Kim Jong Un (1st row, C) visits the Chinese People’s Volunteers Martyrs’ Cemetery in Hoech’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province on 29 July 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Chinese People’s Volunteers’ [CPV] Martyrs’ Cemetery in Hoech’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province and the Songhung Revolutionary Site on 29 July (Monday). He was joined by Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, Director of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Administration Department and Kim Jong Un’s uncle), Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Col. Gen. Jang Jong Nam (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Kim Kyong Hui (KWP Secretary, KWP Department Director and Kim Jong Un’s aunt and Vice Chairman Jang’s wife), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Minister of State Security), Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Gen. Choe Pu Il (Minister of the People’s Security), Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau), Kim Kyong Ok (Senior Deputy [1st vice] Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department, with the porfolio for military affairs), Gen Kim Yong Chol (Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff and Director of the Reconnissance General Bureau), Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon (staff member and adjutant of the KPA Supreme Command), Pak Tae Song (KWP Department Deputy [vice] Director), Hwang Pyong So (Deputy [vice] Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department), Kim Pyong Ho (KWP Department Deputy [vice] Director) and Kim Kye Gwan (1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs).
A Korean People’s Army honor guard delivers floral wreaths to a monument in the CPV Martyrs’ Cemetery in Hoech’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province on 29 July 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un arranges a wreath on a floral basket delivered in his name to a monument at the CPV Martyrs’ Cemetery in Hoech’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
As solemn music played, floral wreath from Kim Jong Un and the Party Central Military Commission [CMC] were placed in the cemeter. Kim Jong Un and his companions “paid silent tribute” to the CPV members killed in action during the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War). A floral wreath from Kim Jong and the CMC was also placed in front of the grave of Mao Anying, eldest son Mao Zedong who was killed in a napalm strike in November 1950. Kim Jong Un and his companions again “payed silence tribute” at Mao Anying’s grave.
After the floral wreath presentations and tributes, Kim Jong Un walked around the Mao gravemarker and the CPV Martyrs’ Cemetery. According to KCNA he said “he visited the cemetery as he remembered the fallen fighters of the CPV who helped at the cost of blood the Korean people in their just cause of defending the country, greeting the 60th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War” and “Recollecting the feats performed by the brave soldiers of the CPV,” said that “mountains and fields of Korea are associated with their blood and noble souls.” Kim Jong Un also remarked that “the noble self-sacrificing spirit of the fallen fighters of the CPV who devoted their precious lives on the Korean front will always be remembered by the service personnel and people of the DPRK. The cemetery of fallen fighters of the CPV bears witness to the history showing the militant friendship between the peoples of the DPRK and China as they fought together for the common cause and it is a symbol of the DPRK-China friendship.” Kim Jong Un also recalled a vist that he made to the cemetery with his father, late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) on 26 October 2010 and said that “that it is the common responsibility, strong sense of moral obligation and mission of the two parties and two peoples of the DPRK and China to convey the revolutionary spirit and undying feats of the martyrs of the CPV down through generations, true to the behests of Kim Jong Il.” Kim Jong Un also underscored “the need to preserve and manage well the cemetery in Hoech’ang County, spruce up all the cemeteries of fallen fighters of the CPV across the country and strengthen education through them” and he “took practical measures for doing so.” According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said that “The Korean people should always remember the disinterested internationalist assistance sent by the Chinese party, government and people at a time when the Korean people were undergoing a trial and the blood shed by the fighters of the CPV and firmly carry forward the baton of the DPRK-China friendship.”
Kim Jong Un (2nd R) visits a room at the Songhung Revolutionary Site on 29 July 2013. Also seen in attendance are NDC Vice Chairman Jang Song Taek (L), KWP Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Kim Kyong Ok (2nd R) and Director of the KPA General Political Department VMar Choe Ryong Hae (3rd R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun).
Kim Jong Un (5th L) poses for a commemorative photograph in front of a monument at Songhung Revolutionary Site on 29 July 2013
Kim Jong Un also visited the Songhung Revolutionary site, the CPV’s command headquarters during the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War). He was briefed on the site’s history, artefacts and preservation efforts and toured the site. According to KCNA Kim Jong Un “watched a photo President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) had taken with Peng Dehuai, commander of the CPV, looking back with deep emotion on the unforgettable days the armies and people of the DPRK and People’s Republic of China fought shoulder to shoulder” and he visited “the operation room in the tunnel where a photo of the President autographing in high praise of the feats performed by the men and officers of the CPV on March 4, 1953 and his autograph were on display.” Kim Jong Un noted “that the Chinese party and government dispatched the CPV to help at the cost of blood the DPRK in its just struggle under the banner of ‘Resisting America and Aiding Korea, Safeguarding the Home and Defending the Motherland’ when its people fought hard battles to beat back the imperialist aggression forces.” Whilst examaning a combat operations map, Kim Jong Un said “many known and unknown fighters of the CPV including Hero Huang Jieguang produced during the battle on the Sanggam Pass unhesitatingly dedicated their youth and lives on the Korean front.” He also visited a room used by his grandfather, late DPRK President and founder Kim Il Sung and sai “it is a precious historical relic which bears the mark of the wartime.” He also visited an exhibition of of Kim Il Sung’s accomplishments during the war and he toured the assembly hall where Kim Il Sung delivered a speech in August 1953, after which Kim Jong Un remarked that “the army and people of two countries firmly consolidated the militant friendship, sharing blood in the struggle for their common cause.”
After his tour he issued instructions about the preservations and administration of the Songhung Revolutionary Site. He then attended a commemorative photo-op with the revolutionary site’s staff.
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