On January 22, 1925, President Kim Il Sung (April 15, 1912-July 8, 1994) embarked on a 250-mile journey from his native home at Mangyongdae to northeast China’s Badaogou with a firm resolve to win back Korea’s independence from Japan.
At the time the Korean people were subjected to harsh colonial slavery under the Japanese military rule.
It was when he heard that his father was arrested by Japanese police while in his revolutionary activities in China that he made up his mind to start the journey. His father Kim Hyong Jik was an outstanding leader of the anti-Japanese national liberation movement. When Kim Il Sung left home, his grandparents felt so sorry for him because they gave him no more than a small bundle containing two pairs of straw sandals and several boiled sweet potatoes.
He made a bow to his grandparents and other relatives before stepping out of the gate of his dear home.
He travelled from Pyongyang to Kaechon by train and walked along for the rest of his tour across high and rocky hills and along snow-covered paths.
In fourteen days, he reached Phophyong in what is now Kim Hyong Jik County, Ryanggang Province (the then Huchang County, North Phyongan Province). At the side of the snowy Amnok River he looked back to the motherland with a broken heart.
Kim Il Sung wrote in his reminiscences With the Century :
“I looked back at the mountains and rivers in the motherland over and again with sorrow and indignation.
“I thought: My dear Korea, I am leaving you. I know I cannot live even for a moment away from you, but I am crossing the Amnok to win you back. Across this river is a foreign land, but I will not forget you, even in there. Wait for me, my Korea.
“Then I sang the song again.
“As I sang this song, I wondered when I would be able to tread this land again, when I would return to this land where I grew up and where my forefathers’ graves lay. Young as I was, I could not repress my sorrow at this thought. Picturing in my mind the miserable reality of the motherland, I made a grim resolve not to return before Korea had become independent.”
Afterwards, he formed the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU) on October 17, 1926 and built the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army as a permanent armed force on April 25, 1932, inspiring the Korean people to turn out for the sacred war against Japan.
He led the anti-Japanese revolutionary war through thick and thin to achieve the historic cause of Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, without the backing of a state and support from a regular army.
The Korean people still commemorate his trek, calling it 250-mile journey for national liberation.
Kim Hyon Hui
More From Naenara (En)
Officers and men of the construction regiments at all levels of the Korean People’s Army, who presented their first edifices
February 07, 2025
Officers and men of the construction regiments at all levels of the Korean People’s Army, who presented their first edifices
People’s happy laughter and cheers for the Workers’ Party of Korea resound also in the remote mountainous areas of Jagang
February 07, 2025
People’s happy laughter and cheers for the Workers’ Party of Korea resound also in the remote mountainous areas of Jagang
A socialist paradise in which all people alike would lead a happy and comfortable life, or the heyday of overall national
February 07, 2025
A socialist paradise in which all people alike would lead a happy and comfortable life, or the heyday of overall national
A delegation of the DPRK Olympic Committee led by Chairman Kim Il Guk, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, left Pyongyang on
February 07, 2025
A delegation of the DPRK Olympic Committee led by Chairman Kim Il Guk, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, left Pyongyang on
True to the decisions of the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, factories
February 07, 2025
True to the decisions of the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, factories
The DPRK successfully sent an earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into space on February 7, 2016, consolidating its
February 07, 2025
The DPRK successfully sent an earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into space on February 7, 2016, consolidating its
The Kangbong Kongang Pharmaceutical Factory is known for its efficacious medicines and health foods. “Since I turned 40, I’ve
February 06, 2025
The Kangbong Kongang Pharmaceutical Factory is known for its efficacious medicines and health foods. “Since I turned 40, I’ve
Universities around the country have launched research activities for different economic sectors. Pyongyang University of
February 06, 2025
Universities around the country have launched research activities for different economic sectors. Pyongyang University of
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea took place in April 2019. In his
February 06, 2025
The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea took place in April 2019. In his
The DPRK has lots of favourable offshore conditions for farming seafood like kelp, seaweed, abalone and trepang. The Eleventh
February 05, 2025
The DPRK has lots of favourable offshore conditions for farming seafood like kelp, seaweed, abalone and trepang. The Eleventh
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, under the guidance of the
February 05, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, under the guidance of the
Killing and destruction go on in the Middle East where the truce was declared. Days ago, the Israeli military conducted a
February 05, 2025
Killing and destruction go on in the Middle East where the truce was declared. Days ago, the Israeli military conducted a
Sin Yun Hyok, a Taekwon-Do practitioner hailing from Sunchon, South Phyongan Province, began his career at the then Taekwon-Do
February 05, 2025
Sin Yun Hyok, a Taekwon-Do practitioner hailing from Sunchon, South Phyongan Province, began his career at the then Taekwon-Do
It is well known that thick forests and parklands generate lots of anions that have good effects on human body. Anions help human
February 05, 2025
It is well known that thick forests and parklands generate lots of anions that have good effects on human body. Anions help human
Tanphung Village One day in April 2014, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the January 8 Fishing Station which was nearing
February 05, 2025
Tanphung Village One day in April 2014, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the January 8 Fishing Station which was nearing
A DPRK civil aviation delegation led by General Director of the National Aviation Administration Rim Kwang Ung left Pyongyang by
February 05, 2025
A DPRK civil aviation delegation led by General Director of the National Aviation Administration Rim Kwang Ung left Pyongyang by
A national photo exhibition, “By strengthening our revolutionary armed forces into an invincible army”, was opened with due
February 05, 2025
A national photo exhibition, “By strengthening our revolutionary armed forces into an invincible army”, was opened with due
In a bid to supply more fertilizer to farms, the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex is striving to increase production. Last year the
February 04, 2025
In a bid to supply more fertilizer to farms, the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex is striving to increase production. Last year the
The Disarmament and Peace Institute of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea made public the
February 04, 2025
The Disarmament and Peace Institute of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea made public the
The Regional Development 20×10 Policy is now in full swing in the DPRK. The Workers’ Party of Korea advanced the policy to
February 04, 2025
The Regional Development 20×10 Policy is now in full swing in the DPRK. The Workers’ Party of Korea advanced the policy to
More Articles