A News Story from the DPRK

Here is a news story published by the North Korean media on October 16, 2015. The subject is a visit by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to a military unit. What should be of interest are the assumptions and world view of the DPRK expressed in the article. It is easy enough to dismiss the article and its assumptions as “propaganda” but more useful to take it and similar writings as a starting point to develop strategy for solving difficult problems not only on the Korean peninsula, but for the whole neighborhood bordering the DPRK.

                         Kim Jong Un Inspects KPA Unit 350

Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, inspected KPA Unit 350.

He went round the monument to field guidance of leader Kim Jong Il, the room for education in the revolutionary history and the room devoted to the history of the unit.

Watching the precious historic materials, he recalled the proud course covered by the unit for its development under the guidance of Kim Jong Il.

He stressed the need to intensify the education in undying leadership exploits of Kim Jong Il and train all servicepersons to be persons strong in idea and faith alike Kim Jong Il and a-match-for-a-hundred fighters crossing any high mountain and marshland at a go and stalwart warriors beating back any formidable enemy at a stroke.

He also toured the operation study room, military lecture room and the general training room to learn in detail about the unit’s combat duty and training.

He praised the officers and soldiers of the unit for having performed admirable feats in the training for this year out of their desire to adorn the 70th founding anniversary of the WPK with signal achievements in combat and political training.

The unit has a very important mission to discharge, the Supreme Commander said, advancing the tasks to be carried out by it in increasing its combat strength in every way.

Going round the library and soldiers’ hall of the unit, he said it should train servicepersons to be those possessed of versatile knowledge so that their military service may become a course of the revolutionary university. 

He underlined the need to direct efforts to intensifying the five-point education set forth by the Party in order to train all servicepersons to be indomitable fighters keeping their revolutionary faith though they may die.

He also went round a mess, daily provision store, bean store, etc.

Saying that to do supply service well for soldiers is essential to rounding off the combat preparations, he urged the commanding officers to always pay deep attention to it, mindful that the supply service is just for defending socialism.

Walking for a while in the compound of the unit command that reminds one of a rest home, he had talks with its commanding officers and acquainted himself with its management.

Pleased to see thick forests in surrounding mountains, he said the People’s Army should take the lead without fail in implementing the noble intention of the Party to turn the country into a thick woodland and greenery.

He gave the unit a pair of binoculars and an automatic rifle as gifts and posed for a picture with its service persons. Accompanying him were Hwang Pyong So and O Kum Chol. (Political News Team)

Photo and Story: Rodong Shinmum