5th Conference of War Veterans Held

DPRK war veterans arrived in Pyongyang on July 25 (Tuesday) from around the country to attend the 5th National Conference of War Veterans and other events in Pyongyang.  War veterans from Yanggang, North Hamgyo’ng and Raso’n City arrived in Pyongyang via charter flights and veterans from North and South P’yo’ngan, Chagang, North and South Hwanghae, Kangwo’n, South Hamgyo’ng and Nam’po arrived via train and bus.

The war veterans were escorted and assisted by members of the Youth League and greeted, at their respective places of arrival, by senior Workers’ Party of Korea and DPRK Government officials including WPK Vice Chairmen Pak Kwang Ho (Pak Kwang-ho), An Jong Su (An Cho’ng-su), Pak Thae Song (Pak T’ae-so’ng) and Choe Hwi.

Senior WPK Central Committee officials visited the war veterans and conference participants during the morning of July 26 (Wednesday).  Among the senior cadres traipsing to the various accommodations were WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Propaganda and Agitation [Publicity and Information] Department Pak Kwang Ho, WPK Vice Chairman for Workers’ and Social Organizations Choe Hwi (Ch’oe Hwi) and WPK Vice Chairman for General Affairs Pak Thae Dok (Pak T’ae-tok).

The senior WPK Central Committee cadres were briefed about the veterans’ accommodations and services and “requested them to spend significant and joyful days in Pyongyang.”  They also “told the participants about the emotional story that the national conference of war veterans is to be held again under the benevolence of the motherly Party which puts forward the war veterans and takes warm care of them so that they glorify their honor of being the participants in the great Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War).”

For their part the war veterans and conference participants “were excite to see the loving care of the respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) who paid deep attention to their schedule in Pyongyang and took all steps for the maximum promotion of their health and conveniences.”

The 5th National Conference of War Veterans was held at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang on July 27 (Thursday) to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the termination of active hostilities of the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War).

Among those in attendance were: Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Korean Revolution, member of the 88th Sniper Brigade and widow of Ryu Kyong Su, Hwang Sun Hui (Hwang Sun-hu’i); former Chairman of the Second Economy Commission (Second Economic Committee) and member of the 88th Sniper Brigade Kim Chol Man (Kim Ch’o’l-man); member of the 88th Sniper brigade and friend of Kim Jong Suk (Kim Cho’ng-suk), Ri Yong Suk; Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) Presidium Vice President and Korean War veteran (rear area) Yang Hyong Sop (Yang Hyo’ng-sop); immediate past Chief of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Staff Department and Korean War veteran (combat) VMar Ri Myong Su (Ri Myo’ng-su); WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Munitions Industry Department and Korean War veteran (rear services) Thae Jong Su (T’ae Cho’ng-su); Honorary SPA Presidium Vice President, former DPRK Premier and Korean War veteran (as a rear area body guard to the Kim Family) Choe Yong Rim (Ch’oe Yo’ng-rim); former National Defense Commission (NDC) Vice Chairman, former KPA General Political Bureau Director and Korean War veteran (combat) VMar Ri Yong Mu (Ri Yo’ng-mu); former National Defense Commission Vice Chairman, former Chief of the KPA General Staff Department and Korean War veteran (combat), Gen. O Kuk Ryol (O Kuk-yo’l); former Kim Il Sung Higher Party School President and Rector and Korean War veteran (combat) Kim Si Hak; Korean War veteran (combat) and former Korean People’s Internal Security Forces Political Director Col. Gen. Ri Pyong Sam (Ri Pyo’ng-sam), along with veterans of the Korean War and KPA support and advisor missions in other conflicts abroad.

Among those attending the conference on the platform from the central leadership were: WPK Vice Chairman and State Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Choe Ryong Hae (Ch’oe Ryong-hae); KPA General Political Bureau Director Gen. Kim Su Gil (Kim Su-kil); Chief of the KPA General Staff Department Gen. Ri Yong  Gil (Ri Yo’ng-kil); Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. No Kwang Chol (No Kwang-ch’o’l); WPK Vice Chairmen Pak Kwang Ho, Pak Thae Song, Choe Hwi and Pak Thae Dok; WPK Vice Chairman and WPK Cadres’ Affairs Department Director Kim Phyong Hae (Kim P’yo’ng-hae); WPK Vice Chairman for Economic Affairs O Su Yong (O Su-yo’ng); WPK Vice Chairman and WPK Light Industry Department Director An Jong Su (An Cho’ng-su);  Guard Command Director Gen. Yun Jong Rin (Yun Cho’ng-rin); 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and KPA General Logistics Department Director Gen. So Hong Chan (So Hong-ch’an); Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Col. Gen. Yun Tong Hyon (Yun Tong-hyo’n); Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff Department Gen. O Kum Chol (O Kum-ch’o’l); Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Col. Gen. Kim Hyong Ryong (Kim Hyong-ryong), KPa Navy Commander VAdm Kim Myong Sik (Kim Myo’ng-sik); and,  WPK Central Military Commission Member and semi-retired WPK Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Kim Kyong Ok (Kim Kyo’ng-ok).

Attending the conference as observers were senior cadres and functionaries of DPRK Cabinet ministries, national institutions, the KPA and Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, students of Mangyo’ngdae and Kang Pan Sok Revolutionary Schools and students and young people living in Pyongyang.

Choe Ryong Hae read out a congratulatory message from the WPK Central Committee which said:

The conference is a significant one for congratulating the second generation of the revolution, elder revolutionaries who performed undying feats in defending the country and building socialism true to the leadership of President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) and leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) and for demonstrating the will of the new generations to demonstrate the strong spirit of Chuch’e Korea by carrying forward the soul of the victors of great years.

As there was the generation who won the great victory in the war in three year do-or-die battles day and night both on front and in rear, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the people’s country, has towered as the invulnerable fortress and the true appearance of heroic Korea and heroic people has shined all over the world.

Choe in a report also “warmly congratulated anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, war veterans and persons of wartime merits and paid homage to martyrs of the People’s Army, who laid down their precious lives in the hard-fought war for repelling the invasion by the imperialists, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War.”

He expressed a “deep respect for the martyrs and war veterans of the Chinese People’s Volunteers who shed their blood while fighting in the same trench with the Korean People’s Army under the uplifted banner of resisting America and aiding Korea, safeguarding the home and defending the motherland.”

Choe Ryong Hae said that the “the victory won by the army and people of the DPRK in the unprecedented do-or-die battle little short of the stand-off between rifle and A-bomb was the shining victory of the Chuche-oriented military idea, strategy and tactics and outstanding commanding art of Kim Il Sung, invincible and iron-willed brilliant commander.”  He noted that the “the army and people of the DPRK defended even an inch of the land at the risk of their lives in the spirit of ardent patriotism while regarding the country as dear as their own lives and fully displayed the indomitable fighting spirit of braving manifold difficulties with confidence and optimism about sure victory and the death-defying will.”

Choe recalled that the “war veterans have remained loyal to the revolutionary cause of the Party for decades since the end of the war with the same spirit and stamina as were displayed by them as soldiers on the frontline” and said that the “respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un who is writing the history of the victorious Korean revolution with new legends of comradeship and loving care for comrades-in-arms shows all solicitude for the war veterans, regarding them as valuable assets of the country who earn their weight in gold and silver.”

Choe said that “Chuch’e Korea will always emerge victorious as it is holding Kim Jong Un in the van of revolution in high esteem,” and he called on “the entire army and all the people to work hard for the final victory of the socialist cause, rallied close around the Party.”

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum Lecturer Jon Ku Gang (Cho’n Ku-kang) made a “request for rising generations on behalf of the war veterans” in her speech.

Pledge speeches were also delivered by Commander of the 105th Tank Corps Col. Gen. Kim Song Chol (Kim So’ng-ch’o’l), speaking on behalf of the KPA and 1st Secretary of the Youth League Central Committee Pak Chol Min (Pak Ch’o’l-min), who spoke on behalf of youths, students and the Young Red Guards.