17:31 Historical Lessons of June 25 and the Path to a Powerful Nation | |
[Page 1] Rodong Sinmun - June 25, 2025, Wednesday
The Lesson Reaffirmed by June 25: We Must Grow Stronger and Stronger Seventy-five years have passed since the roar of war echoed across this land. From the day invaders ignited the flames of war against our fledgling Republic, born less than two years prior, until the eruption of joyous victory on July 27, three years of struggle demanded immense sacrifice from our people to defend every inch of our homeland and achieve triumph. How our hearts ache at the thought: Had we been as strong then as we are today—so strong that no enemy would dare challenge us—would we have been subjected to those three harsh years of war? As we transcend the centuries to resolve deep-seated grievances and crush the reckless war provocations of hostile forces growing more contemptible by the day, we keenly realize we must grow stronger and stronger. Only then can we safeguard the destiny of this land and ourselves and firmly guarantee the happiness of generations to come. This truth is deeply engraved in our hearts. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:
Let us become endlessly strong. Strong and stronger still. This is the most just and legitimate choice for our state and people to safeguard sovereignty and dignity and pioneer a sacred future. Without building strength, we cannot speak of survival, let alone revival and prosperity. This was true yesterday and remains so today. Hostile forces, led by U.S. imperialism, still refuse to abandon their schemes to crush our Republic. Reckless and frenzied war exercises in the skies, on land, and at sea challenge the righteous cause of our people building a powerful nation. If we pause our struggle to build strength even for a moment, complacent in our current might, it would be as foolish as dozing before the enemy’s gun barrel. Ultimately, this could lead to a repetition of June 25, 75 years ago, on this land. Even now, we witness the heartbreaking reality: Without the power to defend oneself, precious lives are lost, dignity trampled, and livelihoods seized before the high-handedness and tyranny of imperialism. We must become endlessly strong—for the dignity and peace of our homeland, and for the prosperity and happiness of generations to come! For our generation, there is no more sacred duty or urgent task of the times. Opening the Great Leader’s memoir With the Century, we find a noble maxim engraved deep in every heart: "The loss of a nation can happen in an instant; its restoration may take a thousand years." This was a crucial lesson the Great Leader gained during the 20-year anti-Japanese revolution. "The homeland is easily lost but hard to regain," he taught. "To recover a homeland lost in a moment may require decades, even centuries, of hardship—this is the stern truth of the world." The Great Leader often told young people: "To live without a homeland is to live a dead life. If you do not wish to become stateless slaves, guard your country well. Before weeping in sorrow over a lost nation, build the homeland stronger and pile even one more stone to raise the fortress walls." How could we ever forget this earnest plea from the Great Leader to the descendants of this land, even after ten million years? During the homeland’s severe trials, the Great General raised high the banner of Songun at the crossroads of fate: to become a self-reliant people and self-reliant guards, or to revert to imperialist colonial slavery. He dedicated sleepless efforts to make our homeland an invincible military power. Embracing the destiny of the nation and people, he devoted his entire life to laying the eternal foundation for building a powerful nation. How many long and perilous paths did our respected Comrade the General Secretary, carrying forward the Great Leaders’ journey of national strength, tread with sweet endurance of hardships? The respected Comrade the General Secretary’s iron declaration at the "Self-Defense-2021" National Defense Development Exhibition, showcasing our mighty military power, still echoes fervently in the hearts of millions: "The essence of our Party’s defense policy is to safeguard the country and people with our own strength and to reliably defend peace with ever-developing powerful deterrence, suppressing any threat or challenge." "For our descendants, we must be strong—strong above all." Endlessly strengthening national power is the highest patriotism and the most sacred duty of all citizens born on this soil. Endless strength means eternally rejecting limits in the struggle to fortify the nation’s defense capabilities, ceaselessly advancing without stagnation, and aiming for ever more solid victories and overwhelming power. Just as high and sturdy fences ensure stable lives against fierce storms and blizzards, strong national defense guarantees our well-being and security. This truth demands every citizen join the struggle to endlessly strengthen national power. Look upon the majestic ranks of our elite revolutionary army and the overwhelming might displayed by our self-reliant defense industry at the midnight parade square, flowing like an iron current. You will vividly recall moments of immense pride and swelling hearts before this great force of justice and guardianship, defending our destiny and dignity and guaranteeing a beautiful future. But let us reflect: As our Party nurtured an invincible army through trials and stockpiled absolute weapons capable of annihilating any enemy in a single strike, did we truly understand the price paid for each step forward? Admiration and pride come easy, but not everyone can stand tall before it. In the struggle to strengthen national power, there are no bystanders—only those fighting at the forefront. Defending the homeland and making it endlessly powerful is not solely the responsibility of soldiers, defense scientists, technicians, or the munitions working class. Every citizen of this country must walk the true path of patriotism and be a genuine master contributing solidly to national strength. Our homeland grows stronger daily because of countless patriots, named and unnamed: workers walking the path of distant labor for decades, parents sending beloved children to sacred posts of national defense. We must possess an invincible military force that strikes terror into enemies, making them dare not covet this sacred land, and we must equally possess overflowing creative wealth for our happiness and our descendants’ bright future. A true powerful nation is not only one with absolute defense capabilities but also a happy nest of life where the people’s laughter rings higher. To realize such a paradise on this land sooner, every citizen must be infinitely faithful to their mission and duty before the homeland, becoming proud heroes of creation and feats who kindle miracles and innovations in their workplaces. "Let your selfless sweat, effort, and soul dwell in every creation"—this is the appeal of the new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation to all citizens. Today, as we accelerate the country’s all-round development with our strength, wisdom, and struggle, the Party trusts above all the patriotic zeal and devotion of all the people, who have always faithfully upheld the Party. When all the people embrace the Party and state’s concerns as their own and pour their souls into fulfilling their revolutionary tasks, they raise the fortress walls ever higher for the homeland’s prosperity. We must reaffirm that we rely solely on our own strength and tread only the path of self-reliance, building national power with our own technology and resources, dedicating everything to this victorious path. People of the ten million, When all citizens, conscious of being masters of a great powerful nation, execute their revolutionary tasks most responsibly, sincerely, and perfectly, the homeland’s advance accelerates, and the revolution wins continuous victories. Only by advancing unwaveringly and powerfully along our own path of development with our own strength lie great victories and glorious honor. Let us fight vigorously with all wisdom and passion to glorify this stirring era where our ideals and aspirations unfold into beautiful reality! For the dignity and peace of our glorious homeland, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the well-being of generations to come, we must become endlessly stronger and stronger. By Rodong Sinmun Correspondent Rim Jong Ho Will to Annihilate the Enemy Intensifies with Each Passing Year Officials, Workers, KPA Soldiers, and Youth Visit Sinchon Museum The burning hatred and frosty vengeance against U.S. imperialism and class enemies, who inflicted immeasurable misfortune and pain upon our people during the last Fatherland Liberation War and still run wild to crush our Republic, grow fiercer as years pass and generations change. According to comprehensive data, over 100,000 officials, workers, KPA soldiers, and student youth have visited the Sinchon Museum this year, with numbers rising continuously. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:
Visitors, including officials from the Railway Ministry, Power Industry Ministry, Culture Ministry, and other central institutions, reaffirmed their resolve to clearly expose the nature of U.S. imperialism and class enemies and fulfill their duty as revolutionary commanders in awakening Party members and workers class-consciousness. Before exhibits documenting the brutal slaughter of innocent people, KPA soldiers engraved anew the truth: "With the enemy, settle accounts only through merciless gunfire." Workers of the Chollima Steel Complex and Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex pledged to strengthen the nation’s iron pillars with hearts set on wielding the hammer of vengeance against bloodsuckers and cannibals who committed monstrous murders. Shuddering at the merciless killings of patriotic and enthusiastic peasants by U.S. imperialism and hostile elements, agricultural workers from Yongyon, Ongjin, and Ryonsan counties overflowed with revolutionary zeal to defend the socialist countryside with a rifle in one hand and a sickle in the other. Youth and students from Kim Il Sung University, Haeju Art College, and across the country, standing before the former Sinchon County Party air-raid shelter and Wonam-ri chestnut valley gunpowder warehouse—which still teach bloody lessons—felt keenly that only uncompromising struggle against enemies safeguards today’s happiness and tomorrow’s hope. At vengeance pledge meetings held on-site, visitors expressed their resolve: "If U.S. imperialism brings the clouds of war again, we will sweep away all invaders and conclude the generations-long anti-U.S. showdown with a shining victory." They inscribed their will to annihilate the enemy in visitor books:
[Korean Central News Agency] Heightened Zeal to Fortify National Power Unique Tradition of Supporting the Army Grows Daily Fervent zeal to steadfastly defend and glorify the motherland—the greatest mother—grows more intense daily among people of all strata. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:
Upholding our Party’s lofty intention to make our homeland a mighty power with supreme defense capabilities that no enemy dares challenge, officials, Party members, and workers in all regions are rising as one to strengthen national power. Amid heightened nationwide patriotic zeal, officials and workers from the Nampho City Sci-Tech Committee and many other units vigorously conducted patriotic endeavors to contribute to military strength, upholding the Party’s will that there are and should be no limits to the rapid growth of national defense capabilities. Trade union members who attended the National Conference of Exemplary Trade Union Members also devoted pure hearts to this work. Party members and workers nationwide, holding the noble outlook that only the strongest military guarantees today’s rewarding life and tomorrow’s happiness, displayed fiery patriotism. Women’s union members in Pyongyang, South Phyongan, South Hwanghae, and other regions actively conduct the "Do Good Deeds" movement for national strength, while youth, including shock brigade members of the Ryongdung Coal Mine, contribute wisdom and passion selflessly. Agricultural workers from the Songbyong Farm in Unsan County and nationwide, conscious of guarding the forefront of the socialist defense war, joined this work with their intellect, burying beads of patriotic sweat in every field. Patriotic zeal rises daily, and army support activities thrive everywhere. Exemplary supporters of the army, highly honored by the respected Comrade the General Secretary on Army Founding Day and Victory Day two years ago, lead the way in supporting the People’s Army. Cherishing the Party’s immense love and trust, exemplary supporters nationwide regard helping soldiers dedicating precious youth to defending the homeland as a citizen’s rightful duty. They prepare heartfelt supplies for soldiers and spare no material or moral support for frontline troops. Inspired by their example, many workers, deeply engraving the Party’s teaching that "without powerful defense, one cannot envision building a powerful nation," treat soldiers as blood kin in every workplace, proactively seeking ways to support the army. Thus, the ranks of exemplary supporters grow daily. The tradition of supporting the army is highly displayed in 20 cities and counties benefiting from new local industry factories—like Songchon and Jaeryong counties—and in counties like Taegwan and Ryonggang, where factories rose this year. Officials, workers, and residents in these areas, directly experiencing the KPA’s unique spirit of unconditional execution and tenacious practice, pledged to actively support the army, wishing to contribute even one thing for soldiers. Thus, warm letters and sincerity-prepared supplies are sent to frontline soldiers, economic agitation teams visit construction sites, and military-civilian bonds deepen daily. The growing ranks of exemplary supporters dedicating body and soul to strengthening the revolutionary armed forces are a manifestation of our people’s fiery love for the infinitely precious motherland and a surge of intense aspiration to fortify national power. This proud reality unfolds only in our homeland, where supporting the army is regarded as the greatest patriotism. As the unique tradition of supporting the army—a national custom of Juche Korea—shines higher daily across the land, our homeland will grow endlessly powerful, feared by none. By Rodong Sinmun Correspondent Kim Il Gyong Learning from the Heroic Spirit of the Victorious Generation
Our trustworthy new generation stands before the immortal visage of the victorious generation of the 1950s, who waved the flag of the Republic through hails of bullets with iron faith: "As long as the Great Leader is with us, we will surely win!" Written on every face is the will to annihilate enemies covetously eyeing our happiness and system, just as they fought—youth and life spared nothing—and the fiery pledge to glorify heroic Korea’s history of a hundred victories through generations. As long as this trustworthy succession continues, the spirit of homeland defenders will be inherited most firmly and purely on this land, however time flows. With that noble spirit and heroism, our homeland will shine brighter upon the world. Article and photos by Rodong Sinmun Correspondent | |
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