porary strategic retreat he took a great efforts to that end. woman Party member told the measure to provide the Seoulites Whenever drawing up a stra- leader, “Don’t worry, Premier! with firewood. tegic plan or considering a meas- When we win the war, the reha- He also paid deep attention to ure related to the people’s war- bilitation will be no problem. You the effort to stabilize the people’s time life, he would always go to know we restored everything— life, taking measures to cut prices see soldiers and people, however that had been mercilessly de- of goods and so on. And he saw to long and difficult way he had to stroyed by the Japanese when it that a universal free medical go. they fled—in a matter of two or care system was introduced in One day when the temporary three years and we became well January 1953. strategic retreat was under way, off. We’ll surely make an even During the war he went 20 480 he saw a group of KPA soldiers better life through another resto- kilometres to visit 1 056 places, marching. He stopped his travel. ration after the war. Don’t worry arousing the army and people to He summoned the commanding so much about it.” Later, the the endeavour for victory in the officer and asked where they supreme commander frequently war by dint of his warm care of were coming from. The officer recalled that the woman Party and devotion to them. replied that they had marched member’s words were a great Through the war all the 800 kilometres from behind the encouragement to him. Korean people were firmly rallied enemy lines, fighting the enemy When a bridge was broken by behind him and made matchless on their way from the Raktong the enemy’s air raid on his way to exertions and thus humbled the River. The supreme commander the front, he crossed the river by US imperialists who had boasted spoke highly of them and asked a way of a railway bridge, a con- of their being the “most powerful” young soldier who was standing stant target of the enemy’s air in the world, bringing about the behind the officer where they raids, saying that the soldiers at beginning of decline for the US were going. the front were waiting for him, imperialist aggressors. “We are going to the Supreme and when visiting a height in a He was awarded the title of Command,” replied the soldier in battle, he looked into the soldiers’ DPRK Marshal on February 7, high spirit. dugout to acquaint himself with 1953 and that of DPRK Hero on “What for?” their life. July 28, 1953 for his exploits in “To get new combat orders One midnight he telephoned winning the war, the first ever from the Supreme Commander.” the commander of a corps which victory against the US imperial- The supreme commander was defending Height 1211, say- ists in the world history of war. asked whether they could defeat ing that all the men at the front the Americans if they were given were as precious revolutionary Article by Yom Song Hui

14 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 “Let Us Defend Every Inch of Our Motherland at the Cost of Our Blood”

UPREME COMMANDER drop of their blood to defend their dispatched their 24th Infantry S Kim Il Sung of the Korean beloved country. Division to the Korean front. They People’s Army made a his- blared out that the situation at toric radio address, titled Let Us Annihilation of Smith’s the front would immediately Defend Every Inch of Our Moth- Special Task Force change in favour of them if their erland at the Cost of Our Blood, Japan-based ground units en- on October 11, 1950. In hearty When the puppet south Ko- tered the war. MacArthur also response to his call, the officers rean army was defeated repeat- foretold a change in the situation and men of the Korean People’s edly at the front after the war at the front. Dispatching the First Army fought bravely to the last broke out, the US imperialists Battalion—called Smith’s Special Task Force—of the 21st Regiment KPA soldiers continue to advance southward after smashing a of its division as the advance unit of the US imperialist aggression forces in the line of Osan. party, the commander of the US 24th Infantry Division ordered them to set up defence positions to check the offensive of KPA units and create conditions for the main force of his division to be de- ployed. At the moment the main strength of the task force was 440 in all and the 52nd Field Battery of the American aggression forces was attached to the task force. KPA units that were advancing along the road after liberating Suwon, came across the Smith’s Task Force in a place north of Osan on the morning of July 5, 1950. A KPA tank unit which was spearheading the advance, made a dash deep into the rear of the enemy defence line and destroyed the firing positions of the field battery and then cut the retreat ►

from excessive bleeding, the sol- To Make a Breach dier threw a hand grenade at the pillbox. With a terrific explosion the pillbox became quiet. At an N S P I R E D B Y desperate resistance based in order of charge Jang’s unit began I Kim Il Sung’s radio ad- pillboxes and using guns ar- to rush up the height, but soon dress delivered on June 26, 1950, ranged densely on the height in had to stop again because an- the Korean People’s Army unit an attempt to defend the Mun- other pillbox spat fire. Seeing his to which Jang Thae Hwa be- san line, a gateway to Seoul. comrades-in-arms falling in a longed was advancing south- Jang’s unit was given the flash light Jang rose to his feet. ward, mowing down the enemy order to destroy pillboxes. A Shouting, “Long live General before encountering the enemy’s member of the pillbox destruc- Kim Il Sung!” he ran up and desperate resistance at the foot tion group, Jang Thae Hwa crept threw himself against the mouth of a height near Munsan. Having inch by inch on all fours towards of the pillbox. He was 22 at the taken flight there after being a pillbox despite a shower of time. The title of DPRK Hero soundly beaten on the Rimjin bullets, when he was wounded on was conferred upon him in May River line, the enemy put up a the left shoulder. Though dizzy 1951.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 15 ► of the enemy. The following tank sea off Jumunjin towards the planes, in an attempt to change and infantry units of the KPA hit dawn. It was unprecedented in the situation of the war in favour the enemy head-on and from the the history of naval battle to at- of them. At the time there were a sides simultaneously. The battle tack a large-sized fleet with no coastal battery and an infantry on Height 118 was fierce. The more than four speedboats—and company of the Korean People’s enemy made desperate attempts that at dawn. But the KPA navy Army in defence of Wolmi Island to check the attack of the KPA men made an onrush toward the off Inchon. On September 13 the units, but he was completely en- enemy, taking the initiative in the enemy dispatched an advance circled and annihilated in the battle, despite the shower of the party of the Tenth Army to the area. In the battles the KPA units enemy’s shells. Dashing 500 me- island under cover of a large num- smashed one infantry battalion tres up to the enemy warships, ber of warplanes and warships. and one battery of the US imperi- some speedboats fired three crack The KPA foot soldiers stationed on alist aggression forces to the pulp torpedo shots at the enemy’s the Minor Wolmi Islet dealt a and captured and destroyed a lot heavy cruiser, sinking it to the bull’s-eye strike to the enemy de- of weapons and combat and tech- bottom. Now the speedboats at- tachment that was almost on nical equipment of the enemy. tacked the light cruiser and the Wolmi Island. In the first-day Referring to the defeat of the destroyer. Confused at the loss of battle the defenders broke two Smith’s Task Force, a Japanese their command ship, the light enemy destroyers and submerged publication wrote, “Many of the cruiser and the destroyer made a two boats. The following day Mac- runaway troops were without headlong flight when they re- Arthur and other brass hats of the helmets, jackets and shoes, ceived a critical blow. Now the American forces, aboard the flag- stricken with terror. The first battle ended in the torpedo ship, showed up off Inchon to fighting of the American military speedboats’ victory. In this way command the landing operations at the Korean front was recorded KPA navy men sank the Ameri- personally. For over three hours as a defeat.” can heavy cruiser Baltimore, the enemy showered more than called “Moving Island,” whose 1 730 shells from the warships “Moving Island” goes down tonnage was 17 000 tons, and and bombarded the island indis- destroyed the light cruiser with criminately before beginning to In early July 1950 the US the tonnage of 12 000 tons, thus land. But the KPA soldiers faced imperialists sent a fleet of a heavy achieving an unprecedented vic- the enemy daringly; they sank an cruiser, a light cruiser, a de- tory in the history of naval battle. enemy destroyer first and then stroyer and other warships to the two landing ships and four land- sea off Jumunjin in a combat for- Defenders of Wolmi Island ing boats. Thus the enemy’s at- mation. The Second Flotilla of tempt was frustrated again. Torpedo Speedboats of the KPA In September 1950 the US Despite their two failures in navy was given the order to re- imperialists commenced landing landing operations, the enemy, on pulse the enemy fleet. While operations in Inchon by mobilizing the 15th, carried out bombing and searching the sea the flotilla dis- 50 000 effectives, hundreds of shelling again and came up to the covered the enemy group in the warships and nearly 1 000 war- island. Now the KPA soldiers had ►

precious national treasure, from Chronicles of the Feudal Joson being damaged, and bring it to safety.” Then saying that compe- tent officials should be selected Dynasty Rescued and sent to Seoul at once, he took colour pencils to draw a route of N JULY 8, 1950 DURING stored in a library in Seoul, was their journey to and from Seoul. O the Fatherland Liberation endangered to be burnt off at After a while he rang up a War Kim Il Sung, supreme any moment in the US imperial- military commander and gave an commander of the Korean Peo- ist aggressors’ indiscriminate order to provide military vehi- ple’s Army (KPA), summoned bombing raids. cles to bring the chronicles to a the Minister of Education to the Referring to the chronicles as safe place. Still, he did not feel KPA Supreme Headquarters. a precious treasure the Korean relieved. He wrote a personal He told him to take a measure ancestors had left, the supreme letter to the effect that all insti- to rescue the Chronicles of the commander said, “It is the com- tutions and army units should Feudal Joson Dynasty, a govern- munists who hold the country give effective assistance to the ment diary of the feudal Joson dearest, and it is the communists officials in transporting the dynasty which consists of 1 763 who truly love the nation. We chronicles to a safe place, and volumes. At the time the book, must protect the chronicles, a signed the letter.

16 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 own breast and another jumped among the enemy soldiers with a bundle of grenades. When the commanding communications line was broken in the enemy bombing, a communications soldier con- nected it with his own body and even cooks and hospital orderlies made bayonet charges in a critical condition. Even in the fiercest struggle the defenders of the height made musical instruments with their own hands to play at musical recreation parties they had in the intervals of the battle. Throughout the days of the battle the civilians in the vicinity carried ammunitions and food to the height despite the shower of KPA men fire crack shots at the aggression bullets and shells and ensured troops climbing Height 1211. wartime transport by recon- structing roads and bridges in ► only a gun, but they fired at the thrust of their attack and time. In this way the soldiers and enemy without interruption until launched a large-scale “summer the civilians in the neighbour- they ran out of the last shell, thus offensive” in August 1951 only to hoods defended the height, united sinking two enemy landing boats suffer a serious defeat. If the KPA in a single mind and for a single and mowed an advance party of had failed to defend the height it purpose. the enemy. When the last gun was would have yielded a lot of On Height 1211, KPA soldiers broken the defenders knew they heights and retreated dozens of killed and captured tens of thou- had to fight the last life-and- kilometres back. For this reason sands of enemy troops, captured death battle. Turning out in the the height was a site of ferocious or destroyed more than 40 air- final battle, the commander of the battles. craft, 60 tanks and other weapons coastal battery sent the last wire- Commencing an “autumn of- and technical equipment. After less message that the defenders of fensive” in September 1951 the his defeat in the battle the enemy Wolmi Island would fight it out to enemy launched large-scale at- called the height “Heartbreak be worthy of soldiers of Supreme tacks in the Height 1211 area. He Ridge” because he was heartbro- Commander Kim Il Sung. The carried out wave-like attacks ken whenever he looked at the defenders faced enemy tanks re- dozens of times a day, showering height, and he named the ravine lentlessly and destroyed them tens of thousands of shells and below the height “Punch Bowl” as with anti-tank grenades and an- bombs on the height by mobilizing no one emerged from it alive. nihilated the enemy troops by a huge force of troops and techni- During the righteous Father- carrying out bayonet charges. In cal equipment. To cope with the land Liberation War hundreds of this way the defenders of the is- enemy’s attacks, KPA soldiers thousands of KPA soldiers and land destroyed and sank a dozen turned their positions into for- civilians in the home front were enemy ships in the three-day tresses by digging tunnels and awarded official commendations; battle, holding back the enemy dealt hard blows through well- 533 became DPRK Heroes (five of from landing. organized artillery fire while con- them twice Heroes) and 16 La- ducting raids against the enemy bour Heroes. In the years the Height 1211 becomes unawares. Artillery men pulled KPA killed, wounded and cap- “heartbreak ridge” and their guns up to the ridge of the tured 1 567 128 troops of the US “punch bowl” height and used them to destroy forces, the south Korean puppet the enemy tanks, pillboxes, firing army and forces of American vas- During the Fatherland Lib- equipment and observation posts sal countries; shot down, de- eration War Height 1211 in the while the mortar men erected stroyed and captured over 12 220 eastern sector of the front was a their weapons almost vertically to aircraft; and destroyed and cap- position of great strategic impor- annihilate enemy troops who tured a large amount of combat tance. In an attempt to take were no more than 45 metres off. equipment including more than Height 1211 from KPA soldiers at During the battle to defend the 3 060 tanks and 190 armoured any sacrifice and loss, the US height, a KPA soldier blocked a vehicles. imperialists set the height as the firing enemy gun muzzle with his O Sol Hyang

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 17 In the Same Trench

N THE FATHERLAND What was particular about their together with the members of a I Liberation War the people in effort at the time was their cam- self-defence corps and tilled more the rear made a positive contri- paign to plough the land with than 30 hectares and sowed seeds. bution to the victory in the war by their own hands. Women in the Then they sent the grain to the producing food and supporting then Hwanghae Province formed front while fighting valiantly the front in the spirit that they shock brigades of ploughwomen against the enemy troops who were fighting in the same trench and brought new land under cul- invaded the village from Cho Is- with the soldiers. tivation even in their neighbour- let. A woman in Anbyon County, ing villages, to say nothing of Kangwon Province, taught Women with Ploughs their own villages. A woman took ploughing to a dozen women, who in Their Hands up a plough in 1951 and made in turn went to a number of sub- rounds of two sub-counties (an counties to give similar lessons. With the beginning of the year administrative unit at the time) Thus farming preparations were 1951 the demand for food grew in a month giving ploughing les- made in good faith for the year. high at the front and in the rear. sons to women, thus training a The national leader At the time women accounted for large number of ploughwomen. Kim Il Sung visited Wonhwa-ri, most of the country population Some women in a certain area Phyongwon County, South and there was a general scarcity went to a neighbouring village Phyongan Province, in May 1952 ► of draught animals as well. Worse still, the enemy’s barbarous Women plough fields by themselves to increase bombing would not let up. grain production in the wartime. But the women, under the slogan of “Let us bring death to the enemy by greater production of food for our husbands, sons and brothers at the front!” dug air raid shelters in the corner of the fields, ploughed fields and sowed seeds driving oxen in camouflage. Those in Cholsan County, North Phyon- gan Province, finished a farming task in time by carrying on their backs more than 6 500 tons of manure, an amount which was tantamount to over a hundred oxen’s work for over 40 days.

unit stationed in the neighbour- For the Sake of the People hood and ordered to take a measure to bring salt to the villagers. NE MARCH DAY IN the enemy had broken jars be- Days later several military O 1951, during his inspection fore his flight and that they were vehicles appeared in the village of South Phyongan Province, unable to make the condiments fully loaded with salt. After- Supreme Commander as they had no salt either. wards, the supreme commander Kim Il Sung of the KPA learned Feeling sorry for their had a state measure taken to in a village in the then Kangso want of even condiments, provide all rural residents of County that the villagers didn’t Kim Il Sung immediately sum- the country with salt and other have soy and bean paste because moned a commander of a KPA necessaries.

18 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► and proposed the slogan of “The struggle for food is a struggle for the country and for victory at the front.” With this as a momentum the number of ploughwomen grew sharply all around the country. In 1951 there were as many as 3 650 ploughwomen in North Phyongan Province and 2 690 in South Phyongan Province. A large number of women took up ploughs in their hands and increased the produce across the country, thus contributing a lot to the wartime supply.

People in Namgang Village

A fierce battle was going on in People carry ammunitions to Height 351 to support KPA soldiers. the eastern section of the front in 1951. The wartime transportation tate to go out to the fields in cam- University to donate money for was quite a problem due to the ouflage to do all kinds of farming purchase of military hardware, a enemy bombing and the heavy jobs, such as ploughing, sowing large number of teachers and rainfall in the area. But the seeds, weeding and harvesting, employees of colleges and schools, women in Namgang Village car- for supply of food. The devoted including the then Pyongyang ried on with support-the-front support of the people in Namgang College of Technology and the activities, sharing their fate with Village was a great encourage- then Pyongyang Medical College, the soldiers fighting on Height ment to the soldiers on the height joined in the movement by mak- 351. They carried boxes of ammu- and went far to a number of vic- ing considerable contributions. nitions even at deep night and torious battles on Mt. Wolbi and The women in Sinuiju City de- prepared and supplied meals to Height 351. cided to provide for a Woman the soldiers many times a day. At plane to be sent to the front and the time there was Namgang Campaign of contribution donated over 70 valuable things Bridge in the village which was such as sewing machines, gold the only transport route connect- Before the war broke out there hairpins and clocks, as well as a ing the village with the height. was a campaign conducted by the great amount of money. The chil- The enemy broke the bridge sev- people voluntarily in the home dren from all across the country eral times a day by air raids in an front to contribute money and decided to supply money for Chil- attempt to disrupt the supply of valuables to the effort to improve dren-named planes and tanks and war materials. But the villagers the armament of the People’s subscribed a good deal of money rebuilt the bridge immediately. Army. With the start of the Fa- they had obtained by digging me- When the transport was in diffi- therland Liberation War the pa- dicinal herbs, collecting scrap iron culty for the destruction of the triotic movement got more brisk, and picking wild vegetables in bridge in the flooding in the rainy involving people of all strata, the summer vacation. Patriotic- season, the women made rafts by including workers, office employ- minded businessmen, merchants mobilizing wooden boards of ees and students. Having decided and religious people also contrib- racks, doors, floors and cabinets to donate planes, tanks and war- uted a considerable sum of money, and even pillars of their houses. ships named Democratic League and even Korean residents in Children formed their own or- of Youth, Student, Women and Japan joined the movement. ganization to aid the front. When Children, they worked hard for Thanks to the patriotic minds, a they found it hard to lift boxes of increased production, employing huge sum of 4 346 355 000 won ammunitions they carried them all ways such as overtime work, and a great deal of grain and by pulling them by wires fixed. saving of materials, increased valuables were donated as of late The enemy planes made harass- productivity. In response to the August 1950 after the start of the war. ments over the village all the appeals of the teaching staff and time, but the people did not hesi- other employees of Kim Il Sung O Sol Hyang

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 19 Confessions of the Defeated

Aggressors defeated in the Korean war

20 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 HE US IMPERIALISTS as over 73 million tons, 11 times of the aggressors 2.3times greater T threw into the Korean War greater than what had been con- than that the US imperialists had they had started a huge armed sumed in the Pacific War. suffered in the Pacific War. The force, numbering two million al- During the Korean War the US aggressors went so far as to together, including one third of army and people of Korea killed, use germ and chemical weapons their ground force boasting of its injured and captured 1 567 120 in the Korean War, which were up-to-date equipment, one fifth of enemy troops including 405 490 most barbarous and cruel means their air force, and the greater American soldiers, and captured of warfare. They, however, had to part of their Pacific Fleet, plus and destroyed enormous amounts surrender to the Korean people troops of 15 of their satellite of combat hardware and muni- and sign the Armistice Agree- countries and the south Korean tions including 12 220 planes, 560 ment. puppet troops, and a vast amount warships of various sorts, 3 250 Following are excerpts from of latest combat hardware. The tanks and armoured vehicles, what defeated US generals said. war materiel they squandered in 13 350 vehicles and 7 690 guns of “The enemy’s supplies and the Korean front totalled as much different kinds, a loss on the part reinforcements always moved in a ►

ur MacArth

Br adley Clark

M arshall

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 21 ► particular form and in large the powerful enemy we need an sive’ was a wrong battle at a quantities. Judging from this it army with four perfect divisions wrong place, at a wrong time and was clear that enormous amounts at least, with units for helping us with a wrong enemy.” of these supplies … were flowing in battle and those on combat (Bradley, Chairman of the on through Seoul, in spite of our duty, and we should be provided US Joint Chiefs of Staff) bombing and artillery fire. The with means of transportation.” “The myth has been exploded. units and their supplies always (Dean, Commander of the US We were not as strong a nation as moved by night. 24th Infantry Division) others used to think us to be.” “Their skill and perseverance “The front position of the (Marshall, US Defense in repairing damaged bridges and Communist army, in part, is Secretary) roads were amazing. Conse- made up of ground fortifications The Korean War was a fierce quently new divisions and armour extending 25 miles deep into the showdown between an independ- brigades were able to arrive rear. Linking the west and east ent idea and a dominationist idea ceaselessly from north Korea. coasts of Korea, they are solid in and between justice and injustice. Food, ammunition, and other structure, so most of them are not July 27 of victory is in no way supplies were transported with- to be shaken by air raids and field a day of the past. out interruption by rail, motor gunnery.” The US imperialists still have vehicles, carts or people with A- “In carrying out the instruc- an ambition of invading the frames.” tions of my government, I gained DPRK and are brandishing a big “Dean fought, but his unit was the unenviable distinction of be- stick in the international arena, completely annihilated before I ing the first United States Army driven by the idea of “Force is an had time to take a measure.” Commander in history to sign an almighty means.” They want an- (MacArthur, Commander armistice agreement without vic- other war to break out in the Ko- of the “UN Forces”) tory. I felt that things had all gone rean peninsula, and are scheming “The enemy’s armoured equip- wrong, and thought that generals to that end. If they unleash a ment was the best and excellent MacArthur and Ridgeway, my second Korean war while advo- in combat effect. And their infan- predecessors, would have felt the cating the theory of “Force is an try units were the elites, and the same.” almighty means,” they will not enemy … is fighting by making (Clark, Commander of the escape an ignominious defeat use of clever tactics … They are a US Armed Forces in the Far incomparable with that in the formidable enemy we should East and of the “UN Forces”) past. never think little of. To beat off “Van Fleet’s ‘summer offen- An Mu Gwang

Height 332.2 Defended by Two Soldiers

N JULY 30, 1950, A KPA time mortars were destroyed and and pile mounds of large rocks O mortar subunit was or- the mortar men and infantry- on the edge of their trench with dered to occupy and defend men fell one by one. Now there their determined efforts. Height 332.2 together with foot remained only two soldiers alive The enemy, equivalent to a soldiers. They captured the on the height, and they had only company in strength, began to height by a night attack. De- a mortar without its mount. The climb up the height again. “You fending the height would be of two, however, fired the mortar rascals, don’t you know who importance in the imminent by supporting it with their we are? We will surely take KPA operations to liberate An- shoulders. When the enemy revenge upon you thousand- dong. At the dawn of the follow- came up by making a detour, the fold,” the two defenders shouted ing day the enemy began to at- KPA soldiers wiped them and fought undauntedly, throw- tack. The defending mortar men through a hand-to-hand fight. ing grenades and rolling down fired telling blows at the climb- They found it difficult even to rocks. They thus defended the ing enemy. Then the enemy’s keep themselves steady but height by themselves until a gunfire was pointed at mortar managed to go around collecting general offensive started to positions. With the passage of grenades from the dead enemy liberate Andong.

22 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 On Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Foundation

The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

ECENTLY A KOREA TODAY REPORTER time when the nation was at the crossroad of R had an interview with Vice Director Kim Chol whether it could maintain its sovereignty or might Ho of the Council of the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il fall into the colonial slavery again in the Korean war Foundation. (June 1950–July 1953) started by the US imperial- Excerpts: ists, he led the nation’s Fatherland Liberation War to victory by employing his outstanding and seasoned What kind of organization is the Kim Il Sung- leadership, and later established a socialist state in Kim Jong Il Foundation which was founded last the land which is independent in politics, self- year? sufficient in the economy and self-reliant in national If you want to understand the foundation you defence. Endowed with great generosity and respon- have to know about President Kim Il Sung and sibility for the common cause of human emancipa- Chairman Kim Jong Il first. They were national tion, he adopted the peoples who aspired after inde- leaders who worked devotedly all their life for the pendence and were engaged in the building of new freedom and welfare of the Korean people and global society as his friends and brethren. During the years independence, peace and progress, regarding “The when he had to fight with the Japanese imperialists people are my God” as their motto. without any regular forces or home front, and even in When the Korean people were subjected to the the complicated and difficult context after national sorrowful colonial slavery under the Japanese im- liberation he gave as much assistance to the Chinese perialists’ military occupation Kim Il Sung re- revolution as he could; he also defended the Soviet gained the country to the nation and brought genu- Union, the first socialist state in the world, with ine life and freedom to them by waging an armed arms. When the Cuban people were exposed to struggle against the Japanese imperialists. At the Americans’ military attack with the eruption of the ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 23 ► Caribbean Crisis, nobody dared support or help the When a number of countries were having a hard Cubans for fear of the Americans’ threats, but time after the setback of their socialism he published Kim Il Sung alone stood firm by the Cuban people, many historic works, typically Abuses of Socialism giving support to and solidarity with them and later Are Intolerable, thus indicating a road to be followed provided them with considerable economic and tech- by progressive countries and peoples who wished to nical aids. He sent a lot of pumping facilities and adopt socialism and build an independent state. Over farm machines to Sri Lanka for its agricultural de- the whole years of his life he invariably maintained velopment, and dispatched doctors, economic ex- the idea of independence, friendship and peace and perts, technicians and teachers to Benin immedi- uninterruptedly expanded and developed fraternal ately after it asked for help. Overcome with thank- good-neighbourly relations with all countries around fulness for Kim Il Sung’s spirit of international aid the world which had respect for the DPRK’s sover- and obligation a Somalian President said at the in- eignty and aspiration to independence. auguration ceremony of a pumping station, “If we The world’s progressive peoples keep a reveren- had not learned agricultural technology and experi- tial memory of the great leaders who not only indi- ence from the Korean brothers we could hardly have cated the path of peace and progress but also gave avoided hunger and poverty …We are deeply grate- positive support and unstinted aid to their struggle. ful to Kim Il Sung, President of the Democratic Reflecting the wishes of the Koreans and the pro- People’s Republic of Korea.” gressive people around the world, the International As of January 1984 the DPRK leader erected over Kim Il Sung Foundation declared at the August 1, 30 factories in 22 countries, installed irrigation fa- 2012 meeting of its Board of Directors that the In- cilities in 20-odd countries, and sent as many as ternational Kim Il Sung Foundation was reorgan- 5 000 technicians and experts to more than 50 de- ized on an expansive basis in order to achieve human veloping countries, thus helping those nations in all peace and progress and accelerate global independ- sectors of their effort for building of a new society. ence as wished by the great men. Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National How are things with the foundation at the mo- Defence Commission, carried on with the cause of ment? And what’s the prospect like? President Kim Il Sung successfully. In the late 20th It’s not long since the foundation was established, and early 21st centuries when the imperialist but the public interest in the contribution is great reactionary forces were resorting to an unprece- enough. Koreans are taking part in the donation dented campaign to stifle and blockade the DPRK enthusiastically as they know well that it is an effort after laying an encirclement around the country, to honour the memory of their great national leaders on a higher level and achieve greater national pros- Kim Jong Il administered Songun politics, with perity and a better life of their own. Many foreigners which he defended socialist Korea and safeguarded from the UK, China, Russia, Germany, India and peace of the world; he also raised the country’s posi- many other countries and overseas Koreans are also tion up to the one of a politico-ideological power and a making donations with a hope that it will contribute military power which no enemy dared to lash out. to the effort for global progress and development. Watching the confrontation between the DPRK The foundation will be of great service in cooperation which is making progress steadfastly under the and exchange in different fields such as education, leadership of Kim Jong Il and the imperialist reac- public health, culture, science and technology, envi- tionary forces, the world’s progressive peoples ronmental conservation and agriculture, and the learned the truth that even a small nation will be endeavour for human peace and progress and global able to vanquish any formidable enemy and defend independence, true to its mission and purposes. justice if it has got great national power and fights Would you tell me procedures of contribution? courageously with an independent stand. The headquarters of the foundation is based in An Indian political scientist once said, “I think Pyongyang, and its branches will be opened in Bei- I’m right when I say that the world-famous jing, China and other countries and regions of the commander Kim Jong Il prevented an eruption of a world. You can visit the headquarters in Pyongyang third World War or a global thermo-nuclear war by and branches to make a subscription personally or making his country into a nation with an infinite visit DPRK embassies or consulates in different military power.” countries for the purpose.

24 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013

On the Journey of Songun Leadership

Photo session at the Persimmon Tree Company amusement facilities and their properties, he ad- miringly said that the KPA soldiers developed the NE SULTRY DAY IN AUGUST LAST army-people relationship to a higher level. O year Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un of While inspecting the Taesongsan Fun Fair, he the Korean People’s Army (KPA) inspected the praised KPA soldiers for their having renovated Persimmon Tree Company of the KPA. He gave a the fun fair to be just as good as a fresh one. He pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as souve- was very pleased to see the giant wheel, space craft nirs to the women soldiers who were safeguarding and other amusement facilities and public service part of the country. amenities upgraded along modern lines. Saying that he felt warm in his heart when he He instructed that the relevant companies simply heard of the Persimmon Tree Company, he should ensure regular operation, maintenance and told the company was well known to the world as it management of the fun fairs as they had been was etched in the annals of the Songun revolution- renovated as required by the current century. And ary leadership along with Chairman Kim Jong Il’s he expressed his expectation and belief that the love for the soldiers. Then he went on to say that the KPA soldiers who took part in the projects to reno- company might have few soldiers who had met vate the fun fairs would do more good things for the Kim Jong Il, and suggested that the spirit and sake of the people in the future, too, and thus fulfil tradition of the company should be maintained de- their mission as the army of the people. spite the change of generations there and that Being a parent of all the students Kim Jong Il’s immortal exploits related to the company should be glorified generation after generation. Kim Jong Un visited the Mangyongdae Revo- Then Kim Jong Un not only examined the lutionary School on the lunar New Year’s Day of quality of their blankets in the bedroom, but also last year. When he stepped into the canteen, stu- acquainted himself with how the soldiers were dents were having with relish beef soup with rice using hemp to have bath and sauna in the wash- in it. He felt rice bowls to see if the soup was warm, cum-bath room. When he dropped in at the mess and asked a student if it was tasty and what kind hall, he, pointing at the daily food supply table, of food he would like. When he replied that he liked asked if food was supplied to the soldiers in accord noodle, the leader asked him again if he liked rice with the table and what they were short of, and cake as well. Stroking children on the back he told stressed the need to provide the soldiers with food them to go on eating, and urged the cooks to ladle according to the table. the soup into bowls before it got cold. Walking the path in the compound of the com- After a while of seeing the children eating as if pany he inquired how many persimmons they had there were something to want, Kim Jong Un sug- gathered the year before. And he saw an art per- gested that the next day Myonggi beef should be sent formance given by the soldiers of the company. to the school so that the children could have their fill Then, reading the mind of the soldiers who were of beef, and advised the accompanying officials to reluctant to be parted from him, he had each of come there that day to see the children eat the beef. them stand by his side to have a photo taken with In the birthday room, he said that it was a good them to the great delight of the soldiers. This pro- thing to prepare a birthday dinner for the children. duced another revolutionary anecdote to be re- Explaining that on their birthdays they would think corded in the history of Songun. of their parents first, he earnestly told the officials For the sake of the people of the school to take parental care of the schoolchildren lest they should live in the least gloom. It is the nature and main mission of the Korean Looking round the e-library, the hall of culture People’s Army to do good things for the sake of the and other places of the school, the supreme people. In October last year, Kim Jong Un in- commander said he felt much relieved as he looked spected the renovated Mangyongdae Fun Fair and round the school, though he had had a heavy heart Taesongsan Fun Fair. In the first fun fair he saw for he could not find time to visit it. He went on to newly-paved roads and sidewalks, vast areas of say he would think about what he could do more for greenbelts planted with a new kind of turf and the school and take necessary steps, and stressed select species of trees, the bettered ray gun shoot- the need to better the school as the best institute ing house and the wading pool with an improved for learning. flowing water tank, a wave water tank and a water Holding the hands of the school’s senior officials slide, and said that the fun fair could be success- warmly before leaving the school, the national leader fully renovated thanks to the efforts of KPA sol- said earnestly that he would entrust the care of the diers. Acquainting himself with the operation of its children, the treasure of the revolution, to them.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 25 New Strategic Line

NEW STRATEGIC LINE primary efforts in turning the tion of the self-supporting econ- A of simultaneously carrying Korean People’s Army into a- omy. on the construction of the econ- match-for-a-hundred revolution- A proud nuclear state with omy and the upbuilding of the ary armed forces and paid deep powerful war deterrents, the nuclear forces adopted in the attention to the work to modern- DPRK has a condition favourable March 2013 plenary meeting of ize the military equipment of the to the effort to concentrate the the Central Committee of the army, arm all the people and for- stock of finance and manpower on Workers’ Party of Korea is the tify the whole country. the struggle for the economic con- succession and development of Kim Jong Il firmly main- struction and the improvement of the line of carrying on the eco- tained the line in the whole period the people’s standard of living. nomic construction and building of his revolutionary leadership. The main content of the new up national defence simultane- Especially in the 1990s, when the line consists of such tasks as cre- ously, a strategic policy set forth country had to undergo the Ardu- ating a force for developing new by President Kim Il Sung and ous March owing to the imperial- technologies in all sectors of the thoroughly applied by Chairman ists’ tenacious manoeuvres to national economy, combining the Kim Jong Il. stifle socialism, he led the country economy organically with science The line of building up the to win victory after victory in the and technology and putting ef- economy and defence capabilities anti-US nuclear confrontation by forts in developing space science simultaneously was the strategic dint of Songun politics, thus mak- and technology so as to develop line that the WPK consistently ing it into a space power and nu- and launch much more applica- adhered to. clear nation. tion satellites for different pur- In October 1962 the US impe- Recently the WPK set a new poses. rialists precipitated a crisis in the strategic line of simultaneously The new line is also aimed at Caribbean by sealing off Cuba carrying on the construction of strengthening the self-defence advancing along the road of so- the economy and the upbuilding capabilities with the nuclear cialism. At the time cowardly of the nuclear forces as required forces as the backbone. Besides, modern revisionists yielded sub- by the prevailing situation and the line covers other tasks: to put serviently to America’s pressure. the developing revolution. The the atomic energy industry on an The US was so insolent as to di- line is the revolutionary succes- up-to-date, scientific footing, to rect the point of aggression war to sion of the previous line. Both develop the self-supporting nu- Asia and made frantic efforts to lines reflect the WPK’s strong will clear power industry in order to prepare a new war of aggression to accomplish the Juche revolu- ease the strain on electric supply against the DPRK while scheming tionary cause along the road of in the country and to make the to form a tie-up between the independence, Songun and social- People’s Army enhance the back- Japanese militarists and the ism. bone role of the nuclear forces in south Korean military fascists. The earlier line reflected the all aspects of the war deterrent In December 1962 to cope with Party’s resolute will to frustrate strategy and the war waging the situation, the President con- the enemy’s attempts at impair- strategy and perfect the regular vened the 5th plenary meeting of ing the sovereignty and dignity of combat readiness of the nuclear the 4th Central Committee of the the Korean people, and to improve forces for the purpose of enhanc- Workers’ Party of Korea, in which continuously the people’s living ing in every possible way the he proposed a strategic line of standards. And the present line might of the country as a nuclear simultaneously carrying on the shows the Party’s strong will to state. economic construction and de- build a socialist power without Indeed, the WPK’s line of si- fence building. He declared that fail by relying on the strong nu- multaneously carrying on the they should not look to others for clear forces. economic construction and the the defence of their gains of the The current line of simultane- upbuilding of the nuclear forces is revolution without making any ously carrying on the economic the one for building a thriving effort to do it with their own construction and the upbuilding country in which the Korean peo- forces and that they should de- of the nuclear forces is a further ple will be able to enjoy all bene- fend the country with their own development of its predecessor to fits of socialism by putting greater efforts. a new higher stage. It is the one efforts in the economic construc- Kim Il Sung forcefully mobi- for improving remarkably the tion while strengthening and lized the whole Party, all the people’s living standards and developing the nuclear forces so army and the entire people in the accelerating the construction of a as to make the country’s defences struggle for strengthening the knowledge-based economic power impregnable. defence capabilities. He also put on the basis of the strong founda- Son Sung Mo

26 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Silk Thread and Women

UMGANGSAN SILK came to understand the true joy She took part as a representa- K thread from the Pyongyang of labour. It was my mother’s tive in the National Conference on Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill has been wish to translate into reality the Light Industry held in March this famous for a long time. And the great leaders Kim Il Sung and year. mill features admirable women Kim Jong Il’s desire to have workers as well. Mum people dressed in silk. And now it is my wish.” Wish Worker poet It was 28 years ago that Pae Jong Sim began to work as a silk It is not long since Ri Yong reeler at the mill, following her Sil began to work as a silk reeler mother, a skilled veteran worker at the mill, but she is now held in of the mill. The memory of her affection as a treasure of the mill. mother as a pioneer of the multi- Her persistent efforts made her machine tending campaign en- into a highly skilled worker. Last courages her to bring about inno- year she fulfilled a quota for two vations in her work. She made years. Her colleagues like her not strenuous efforts to produce much only because she works well. She more thread as her mother had is a passionate poet who con- done. In the course of this she stantly writes poems that sing of became an enterprising worker their worthwhile work. People and then a workteam leader. She is a happy woman not only “They often call me mum. at the factory but also at home. Sometimes they are reluctant to Last year she was invited to the leave the nursery though their concert given by the Unhasu Or- own mothers come to take them chestra on the occasion of the home, to the disappointment of May Day in the presence of the the latter. At such a moment I am national leader Kim Jong Un sorry and yet inwardly happy.” and the relevant state banquet. This is what O Chun Yong, a This year she and her husband nurse of the mill’s nursery, says. were invited to another concert There are no women workers given by the orchestra to mark with children who don’t know the nurse. Twenty-five years have the International Women’s Day. passed since she began to work as Her husband, a Korean People’s a nurse at the nursery. Whenever Army officer, is a reliable sup- people say she looks younger for porter who actively encourages her age, she replies it is because her while regarding her as his she is always with children. Some pride. take pleasure in hearing her re- children she took care of are She says, “At the workplace I cite her poems. She says, “The buzzing of workers of the mill. machines sounds singing Those who were at the nursery to me. Whenever I walk frequently come to see her as they up and down between the miss the nurse who looked after machines tending them, them and taught them songs and poetic sentiment flashes dances. Her kind and gentle man- through my mind. Labour ner makes children take her for really invigorates me and their mother, and their own makes me experience a mothers become honourable inno- beautiful life.” vative workers by fulfilling their After seeing a New Year quotas free from worry about the (2013) gala performance children. given by the Moranbong So the women workers say, Band she wrote the poem “The bunches of flowers we re- A Hopeful New Year, ceive are largely attributable to the nurse O Chun Yong’s efforts.” which was posted on the Pae Jong Sim (second right). bulletin board of the mill. Kim Son Ae

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 27 Towards a Higher Goal

NE DAY IN MARCH LAST, workers to put forward a new idea unique flavours. Members of the O in front of exhibits the Son- in a monthly new conception dis- technical preparation room fre- hung Foodstuff Factory had pre- cussion and goods exhibition. quented the Grand People’s Study sented at the national consumer When he went to visit his relative House to grasp the global trend in goods show I heard some people in the countryside, an engineer food development and steadily saying as follows: got an idea of making fried gluti- explored the way of improving the “The coffee candy and others nous rice cake mixed with ses- flavours and shapes of the confec- have become better than those ame, fried cake of wheat flour, tionery. put on display months ago at the honey and oil and other tradi- As a result the products from 4th Pyongyang Department Store tional confectionery in an indus- the factory took first place three No. 1 Goods Show.” trial way. And a worker presented times in succession in the food- “I see their kinds have further designs of sweets and biscuits he stuff section of the Pyongyang increased.” had drawn to children’s liking Department Store No. 1 Goods “That’s not all. Any of Sonhung while seeing his children eat con- Show from its second round. foodstuffs tastes unique.” fectionery at home. Last year, fried glutinous rice The Sonhung Foodstuff Fac- While building up the founda- cake, sweet jelly and other newly- tory has recently enhanced its tion of production in a functional produced traditional confection- popularity. So I went to visit the manner, the general manageress ery from the factory were fa- factory to know in detail about it. led the workers to display their vourably commented upon at At the entrance I met general creativity in improving the qual- Dandong Expo in China. manageress Ri Hui Suk of the ity of the goods. As a result, in As of 2012 the kinds of food- factory who was seeing off with 2006, soft candies, carbonated stuffs from the factory numbered satisfaction the trucks loaded fruit syrup, yeast bread and other more than 420, and Sonhung with products from the factory. kinds of foodstuffs from the fac- foodstuffs became the bestseller She told the following story. tory began to be favourably com- across the country. In 2001, two years after the mented upon by the people along factory was inaugurated, she be- with their brand Sonhung. This came its general manageress. At further spurred creative enthusi- the time the factory was produc- asm among the workers of the ing foodstuffs on a small scale. So factory. And they set a bold goal: she paid primary attention to the to improve the quality of the tra- work to increase the variety and ditional confectionery. It was not kind of the foodstuffs. She made it an easy job. They had to make the a rule for all the management and foodstuffs have their new and

Production of foodstuff is on the increase.

… … Now a man came up in haste and told the general manageress that it was time to leave for a business trip. When I regretfully asked her about the prospective plan of the factory, she, before getting on her car, said, “It is to equip the whole factory with CNC technology and to produce glob- ally-competitive, diversified foodstuffs.” Her words made me think that our talk was not yet finished.

Chae Kwang Myong

28 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Developers of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine

T WAS WHEN I WAS IN A trary, plasma cutting technique Falling short of the world stan- I bus passing the Changjon was the one that could be widely dard cannot be a success.” Street in the capital city of Py- used at low cost in all fields of the Now they pushed ahead with ongyang. Through the bus win- national economy. So plasma the research from the standpoint dow I saw unique signboards and research section of the institute of making a new start. Sin took appropriate metal decorations of had already developed a manual upon himself the core part of the various shops and restaurants plasma cutting machine. But the project. In the course of repeated going well with the modern machine showed some shortcom- experiments they finally com- beauty of the street. ings in processing the products pleted a new control program to “Look over there! People think whose outer surface was compli- be introduced into the plasma that we artists played an impor- cated and which should be pre- cutting machine. Young research- tant role in inscribing those let- cise. ers of the section also were zeal- ters and patterns,” said a man. The researchers found the way ous in the undertaking. Ri Hun, “Of course. But perhaps they to solve the problem in equipping one of them, who had been posted don’t know who technically as- the machine with CNC technol- to the institute not long before, sists us in our work,” another man ogy. They set goals by stages and developed a plasma power supply said. pooled their creative wisdom to unit based on a high-power tran- The people, the two men who attain the goals. They thus suc- sistor, the one better in many looked like artists, talked about ceeded in making a CNC technol- features and lower in cost as com- were plasma researchers of the ogy-based plasma cutting ma- pared with the conventional Laser Research Institute of the chine and did its trial operation heavy and bulky one of poor effi- State Academy of Sciences. When with success in February 2012. Its ciency. I had a chance to visit the acad- precision nearly reached the Every element and part of the emy, I dropped in at the laser world standard, which delighted machine is associated with the institute and heard the following all researchers of the institute. efforts of the researchers who story from Ri Chol Ho, head of the But section chief Sin Hyong Chol recognize only the most advanced institute. was in a mood. He had calculated things. Generally, cutting of metal that the margin of error of the Their efforts led to the inven- was done by means of welding in machine would be smaller. When tion of a CNC technology-based the past, and it entailed much other researchers said that they plasma cutting machine that is cost and materials such as weld- could hardly expect a better thing considerably high in precision and ing rods, oxygen and carbide. And from the outset, he said, “We low in production cost. That was its coverage was limited according should never make Break through only a little over a month after to the kind of metal. On the con- the cutting edge an empty slogan. they started the relevant research anew. As the head of the institute told us we went to a room. On arrival at the door of the room we heard clapping coming from it. In the room we found members of Ri Hun’s section at a meeting to congratulate him for an academic degree he received. Having received a bunch of flowers for congratulation, Ri Hun said, “This time I’ve learned another important thing. It has enlarged my mental vision and encouraged me to set a higher goal. What I have keenly realized anew is that only a new view adopted makes it possible to attain a higher goal.”

Kim Chol Ung

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 29 Scientists Live in Soldier Spirit

tion of the beautiful flower. The kind of goat rapidly. At the time flower was named by former In- the country was conducting an donesian President Sukarno in energetic mass campaign to cre- reflection of his admiration of the ate pastures on hills and unculti- DPRK President Kim Il Sung. In vated areas and grow goats ex- the late 1970s there were only two tensively. But the propagation of pots of the plant in Korea brought a select kind of goat was lagging from Indonesia. The Koreans behind the demand. At that time were considerably interested in a researcher was conducting an the flower. Sim tackled the task of experiment of embryo transplan- studying it and succeeded in tation at a field laboratory. He bringing Kimilsungia into bloom was the very Kim Tuk. His de- by means of tissue culture. With voted effort established a success- EOPLE’S SCIENTIST, the method developed, the plant ful method of embryo transplan- P Professor and Doctor Sim spread all across the country. tation by which to have several Jong Man is a researcher at the Later Sim successfully estab- baby goats from a mother goat at Botanical Tissue Culture Insti- lished methods of growing it and a time. This became the basis of tute of the Branch Academy of adjusting its blooming time. fast multiplication of goats Botanical Engineering under the Originally the plant sprouted in around the country. Now he is State Academy of Sciences. And spring, grew in summer and absorbed in the project of devel- Professor and Doctor Kim Tuk is a bloomed in autumn. But now oping artificial skin by stem cells, researcher of the Stem Cell Re- thanks to his research you can which will be of great service in search Institute of the same make it bloom even in the depth of improving the people’s health. He branch academy. They were both winter. He performed the main says, “The passage of time has soldiers of the Korean People’s role in publishing Kimilsungia brought us grey hair, yet I don’t Army who fought courageously Compendium, which is a national during the Fatherland Liberation treasure. At present he is engaged War. After the war they together in cultivating a new kind of flow- learned biology at Kim Il Sung ering plant. His daughter-in-law University and have since worked says, “One late night I saw him at the same scientific research writing down his research results institute. As a mortar shooter with difficulty with his crooked during the war Sim took part in a hand which became disabled dur- large number of battles near the ing the war. When I asked him to famous Height 1211 where the take it easy and look after him, he fiercest combats took place, and said scientific research was the thus did a meritorious service in country’s order to him. I was sur- repulsing the enemy’s Summer prised.” Offensive. Meanwhile, Kim Tuk, Kim Tuk is also a researcher as a scout, carried out reconnais- who has lived a devoted life for sance tasks successfully in the scientific research. Over the past enemy rear and thus made a great years he has conducted a lot of contribution to destroying an admirable researches, typically think I am old. I have a great deal enemy battery. the ones of making additives to of research projects to do for the The two veterans are conduct- cattle’s fodder, developing a better building of a thriving nation. So I ing research activities in the strain of goat by the method of always live with youthful vigour.” spirit they displayed during the embryo transplantation, extend- Although they are out of mili- war. What is particular about ing the egg-laying period of tary uniform the researchers have Sim’s 30-odd-year-long activities chicken, and manufacturing arti- never thought they are no longer is his verification of the biological ficial ox bezoar which is quite soldiers. Don’t look back on your properties of Kimilsungia, an helpful to improvement of human way however long it may be—this immortal flower, which was a health. In the late 1990s he began is their maxim. great contribution to the cultiva- to study how to propagate a good Sim Hyon Jin

30 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Pyongyang Jang Chol Gu University of Commerce

HE PYONGYANG JANG CHOL GU years alone teachers and students of the university T University of Commerce has produced lots of have won hundreds of certificates of invention or talented scientists and technicians for the sector of registered new technique and those of contrivance. public welfare service. Teachers of the faculty of public catering have fur- Jang Chol Gu was a cook of the Korean People’s ther subdivided subjects of cookery in accordance with Revolutionary Army during the anti-Japanese armed the world trend and developed new, practical cooking struggle. subjects in an effort to improve cuisine in the country. President Kim Il Sung wrote in his reminis- Not long ago they developed a subject of cooking art. cences With the Century: “All our people were de- The relevant teaching plan was drawn up in accord lighted at the renaming of the Pyongyang University with the trend of putting cuisine on the basis of art, so of Commerce after Jang Chol Gu. They were deeply it was highly commented upon at a seminar on con- moved by the fact that a university could be named tents and method of education held at the university. after the ordinary member of a cooking unit. Such a Han Yong Hun, dean of the faculty, says, “The title of honour, they said, could only be given under demand for tasty and highly nutritious dishes is our socialist system, which does not discriminate increasing day after day among the people. It is our between jobs, but holds in high esteem workers as unanimous will to work hard, without falling into unassuming heroes who work hard to provide their stagnation or stalemate, to produce excellent techni- fellow people with a comfortable life, good food, good cians and experts as the people’s requirement for clothing and good housing. better life is increasing with the passage of time.” “When renaming the Pyongyang University of The faculty placed the focus of education and re- Commerce as Jang Chol Gu University, we hoped that search on putting the preparation of Korean and other the younger generation would be workers as loyal to famous cuisine on a higher-level scientific basis and their revolutionary duty as Jang Chol Gu had been.” finding the way to prepare more palatable and highly The President’s instruction has served as a motto nutritious dishes with materials used in everyday of the university’s students and teachers. cooking. The research on processing of maize by The university has so far pushed ahead with the means of nanotechnology can be cited. They intensi- education and scientific research work for the pur- fied the research, thus succeeding in opening a vista pose of producing more and more commercial experts for using maize to make varieties of more nutritious and technicians who can faithfully serve the people and digestible staple food than those made with wheat true to their duty and mission. In the course of this flour. Ri Hyang Sim, a student, put forward lots of they discovered over a thousand sorts of national valuable ideas for the research. Leaving the venue of dishes, completed a Korean-style notation for gar- the graduation ceremony, she said, “I was deeply im- ment processing, developed lots of new subjects and pressed by the fact that the state had taken measures wrote thousands of kinds of reference books, thus to enable our people to relish pasty and other foreign steadily improving the education. dishes. I am now determined to keep learning as I did Four programs for commercial development pre- in my university days so as to help our people enjoy sented by the university were highly appreciated at a the best cuisine culture in the world.” software show held in Beijing, and in recent ten Kim Chol Ung Extracurricular instruction is helpful to improving the students’ attainment.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 31 Vitality-giving Regeneration Medicine

TEM CELLS CAN BE SAID TO BE THE cervical vertebra fracture, cerebral apoplexy, liver “S source of life. The study of stem cells, the basis cirrhosis, diabetes, ophthalmic diseases, chronic of regeneration medicine, is now regarded as one of kidney troubles, spinal arachnitis, myocardial in- the ten most important scientific research domains farction, bedsores, traumatic spinal injuries, multi- in the current century,” says Candidate Academi- ple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, and the re- cian, Professor and Doctor Ho In Hak, vice director of sults were very good. After operation the patients Kim Man Yu Hospital. soon began to show good signs. The condition of the Stem cells are those capable of proliferation, that patients with spinal osteoarthritis, who had been is, self-reproduction. Regeneration medicine is the paraplegic, improved remarkably, and one of them latest one that can treat obstinate diseases and pre- recovered from paraplegia three days after the op- vent aging by making necessary kinds of cell, tissue eration. and artificial organ with stem cells mixed with cer- Yun Chol, a worker of the Pyongyang Textile tain differentiation induction substances and im- Machine Factory, says, “Four years ago I was diag- planting them in the body. nosed as having chronically malfunctioning kidneys. In recent years Kim Man Yu Hospital has suc- At first I was hopeless because my condition was cessfully treated some diseases by implanting stem very bad. Then, after stem cells were implanted in cells, providing a guarantee for realizing the desire of my kidneys at Kim Man Yu Hospital, my condition people to live long in good health. Years ago doctors began to improve. I’ve got such operation five times. of the hospital succeeded in inventing the technique I’m now in the convalescent stage.” of separating, cultivating and implanting stem cells One day Hwang Kum Sun, 48, a resident of Tae- in focuses in conjunction with researchers of a rele- donggang District, Pyongyang, came to the hospital, vant institution. They implanted stem cells in a part led by her son. Her eyes looked normal at a glance, affected by aseptic femoral head necrosis, and the but she was blind. The hospital diagnosed her as lost tissues of the part were restored before begin- affected by retinal pigment degeneration. The dis- ning to function normally. A month after the im- ease was known as incurable. The doctors of the plantation the patient began to feel gradually less hospital, however, strove to scientifically identify the pain and became able to walk three times longer cause of the disease, and finally decided to introduce than he could before the operation. This inspired the implantation of stem cells in the treatment of her doctors with confidence and greater courage. They disease. They conducted operation on the patient by later carried out similar operations on scores of pa- combining implantation of stem cells and reproduc- tients with aseptic femoral head necrosis or sponta- tion of retinal veins. Fifty days after the operation neous gangrene, which showed good results at 90 to the woman became able to see again. 100 percent. Some who had been unable to walk The hospital has carried out implantation of stem recovered gradually and became able to rise to their cells over 1 000 times in people with different dis- feet two or three months after the operation. This eases, and their conditions have recovered or im- aroused a hope of recovery in those patients who had proved. In the course of this the doctors confirmed been diagnosed as impossible to recover. courses for implanting stem cells and kinds of such The doctors implanted stem cells in patients with cells for different diseases, ways to implant the cells, proper time for operation and re-implantation and Stem cells are implanted. parts for implantation. And they established methods of separating, culturing and testing stem cells and completed regulations for production and test of the cells, thus laying a stronger scientific foundation. The vice director says, “At first we thought that implantation of stem cells was the final means of treatment for prolonging a dying life. But while ob- serving patients after the clinical application of the method to their treatment, we found that the application of the method in the acute stage of diseases could bring about better results. We are now extending the range of treatment based on the method and constantly making surveys. And we will intensify our research in the direction of preventing chronic diseases.”

Rim Ok

32 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Starting Line

NE DAY IN MARCH LAST “Don’t you want to become a run- O a young woman was in deep ner?” thought in a plane bound for Py- Then Kum Ok said, “I like ongyang. She was Kim Kum Ok running best. I want to live while who had just won the women’s keeping running.” marathon race at the 14th Asian Months later, on their way to Marathon Championships. Look- the sports school, the coach said to ing out of the window of the plane the girl, “This is the beginning for she looked back upon her past. you, Kum Ok. Bear in mind that Kum Ok was small for her age you can win only when you think in her childhood. And people af- of no finishing line in training.” fectionately called her khongsae It was very far from Kum Ok’s because she always scampered home to the sports school. She, around. The nickname implanted however, decided to use the dis- unusual competitive spirit in the tance for her training. Her villag- child. ers saw her running every morn- One day when she was ten ing and evening. there was an autumn athletic With the passage of time she tactical intention, she had to exert meeting at her school. Seeing her began to distinguish herself in her strength explosively in a cer- toeing the line for a run, parents juvenile competitions, and her tain section of the route. She, of the schoolchildren had doubts fame became the pride of her par- however, was not prepared physi- of her win against her rivals— ents and villagers before she cally for the task. who were taller—though she was knew. This made her invited to One day, when running along usually fond of running. Their various congratulation meetings. the Taedong River, she happened doubts soon disappeared. As soon Then, one day when she re- to meet Kim Yun Hwa, a woman as the signal shot was fired Kum ferred to her indisposition as the judoist, who was running as long Ok began to run as fast as a swal- reason of no further progress in a distance as she was. They soon low and far ahead of all her rivals. her record, Paek said in an un- became friends who could have a When she became the first to precedentedly serious tone, “It is heart-to-heart talk with each breast the tape by running swiftly because your spirit, not your phy- other. Having understood Kum as if winged, the spectators burst sique, has reached the limit.” Ok’s desire to exalt the honour of into admiration raising cheers for The coach’s words came home the country by winning the cham- her. Among them was a man who to Kum Ok who had been buoyed pionship of the world women’s was attentively and mutely ob- up by her small success. Now she marathon, a symbol of sports, Yun serving her. He was Paek Tong determinedly began to train hard Hwa often kept company of the Nam, a coach of the Mangyongdae again. At last she was regarded as runner in training, even on the District Juvenile Sports School, a promising runner and in 2004 day when she overfulfilled her who that day was there at Kum was admitted to the April 25 training task. Sometimes Kum Ok’s school to select pupils to be Sports Team. From then on she Ok practised in judo with her recruits of the sports school. The carried out more difficult tasks of friend deep into the night because coach found her good in speed, training, and at the same time she found judo similar to mara- strength and stamina for her age grew once again in mentality thon in developing leg strength and physique. while learning keenly the state’s and grit. In the course of this Pulling her by the arm toward deep concern for sportspersons. Kum Ok learned various neces- him from the crowd packed Her move to the sports team sary knacks from Yun Hwa who around her, he asked her, “Can meant the realization of another would display stubbornness and you run any more now if I ask you dream in her life, and yet she kept wonderful strength. to?” training hard as if she had just As a result Kum Ok won the “Yes, I can,” she replied with- toed the line. Her shortcoming women’s marathon race at the out hesitation. was her failure to exert her Asian Marathon Championships Holding his rising excitement strength properly. If she was to held in October 2006. with patience, Paek asked again, run in accordance with her coach’s Whenever her friends praised ►

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 33

Tǒk-do Seabird Reserve

N THE SEABIRD RESERVE propagate in high rocky cliffs I on Tǒk Islet in the West Sea and raised parts of rocks on of Korea there are found sum- the shore and Ardea cinerea mer birds and resident birds. In propagate in rocky cliffs in addition, many kinds of migra- the western and northern tory birds stop there while mov- parts. ing. In particular, it is an im- The reserve is one of the portant place for the propaga- major places of propagation of tion of Platalea minor whose Platalea minor, whose propa- kind is under global protection gating rate is very low. Accord- as an indigenous kind in East ing to the investigation there Asia and E. eulophotes. were 19 eggs in 5 nests. Out of Investigations confirmed them the number of eggs that the reserve is inhabited hatched out totalled 9. There- Spoonbills. by nearly 60 kinds of birds. fore, the incubative rate was 48 The number of Platalea minor percent. When propagation is tion of Platalea minor. And amounted to 10-14, that of E. over, all the family groups during the time of propagation eulophotes 400-600 (950 at the propagated on the islet form people are not allowed to ap- maximum), that of Larus ar- bigger groups in early Septem- proach the reserve— which gentatus 40-60, that of Ardea ber and roam about in quest of might startle the birds—and cinerea 14-20, and that of E. food on the shore of reservoirs collect eggs out from the nests. garzetta 2-4. and tideland and take a rest. On top of that, a great deal Studies found that Platalea Then they gradually begin to of effort goes into protecting minor propagate at spots of migrate to other places. the surrounding circumstances rocks tens of metres high and The reserve is under special that are favourable to birds’ in woods of elder trees and care of the government. Efforts activities for food. cherry trees on the shore and are put into prevention of dam- cormorants propagate at raised age from vega herring gulls Kim Kyong Sun, researcher spots of rocky cliffs. Besides, and black-tailed gulls that are a of the Nature Conservation 1 600–3 500 black-tailed gulls big harassment to the propaga- Union of Korea

► her as a winner of an interna- And I will cultivate myself event of the 14th Asian Marathon tional competition and when she with enthusiasm. Championships. Looking through suffered from a high fever, Kum the window of the plane which Ok would think of training alone. With such enthusiasm and was slowly nosing down, she saw Her juniors once asked her determined effort she brought people cheering on the land. Her why she, an international compe- proud successes to the country: success achieved at a time when tition winner, trained as hard as she won in succession the the country was resolutely frus- they did. Then she said only what women’s half-course marathon of trating the imperialist allied Paek had said. “No finishing line the 24th Universiad held in Au- forces’ unprecedented schemes in training.” She wrote a poem as gust 2007, the women’s event of had greatly excited the people. follows. the 11th Asian Marathon Champi- Journalists showered ques- onships held in February 2008, tions to her, when Kum Ok re- Even fertile land is overgrown the women’s half-course mara- plied with a placid smile, “I al- with weeds thon of the 5th East Asian Games ways think of the starting line If it is out of cultivation. held in December 2009, the alone. At the line I feel the An athlete’s life is worthless women’s marathon of the World country and the people’s constant Apart from training. Military Games held in 2011. care for me.” I will always make Now she was on the way back strenuous effort, home after winning the women’s Ri Kum Chol

34 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 By Their Own Efforts

ONSAN COUNTY, NORTH neighbouring region. among the working people of the Y Hwanghae Province, is a Not far away from the power county, and they completed the small county well-known for its station is a holiday centre with a project by pooling their creative having lots of mountains and hills Korean-style gable roof for farm wisdom. from ancient times. The county workers of the county. The build- Kim Myong Sun, a holiday- was regarded as a place difficult ing of the centre has the following maker from the county town, said, to live in, and not a few people story. One day before the inaugu- “Now we are having a pleasant had left the county. Today, how- ration of the power station, Kim time because all of us exerted ever, it has changed into a place Yun Sop, a senior official of the ourselves to make our native good to live in, thus drawing county, on his way back from place, our village and our county many people. The county now has inspection of the power station, into those good to live in. The three prides—a power station, a stopped on a spot. He found it happiness doesn’t come of itself. holiday centre and plenty of natu- more than picturesque with a We have to create it by our own ral resources. joining point of Hwangdae Stream efforts.” Three years ago the officials and a mountain stream. He hit Yonsan County is rich in de- and working people of the county on an idea of building a holiday posits of underground resources built an army-people power sta- centre there for farm workers of like limestone. They are precious tion with their own efforts. It was the county. assets for the improvement of the no easy job because they had no A few days relevant experience and techni- later, the idea cians. But, believing that when was brought up they exerted themselves to de- for discussion at velop their county they would a county meet- become able to enjoy happiness, ing. All partici- they all set to and finished the pants of the construction of the power station meeting actively in a short period of time. This supported it made them realize that they can and put forward do anything when they rely on reasonable con- their own resources. The electric- struction plans. ity from the power station is more The construction than enough to be used by the became a matter county and so is supplied to its of great concern

The holiday centre and the Yonsan Army-People Power Station. county people’s living standards. Having built a cement production base fed with raw materials available in the county, they are pushing ahead with the construction and renovation of dwelling houses, public catering establishments and welfare service amenities. The officials and working people of the county say in unison, “When you develop your place with your own efforts, you will surely become able to enjoy happiness.”

Sim Chol Yong

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 35 Note of Visit to the Central Zoo (2)

Houses of beasts of prey, used to frequent the zoo and, studying the real ob- a great public haunt jects, drew the morphologic features of tigers, the expression in their eyes and their movements and FTER GETTING OUT OF THE AQUARIUM, thus became a famous painter of Korean tigers. A we headed for houses of beasts of prey along a Bear pits were built up in accord with the peculi- straight path. Visible there were a rare white tiger arities of bears that hibernate in rocky caverns or in that general director Choe Su Jin of the General the hollow trunk of old trees, thus arousing delight- Company for the Development of the National Econ- ful emotions among the spectators. omy in Heilongjiang Province, China, presented to A variety of tricks played by bears were exciting Chairman Kim Jong Il in June 2004, a Bengali tiger bursts of uproarious laughter of the spectators. Some whose kind is found in India and the Bengali region people turned from their way to other animal houses and a Korean tiger that is a traditional symbol of attracted by the spectators’ boisterous laughter. intrepidity in Korea. Also to be seen there were Afri- Many were speaking highly of the animal keepers can lions that keep coming and going assiduously who were making ferocious animals obedient to and ostentatiously, flying their long manes of deep them. Keepers were controlling wild beasts by mak- chestnut colour. Seen in the nearby bear house were ing various gestures with hands and shouting words different kinds of bears that were playing in a cute of command without missing even a slight change in manner despite their big bodies. their feelings. At times their appearance looked like A girder bridge is set up so that the spectators that of a strict teacher and at other times like that of can get a general view of the wild beasts at a glance a mother who affectionately reasoned with her chil- from there. On this bridge they were enjoying a dren. Some people waited for Kim Sun Ok to come pleasant time to their heart’s content. Some mis- out and asked her how she became intimate with chievous boys stepped up to indignant wild beasts fierce animals. that were jumping up high and tried to demonstrate In reply the animal keeper said, “Not that things their fearlessness. With tall trees planted, lawns went on smoothly from the beginning. Many a time I formed and big and small rocks placed harmoniously was stricken with such a fear that I could hardly step the open-air playground expanded on a large scale into the beasts’ houses. But judging from their ap- looked like a forest. Seeing a mysterious scene of the pearance I could tell beasts of prey like brave people tiger and the lion living together on good terms much more. So I boldly approached and took care of though they are regarded as the “emperor” in deep them in every aspect. To my surprise, these fierce mountains and in the wilderness, the spectators animals were tamed before I was not aware of it. The were experiencing a new world of the savage beasts. number of young tigers I have brought up by artifi- On the high wall formed like a steep cliff built on the cial lactation totals more than 10. Now they are giv- basis of scientific calculation, the spectators enjoyed ing great amusement to the visitors.” the sight of tigers and lions that were sitting New keepers are working harder, and thanks to astraddle on a fallen tree and rocks with noncha- their responsible manner of work the number of lance. beasts of prey is on the increase from year to year. Kim Sun Ok who had been working there as a “Some of their offsprings are sent to provincial zoos,” keeper for more than 40 years said proudly that Choe Sun Ok added. Now we left for another animal house Myong Sik, an artist of the Mansudae Art Studio, for news coverage.

36 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Article by Chae Kwang Myong Photos by Ra Phyong Ryol

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 37 Koguryo’s Fort Unearthed and Ascertained

GROUP OF KOREAN the period of Koryo. which falls on the period of build- A history researchers including The recent investigation found ing the Walled City of Pyongyang. those from the history depart- out that the fort was in accord It was proved that Koguryo, hav- ment of Kim Il Sung University with those built in the period of ing fixed Pyongyang as its capital, unearthed the Sosan Fort, a Koguryo in the form, construction built the Sosan Fort as a subsidi- subsidiary defence position of method and stonework. The fort ary defence fort. Besides, it has the capital city in the period of belongs to Koguryo’s typical become evident that the defence Koguryo, in Sonnae-dong, Man- Korobong style, the stones of the system of the Walled City of Py- gyongdae District, Pyongyang, walls are well cut like a square ongyang was in good order. and newly ascertained its charac- spindle, the same as those used The unearthing and scientific ter. With a 92.6 m-high hill of Mt. in the period of Koguryo. ascertainment of the Sosan Fort So as the main peak the site cov- Found in the rampart and is attracting the attention of aca- ers a certain area southeast of it. other sites were relics that date demic circles as an achievement of The fort is of a rectangular shape back to the period of Koguryo great significance in conducting and is 2 170 m round. including red roof tiles. studies of fort construction tech- Sinjungdonggukyojisungnam Through the unearthed relics niques in the period of Koguryo (Revised Handbook of Korean and historical materials the date and the contemporary history and Geography) compiled in 1530 and and purpose of building the fort culture. history documents published later were made clear anew. The Sosan tell that the Sosan Fort was built Fort can be considered to have Article by Kim Son Ae in the 12th century, that is, during been built between 552 and 586, Photos by Kim Jong Chol

38 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Pagoda of Kumgang Temple (model)

HE PYONGYANG FOLK T Park has a pagoda section in the area where historic relics are put on display. The pagoda of the Kumgang Temple which stands in the pagoda section is a model of a pagoda in the Kumgang Temple (the temple site in Taesong Dis- trict, Pyongyang) that was built in earthen walls southwest of the Anhak Palace in the period of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668). The bedrock unearthed in the site of the Kumgang Temple was trimmed into an octagonal shape and trimmed stones were piled up around it to build a foundation. This is a good indication of laying techniques in those days. The model of the pagoda was erected with reference to findings from the site and documentary data. It is an octagonal, seven- storeyed, wooden pavilion-style pagoda furnished with railings. It is divided into the body and head parts. The body part is of seven storeys. The ground floor is especially higher than the other floors and from the first floor the height of each storey becomes less, giving a sense of good bal- ance and security and magnificence. The width of floors also the pagoda shows well the wooden speed lift, so visitors can go up to decreases upward in a certain architecture of the Koguryo peo- the balcony on every floor and proportion. The head part con- ple. The model pagoda in the enjoy a general view of the park. sists of the lower, middle and Pyongyang Folk Park is more upper divisions. than 60 metres high. Installed in Article and photo The architectural structure of the centre of the inside is a high- by Ri Song Ik

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 39 Korean Central History Museum (2)

Koguryo whose state condition to run a feudal agricul- ploitation. This is evident from priority was defence tural economy following the de- the typical flat arrowheads of buildup velopment of productivity based Koguryo which were found along on the growing production of iron with steel and iron farming tools and the extensive use of iron in- at the Ronam-ri site that seems to HEN WE ENTERED THE struments, and it was also the date back to the period from the W next room past those dedi- outcome of the rapid demolition of fourth to the third century B.C. cated to the ancient times, the the slave-owning economy due to The first capital city of Koguryo guide announced, “From here the intensifying struggle of the was Jolbon, which is located in you’ll see remains and remnants slaves against their owners’ ex- the Huanren area, Liaoning ►

Coats of mails and a long sword with a ring-shaped handle.

The Monument to the Mausoleum of King Kwanggaetho. that show the history of Korean feudal states in the Middle Ages.” Her explanation continued, “Feudal society in Korea existed for nearly 2 200 years from the third century B.C. to the middle of the 19th century A.D. The earliest feudal states were Koguryo, Paekje, Silla, Kaya and Later Puyo. When Later Puyo and Kaya were amalgamated to Koguryo and Silla respectively, there remained Koguryo, Paekje and Silla alone. Historically this period of time is referred to as the Period of the Three Kingdoms. The first feudal state of them was Koguryo and it was in the longest existence of the three states.” Koguryo was established by Ko Ju Mong, or King Tongmyong, as successor to the ancient state of Kuryo, and existed from 277 B.C. to A.D.668. The foundation of the state was the result of the emer- gence of the enough economic

40 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► Province, China at present. accord by sending a poem to the a legend of the founding of the In the room we saw a table of enemy commander. The guide country and other facts. It was set successive kings of Koguryo told us that Yang Man Chun and up in 414 as one of the biggest of which gives an intensive view of Yon Kaesomun were also cele- its kind in the East still remain- the history of the state. According brated military commanders of ing. to it the state was under the rule Koguryo who led struggles The guide said that there are of over 30 kings, including King against foreign invaders to vic- quite a few mural tombs of Tongmyong, for nearly 1 000 tory. There we saw models of ar- Koguryo in the Jian area regis- years. Over the years it devel- moured cavalry that played a role tered as world heritage. “Koguryo oped into a powerful country with similar to the tank force in the moved its capital to Pyongyang in a great territory. After its foun- Koguryo’s army, and 58 models of 427 for the purpose of unifying dation it, as of the early first cavalry horses unearthed at Chol Paekje, Silla and Kaya which century A.D., had a vast expanse Pass, Kosan County, Kangwon were states of the same bloodline of territory that reached the East Province. Fifty-four of them were into a country,” said the guide, Sea of Korea to the east, the Hun- made of iron and the four of ushering us to a model of the An- he river and the upper Taizi-he bronze. When I asked if they were hak Palace, a royal palace of river to the west, the Maritime materials used in ceremonies for Koguryo. The palace was encir- Province of Russia to the north- victorious fights Koguryo people cled by walls in a rectangular east and the Taedong River to the held before leaving to battle- shape—each side being 622 m in south. According to a table on grounds, for the models were length—and there were over 50 the country’s struggle against mostly in armour, the guide said I luxurious buildings and gardens invasions from outside forces, was right and continued with her in it. It was the royal residence for Koguryo worked hard to build a explanation. “These models are 16 years after the moving of the strong feudal state by uniting valuable things that show the capital. Its architectural develop- Ancient Joson, Puyo and Jinguk level of development of Koguryo’s ment was verified when a decora- which had all been established metallurgy around the third cen- tive roof tile, 2.1 m in height, and by the ancestors of Koguryo, and tury as well as its national its support under it were un- as a result regained all its terri- power.” earthed in the site. tory in the middle of the 370s, The next attraction in the When we were admiring the which extended down to the room was a plan of a mountain magnificence of the Anhak Pal- Daling-he line in the Liaodong fortress layout. It was a sign of ace, the guide pointed to a picture peninsula. the historical fact that the on a wall, saying it shows the We dropped in at the place Koguryo people built a large reconstructed Mausoleum of King where there were arms and number of mountain fortresses of Tongmyong. From olden times weaponry of Koguryo on display. diversified forms in places of Koreans had the custom of bring- Some typical ones were a long great military and geographical ing tombs of the founder king sword with a ring-shaped handle, importance and thus built up with them whenever they moved an acoustic arrow, a piece of ar- defence capabilities iron-firmly. the capital of the state, so the mour and a gilt-bronze shoe From the remains we had a fresh Koguryo people who cherished the whose kind was usually won by idea of the patriotic mind and memory of their founder king cavalrymen. The most attractive military spirit of the Koguryo Tongmyong moved his mauso- was the harnessry. The different people. leum to Pyongyang when they things for horse riding were in- Then we went over to the next moved their capital to Pyongyang dicative of the fact that the room. The guide said, “Koguryo in 427. The old tomb was recon- Koguryo people usually loved moved its capital from Huanren, structed as befits that of the horse riding. “The unusually pa- Liaoning Province, to Jian, founder king of Koguryo in 1993. triotic-minded and strongly-built Jilin Province, in the year Broken pieces of roof tiles and a people of Koguryo repulsed for- 3 A.D. Therefore, there remain human spine bone with an arrow eign invaders at a stroke. This is a Koguryo’s sites and remnants in piercing it reminded us of the life portrait of General Ulji Mundok the Jian area, Jilin Province, as of King Tongmyong. who distinguished himself in wars it was the second capital of Impressed by the idea that against foreign aggressors,” said Koguryo.” The guide told us about King Tongmyong opened a new the guide, indicating a portrait. a typical example. It was a life- chapter of feudal society in Korea She told us a story about how he size model of the Monument to and that the country attached had made a reconnaissance of the the Mausoleum of King Kwang- importance to military affairs, we enemy by entering the enemy gaetho, the 24th king of Koguryo. went to another room. camp single-handedly on the pre- Standing 6.34 m high, the monu- text of negotiation and made the ment has more than 1 800 char- Article by Rim Ok enemy forces recede of their own acters on its four sides which tell Photos by Kim Jong Su

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 41 Pyongyang Undergoes Facelift

KOREA TODAY vice centres including the Breast pier life and guaranteeing a civi- A reporter recently had a Tumour Institute of the Pyongy- lized and cultural life for them. talk with Kim Kuk Nam, a senior ang Maternity Hospital. These On top of that, the state sees to it official of the Capital City Con- facilities guarantee the develop- that the principle of fidelity to the struction Commission. ment of physical culture in the people’s comfort and kindness in In recent years the appear- country and the promotion of their service is observed in plan- ance of the capital city of Pyongy- health of the people. ning construction projects in a ang has undergone a complete In addition, bases for commer- thorough way and that the princi- change with many projects in- cial service have been set up in ple of convenience before the aes- cluding Changjon Street and succession, including the Mansu- thetic value is embodied through- Rungna People’s Pleasure gyo Meat and Fish Shop, the out the process of construction Ground. Mansugyo Soft-drink Bar, the and in actual building jobs. The That’s right. In accordance Pothonggang Fish Shop, and the builders pay primary attention with a plan of the Workers’ Party Pyongyang Children’s Depart- to the quality of all the construc- of Korea to build up Pyongyang as ment Store, the construction of tion projects—so that they are a city of worldwide fame modern the Pyongyang Folk Park cover- completed on the highest level— buildings sprang up everywhere ing an enormous area has been with the sense that they should in recent years. As a result, the completed and parks have been take responsibility for the safety looks of the capital city have im- newly built up everywhere, thus of the projects and guarantee proved beyond recognition. In enabling the people to enjoy a their absolute quality for all recent years alone new streets, cultural and emotional life more eternity. amenities, sports and cultural splendidly. A distinctive feature of con- facilities, commercial service On Rungna Islet, an alluvial struction of late is the carrying bases, pleasure grounds, parks islet, there rose up a dolphinar- out of a number of projects simul- and other establishments have ium, a wading-pool, an amuse- taneously at a lightning tempo in been set up along modern lines in ment park, mini-golf courses, a the shortest time and in many most suitable places. The old sports park furnished with up-to- places instead of doing them one street in the Mansudae area was date facilities. As a result, the old by one. Moreover, the projects are totally removed and Mansudae appearance of this area is hardly very gigantic in scale. Speaking of ► Street and Changjon Street con- to be found now. genial to our people’s ideology and Besides, the Rangnang Potato feelings and their aesthetic incli- Processing Factory and many nation and the demand of the other light industry factories have current century were erected in a sprung up in different parts of the short space of time and apartment capital city, laying a foundation houses in modern style were built for enhancement of the people’s in the Haebangsan area and in material and cultural living stan- various places in Pyongyang and dards. thus ordinary working people I should like to know what moved into new dwelling houses. measures have been taken in the The People’s Theatre was country to give a new appearance completed in harmony with the to the capital city, and the dis- skyscrapers on Changjon Street tinctive features of the construc- and public service amenities were tion of the city. built above and under the ground Positive measures have been where people are provided with taken to convert Pyongyang into a ideal conveniences. Visible on the more magnificent and beautiful opposite side of Changjon Street city as befits the capital of the across the Taedong River is the DPRK and the centre of the na- Ryugyong Health Complex, a tional culture and build much public welfare establishment. more cultural and welfare estab- Also to be seen in the city are lishments, parks and recreation up-to-date sports facilities and grounds for the people along mod- bases for public service such as ern lines. A great deal of effort is the Taekwon-Do Holy Centre, the going into the building of more Yanggak-do Sports Village, the establishments directly related People’s Open-air Ice Rink, the with the people’s living in the Roller Rink and the Thongilgori direction of providing the people Fitness Centre and medical ser- with a more bountiful and hap-

42 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► Changjon Street, the removing of country reached an extreme and capital city construction. Apart- the previous old street as a whole our country is in a situation in ment houses for 20 000 families was an arduous job, but erecting a which a war may break out again currently under construction in larger street than the previous at any moment. But we are not the vicinity of railway tracks in one in a short time of slightly over scared. Even at the time when the Pyongyang will be completed in a a year was a formidable task US imperialists’ armed spy ship short space of time and flower whose completion was almost Pueblo was captured by our navy parks and fountain parks will be impossible when viewed from while conducting espionage ac- newly built at different places. existing formulas and building tivities in our territorial waters in Bases for medical service of the methods. Therefore, when we the East Sea of Korea in 1968, highest level will be laid as well, made public a plan to build when we shot down the US impe- including a children’s hospital, so Changjon Street hostile forces rialists’ large-sized espionage that they can make a contribution argued that the construction of plane EC-121 which had intruded to the promotion of the well-being Changjon Street was nothing but into our territorial air space in of the people. “a desk theory” and that they 1969 and when the US imperial- Sports establishments and would eat their hat if we complete ists’ premeditated provocative facilities including the Pyongyang the project in the set time. incident happened in the joint Indoor Stadium, the Chongchun- In spite of the continuous and security area of Panmunjom in gori Sports Village and the Peo- harsh economic sanctions and 1976 there created a critical ple’s Palace of Culture will be strained situation we finished situation of a war breaking out reconstructed along modern lines; Changjon Street on the highest immediately on the Korean pen- the second-stage project of the level in a short period of one insula. However, at no time did Pyongyang Folk Park will make year. we suspend socialist economic headway. As a result, a greater This country is in the acutest construction in fear of the United change will take place in the and tensest situation since the States and outbreak of war. We physical culture of the country armistice. What is the prospect of have the guts to push our con- and in the entertainment of the the construction of the capital city struction work forward until people. The appearance of the like? twelve o’clock tonight even when central Pyongyang will be re- With our launching of an arti- we know a war is going to break newed and up-to-date cultural ficial earth satellite for peaceful out just tomorrow and have un- facilities such as fun fairs and purposes and our nuclear test as a wavering faith that we are sure to the Munsu wading pool where momentum, the pressure brought win victory in our righteous people can enjoy a pleasant by the United States and the struggle. We have drawn up a time will be built in greater other hostile forces to bear on our huge-scale prospective plan of numbers.

Changjon Street.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 43 Short Novel Lifeline

By Jo Ryong Chol

(Continued from the last is- cessful immediately as the tech- for the first half of the year. sue) nical section chief has just said. Around the time the factory was But as we can’t tell what the re- having quite a difficulty in pro- OMRADE GENERAL sult would be we have only one duction because of short supply of “C Manager, please …” Jin way in hand. We have to bring import additives. Chol did not conclude his words additives from abroad. I mean There was a knock at the door. putting a folded piece of white until Jin Chol’s project comes to Cha looked up and there appeared paper out of his breast pocket, as success, as the vice general man- Jin Chol at the door. He motioned if he had read the general manager has said.” him to a chair while taking up a ager’s mind. Cha lent an attentive ear to phone. “What’s up?” he asked to “What’s this?” Cha asked. his assertion. The deputy chief the other end of the line. Another “It’s a list of reagents needed,” engineer also agrees that there is phone rang. “What? An electric Jin Chol replied. no other alternative but to import motor has burnt for an overload in Cha skimmed the list. Some the additives from abroad. If the the First Workshop? Then, why kinds of the reagents were out of additives are bought from foreign don’t you repair it right now, sec- stock at the factory at the mo- countries continuously, what tion chief? How could you be at a ment. He felt it futile to bustle could become of the country’s loss? No. Bring the motor to life about obtaining reagents for the economy? before the day is out.” unpromising research project. His Cha cast another glance at Jin Cha hurled the receiver on the factory was having a full supply of Chol, who was still hanging his saddle, and glanced at the piece of the import additives, making Jin head down. Now the general paper which was filled with let- Chol’s research redundant. And manager recalled: When was it ters without any blank. with the supply the factory had that Jin Chol came to see me for “It’s a list of experimental fulfilled the yearly plan ahead of the second time? It was one mid- facilities needed. Hmmm, a motor schedule. June day last year when the fac- …” he looked through the list. All “I appreciate your work, Jin tory finished the production plan things listed were what could ► Chol,” Cha said, “I’m on my way to the Management Bureau, and I’m going to talk to you when I’m back.” He patted him on the shoulder with a smile on his face before getting into the car. Then, he forgot his promise for good.

“As I said the other day,” the deputy chief engineer argued enthusiastically, “our factory has been modernly equipped now. But however modern it is, it would be useless if we failed to keep it in operation. It would be a good luck if we saw Jin Chol’s research suc-

44 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 ► hardly be provided because of the Cha lamented. He had called at sible for the production of the tight plan of production. Jin Chol’s lab again the day be- factory.” “What about the research of fore. Studying the experiment All the eyes turned to Cha at additives?” Cha asked. diary he was surprised to find an instant—dubiously. What did “Well, I’ve discovered catalyst additive T surpassing the stan- he mean by saying that? Is the T,” answered Jin Chol, producing dard numerical values. But there general manager to blame for the an experiment diary from his was still a long way to go—to lay a rise in the price of the additives? flank and unfolding it in front of process for production of the ad- “All of you have said that we the general manager. ditives. The way to go might be as are not to suspend the operation “Really? Let me see.” Cha long as the one they had trod- of the factory. I agree with you. began to study the diary. It was a den— probably longer. Regret The problem is how to keep it great event that the engineer had flooded in his heart. If he had going ahead. Some of you say we found T which was the essential helped him earlier … Reproach- have to import additives until Jin material in compounding the ing himself Cha had asked the Chol succeeds in his research into additives. It was just for want of technical section chief to bring additives. To tell the truth, I used T that the factory had been de- Jin Chol to the next day’s confer- to be of the same opinion. But pendent on a foreign supply. ence. such a way of thinking would Leafing through the diary, Cha “You give us an explanation, never tide us over—even in ten felt his excitement cooling like a Jin Chol,” the general manager or twenty years. Because we all fireplace without stoking. The asked the engineer who was sim- would pin up our hope on the result was hardly satisfactory. It ply fondling the experiment diary supply of additives from abroad.” failed to reach the standard. A with his head lowered. Cha looked round. Curious more difficult problem was how Jin Chol stood up. “I’ve noth- eyes were looking up at him. The to lay a process for the producing to say. Attending this meeting general manager continued to tion of the additives. He recalled I feel more sorely that I’m consid- say, “We can no longer expect he had many such experiences. erably responsible for the affair. If foreign additives. Then, do we Some successful researches had I had finished the research earlier have no alternatives? I declare turned out to be little profitable by exerting greater enthusiasm right here that we ought to de- in reality and disappeared si- we wouldn’t have had difficulties pend on things of our own for our lently. right now. I am sorry.” lifeline. If the officials present at “You need not be dispirited. Jin Chol sat down heavily. this meeting had pinned the life of Keep on with your research. By There was no more argument. the factory on Jin Chol’s research the way, we have to talk about the Everybody seemed to be cha- into additives, the research would supply of experiment facilities grined by his words. None of those have come to success already. If when we have finished the pro- present at the meeting blamed we officials work hard in real duction plan for the first half of him because they had all been earnest for the sake of Jin Chol’s the year. The factory is already disinterested in his research as research, then we’ll be able to under considerable strain, you they had received additives from have our additives surely. There know, for want of additives.” the state. The dead silence in the is no other way to keep our factory Jin Chol disappointedly made room would not turn comfortable. in operation. So much for this a nod and plodded out of the room Even a needle falling could be meeting. And it will be the last giving a sigh … heard. meeting of this kind.” Cha rose from his seat. He If I had begun to support his said, “You have put forward argu- Two months later the factory research at that time belatedly, ments, and I take them as con- successfully set up a process of he would have made a success of demnation to me. All the prob- mass production of additives. it and we would not need to have a lems are ascribable to me, the serious meeting at the moment, general manager, who is respon- (The end)

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 45 The Motive Force of National Reunification Rests on the Koreans’ Efforts

T PRESENT THE CAUSE OF NATIONAL solidarity and unity of pro-reunification forces A reunification, a long-cherished aspiration of the strengthened. In these circumstances the reconcilia- Korean people, is in a serious phase due to atrocious tion and unity of the nation were promoted and the machinations of the anti-reunification forces in and reunification movement made headway. out. The US imperialists and the south Korean pup- However, the cause of independent reunification pet bellicose forces, picking fault with the Democ- is now faced with great obstacles and ordeals due to ratic People’s Republic of Korea’s legitimate launch- the challenge and obstructive manoeuvrings of the ing of a satellite for peaceful purposes and its carry- divisionist forces within and without. In south Korea ing out of a nuclear test as a just self-defensive personages and organizations fighting for reunifica- measure, manipulated the adoption of rigorous reso- tion are now subjected to persecution and repression, lutions at the UN Security Council. And they con- charged with “pro-north, enemy-benefiting” acts, and ducted Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military the nation’s common functions for reunification are exercises despite strong opposition. Therefore, a not allowed to be held. Such a situation calls for touch-and-go situation was created in the Korean further strengthening the unity and endeavour of the peninsula where a war might break out at any mo- pro-reunification forces in order to cope with the ment. The present developments demand of all the challenge of the anti-reunification forces. patriotic Koreans to continuously and vigorously The struggle for national reunification is in an advance the era of independent reunification, rallied acute confrontation between the patriotic forces for closely in one mind and with one will and shattering reunification and the traitorous forces for division. the provocation of the anti-reunification forces in The United States and the sycophantic, traitorous reliance upon the nation’s own efforts. south Korean regime have no liking for national The driving force of national reunification is the reconciliation, cooperation and reunification and are Korean nation. The issue of Korea’s reunification is driving in only clouds of confrontation and war, going that of linking again the nation’s vessel severed into against the national aspiration. Without frustrating the north and the south and realizing national unity such confrontation moves of the internal and exter- and that of establishing sovereignty on a nationwide nal partitionist forces the north-south relations can- scale. The Koreans are directly responsible for set- not improve nor can independent reunification be tlement of the reunification issue. So the task aimed achieved, peace be brought about or prosperity be at regaining national sovereignty cannot be en- attained. trusted to foreign forces. All the patriotic Koreans living in the north, The history of the national reunification move- south and overseas must resolutely smash confron- ment so far has shown that when the might of the tation and war machinations of the anti- driving force of national reunification is increased reunification forces in firm unity. the cause of independent reunification can be pushed National unity is the fundamental guarantee for forward dynamically. After the historic June 15 strengthening the driving force of reunification and North-South Joint Declaration was made public in achieving independent reunification in reliance upon 2000 all the Koreans living in the north and south as its might. National reunification can be achieved well as abroad, conducted a reunification movement when all fellow countrymen place the nation’s com- on a nationwide scale, holding aloft the banner of “by mon interests at the top of their consideration and our nation itself.” Not only in the north but also in subordinate everything to them, irrespective of dif- the south people from all strata including workers, ferences in their ideologies, ideals, political views, farmers, artists, religionists and statesmen took part religious beliefs, property status and social stand- in the national reunification movement on a mass ings. scale, the movement that had been conducted only by All the Koreans must push the reunification specific organizations working for the national re- movement forward more dynamically in firm unity, unification movement. Vigorous cheers of “We are conscious that they are directly responsible for the one!” and “National reunification” raised by Koreans solution of the reunification problem. in the north and the south rang out everywhere—in Pyongyang, Mt. Kumgang, Pusan, Jeju Island—and Kim Ja Yong

46 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Malevolent Distortion of Criminal Sexual Slavery

FTER TAKING OFFICE IN DECEMBER ery was an organizational one committed by the A last year Japanese Prime Minister Abe said, military of Japan with the backing of the govern- referring to Japan’s past crime of sexual slavery, that ment. As the Sino-Japanese War was prolonged and there was no evidence of the old Japanese troops’ the area of their occupation extended, the marching forcible mobilization of women as “comfort women” units of the Japanese army each set up and operated for them. The Chief Cabinet Secretary overtly ex- “comfort centres.” In the course of this there arose pressed the intention to re-examine the 1993 Kono different problems. To cope with this the military Statement that admitted the Japanese imperialists’ authorities of Japan made sure that all problems crime of sexual slavery. Abe’s foreign policy adviser related to the system of “comfort women” such as said as follows: The Kono Statement, as a result of a setup and operation of “comfort centres” and mobili- past diplomatic mistake, turned the issue of “comfort zation and control of “comfort women” were subject women” into an international one. In this case Ja- to their instructions. They cooked up and issued to pan, a defeated nation, becomes isolated. The educa- the relevant units the so-called “principles” such as tional sector should hold that there was no issue of those of putting the mobilization of “comfort women” sexual slavery. thoroughly under the control of the local expedition- Early last century the Japanese imperialists, ary force and mobilizing “comfort women” in contact regarding it as a means of war to satisfy the sexual with and with the help of the local military police and desire of their aggressor soldiers, forcibly took, kid- gendarmes. This led to the full-scale forcible taking napped and abducted 200 000 Korean women and of women by the local gendarmes and the relevant lots of women from other countries to be used as expeditionary aggressor forces. sexual slaves for the soldiers. The compulsion of the And, starting the Pacific war, the Japanese im- sexual slavery was proved by lots of relevant data perialists defined it as an important job of the mili- and eyewitness evidence. Still, it is necessary to tary to give “sexual comfort” to their soldiers as a recollect what happened. measure to raise their morale in battle, and set up a The Japanese imperialists’ crime of sexual slav- relevant department. Accordingly, a system of oper- ►

“Comfort centres” found in places where Japanese troops were stationed and Japanese soldiers awaiting their turn at “comfort centres”.

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 47 ► ating “comfort centres” was established from the top searched streets, villages and even mountains for through units at the lowest level of the old Japanese women, whether they were married or unmarried, army, and under the unified system Japanese ag- under age or of an age. gressor troops committed crimes of sexual slavery. The Japanese imperialists overtly conducted The then military authorities of Japan directly pro- flesh traffic for the procurement of “comfort women” vided the expeditionary units with money necessary and unhesitatingly dragged women for sexual slav- for taking and transporting “comfort women” and ery on the pretext of “delivery of young women to the saw that the shipping and transport of “comfort government” or debt payment. A Japanese prostitute women” to the destinations were done directly by, or trader who was captured by the allied forces at the under the control of, the army. Myanmar front confessed that the Korean “comfort The then Japanese government also involved women” who had been taken to the area because of itself in the crime of sexual slavery. The fact that the debts numbered over 800. head of the government held the post of the com- As the aforesaid facts show, the Japanese impe- mander-in-chief of the armed forces during the Pa- rialists’ crime of sexual slavery was an organized one cific war serves as undeniable evidence of the gov- of the country, not the one caused by the “voluntary ernment’s direct involvement in the military’s crime demand” or “desire” of the “comfort women.” Never- of sexual slavery. The governmental organs that theless, the Japanese reactionaries are denying the were directly involved in the issue of “comfort crime in an attempt to shirk their responsibility and women” for the Japanese army included the Ministry avoid making reparation to the victims. of Foreign Affairs, local consulates and, particularly Japan is resorting to every conceivable means to the “government-general in Korea,” a colonial gov- distort the crime and avoid the responsibility and the ernment organ which most frequently and actively duty for reparation. The Abe administration’s obsti- took part in the procurement and shipping of nate denial of the forced sexual slavery is prompted “comfort women” for the Japanese army. by their ambition to realize without fail in this cen- At the time the Japanese imperialists took a tury the old dream of “the Greater East Asia Co- measure to legally ensure the procurement of Prosperity Sphere” the Japanese imperialists failed “comfort women.” They fabricated an anti-ethical to do in the last century. Actually, after Abe took evil law called “ordinance of women’s volunteer corps office, Japan began to try to amend its Constitution service,” thus institutionalizing their military’s with a view to making it possible for the country to crime of sexual slavery. At the time Korea, as a re- exercise the “right to collective self-defense.” It gion under the Japanese imperialists’ complete mili- adopted a resolution on increasing its war expendi- tary occupation, was suffering from a terrible mili- ture sharply and at the same time started drawing tary fascist oppression system from the central ad- up the “guideline for defense programme” for the ministrative unit down to those at the lowest level purpose of expanding the personnel and military that watched and controlled all local residents in equipment of the Self-Defense Forces. Meanwhile, their life. Availing themselves of this, the Japanese the Abe administration is frantically attempting to imperialists drafted Korean women as “comfort distort the crime of sexual slavery as part of the women” through various routes. effort to implant the militaristic outlook on history They took lots of Korean women as sexual slaves and idea of aggression in the Japanese people in- by the method of mediaeval slave hunting. And pre- cluding the rising generations and hasten the resur- tending to be sympathetic with Korean women for gence of Japanese militarism so as to incite a public their poverty they resorted to appeasement, decep- hysteria of overseas invasion. tion, fraud and swindling to take Korean women to At present there is ample evidence of invasion “comfort centres” under the cloak of helping them and plunder by old Japan everywhere in the world find employment or enabling them to make money along with lots of the victims and their descendants for a long time. still alive. Nevertheless, the Japanese authorities Kidnapping was a major method for the aggres- are trying to distort the heinous crime of sexual sors to take women for the purpose. With the Pacific slavery. This is another crime added to the past one, war enlarged they needed more and more “comfort which will lead to the international isolation and women.” They mobilized the military police, gen- political ruin of the country. darmes and even active soldiers to kidnap Korean women in numbers. The enemies, day and night, Kim Hui Suk

48 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu

KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013 49 50 KOREA TODAY No. 7, 2013