Commanders and soldiers of the 528th Engineering Regiment of the Korean People's Army!

I warmly welcome all the commanders and soldiers of the engineering regiment who have returned to the motherland after being dispatched to an overseas region, brilliantly demonstrating the heroism and professionalism of our army and responsibly carrying out the assigned combat mission.

I am so grateful that you have all returned safely.

Just as you, comrades, missed every precious thing of the homeland every day and every hour on the foreign battlefield, the motherland never forgot its beloved sons for a single day or a single hour.

Whenever I received the daily combat reports, I could not hold back my emotion at the death-defying deeds of laying down one's life without hesitation before the orders of the Party and the homeland, and my heart grew more earnest with the hope that you would all return smiling, preserving your precious selves without a single person missing.

Looking back, this year was also one in which I keenly felt the agony of waiting, something I had not experienced before.

From the moment we had to send the combatants of the engineering unit to that dangerous place, just as when waiting for the combatants of the special operation units who participated in the liberation battle, each of the 120 days until now truly felt like ten years.

What I could never get used to or accustomed to as days passed was the worry for the safety of these precious sons of this country who were on the foreign battlefield.

Now it's over.

Since everyone has returned like this, my mind is now at ease.

Comrades, you have truly fought well.

I once again warmly congratulate all the combatants of the engineering regiment who have returned home with dignity, showing the spirit of true fighters admired by the world as entrusted by the Party, the homeland, and precious people, and having become tougher and more imposing.

Comrades!

The 528th Engineering Regiment is another proud combat unit worthily representing the matchless bravery, might, and professionalism of our army.

In accordance with the decision and order of the Central Military Commission of our Party to further consolidate the precious victory of the overseas military operation, the regiment organized on May 28 was dispatched in early August and achieved brilliant successes in carrying out its engineering combat mission in Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation, liberated by the sacrifice of comrades-in-arms.

Although it was a harsh combat environment where one had to confront fearsome dangers lurking in all directions of the mountainous terrain, cross the line between life and death inch by inch, and have one's faith and willpower tested with every step, our engineering unit combatants showed not an inch of wavering or hesitation and were always and everyone bold and responsible.

Because everyone, from the commanders to the soldiers, endured unimaginable mental and physical burdens daily and displayed mass heroism, the miracle of transforming a vast area of dangerous zones, which would be difficult to conquer even in several years, into safe zones in less than three months could be achieved.

The main significance of the combat achievements accomplished by the engineering regiment this time lies in the fact that they are the fruits of mass heroism achieved through the united struggle of all officers and soldiers, not just the exploits of a few prepared soldiers.

No one can help but admire the noble comradeship, matchless spirit of sacrifice, and indomitable military spirit displayed in the severe battlefield where not even minor mistakes or laxity were permitted, where even advance into and withdrawal from the battlefield had to accompany combat, where they thought of comrades-in-arms first, blocked fragments with their own bodies, and carried out their mission to the end even at the last moment of fatal injury.

I believed our engineering regiment, having received the order of the Party Central Committee, would fight like this.

The brilliant successes of the engineering regiment are also underpinned by the devoted struggle merits of the signal soldiers and medical personnel who risked danger daily and carried out their duties flawlessly.

Truly, all officers and soldiers were uniformly brave and skilled, devoted and heroic.

The fundamental secret that enabled our engineering regiment to display irresistible combat capability on the foreign battlefield lies in the revolutionary spirit and combat spirit that overflow consistently within the unit.

With ingenious, novel, and mobile political work firmly preceding in accordance with the frontline situation, the spiritual and moral superiority of our army, such as unconditional obedience in carrying out orders, loyalty and patriotism, unity between officers and soldiers, and comradeship, was brought to the maximum.

I was particularly deeply impressed by the sight of soldiers who, in simple field sickrooms, held company art squad performances to mark the September 9th Day and October 10th Day, sang revolutionary songs while advancing into combat positions, recited self-composed poems during breaks in mine clearance, and wrote letters to send to their hometowns.

Only strong-willed optimists, filled from head to toe with love and respect for their own Party, their own homeland, their own hometown, their own parents and siblings, and firmly convinced of the victory of their own cause, could unfold such a life in the deadly arena where life and death are decided.

The sublime ideological sentiment of our soldiers, who regard life sacrificed for the homeland not as a sacrifice but as an honor, cannot be matched by any other country's army, and the powerful weapon unique to our army called mass heroism cannot be forged even with billions of funds.

No armed gangsters of the West, equipped with any advanced weapons, dare confront such a revolutionary army possessing an immeasurably profound spiritual depth.

It is regrettable that I cannot enumerate one by one all the combat exploits established by the hundreds of commanders and soldiers of the engineering regiment at this place.

However, they will be engraved forever in the history of our army's overseas military operations and the annals of the engineering units.

Comrades!

When our engineering combatants left the land of the homeland, they departed quietly after receiving the Party's order, but when they returned, they came back with something truly great that adds glory to the homeland, the people, and the army.

Although there was no compensation or reward for our engineering regiment that carried out the order at the risk of their lives, they received the most precious thing in the world that cannot be replaced by anything.

That is the faith and trust of the Party, the homeland, and the people in our army.

Our army must not desire anything more than that faith of the Party, the homeland, and the people.

Comrades have faithfully and splendidly repaid the faith and trust of their own Party, state, and people with dauntless combat spirit and legendary combat records.

The exploits of the engineering regiment have the outstanding significance of highlighting once again before history and the world the unique might of our army, which holds aloft the banner of building a powerful army with ideological and spiritual perfection centering on absolute loyalty to the Workers' Party of Korea.

In the name of the Party and the homeland, I express gratitude to all the commanders and soldiers of the 528th Engineering Regiment, who displayed matchless mass heroism and indomitable militant spirit, resolutely carried out the Party's military combat order, and once again fully demonstrated the dignity of our state and the honor of the Korean People's Army.

Comrades!

The precious blood and sweat shed and the valuable sacrifices offered by the 528th Engineering Regiment in the process of perfectly carrying out the Party's combat order will never be in vain.

The immortal exploits and merits established by comrades will shine forever along with the prestige of our powerful state and our army, and together with the socialist homeland that will prosper endlessly.

Although there were nine regrettable sacrifices, I express my gratitude once again that all the commanders and soldiers of the engineering regiment have returned.

All the service personnel of the Republic's armed forces will take the combat spirit and exploits of the 528th Engineering Regiment as another model, and the parents, siblings, wives, children, and teachers of comrades' alma maters will be greatly proud of you.

It is truly proud to have a solid rank of soldiers and a powerful combat unit like you, comrades.

I hope that comrades will continue to forge ahead with the vigorous march of exploits on the sacred path of guarding for our great state and our people.

The motherland has decided to award the Order of Freedom and Independence to the regiment in order to highly evaluate and eternally glorify the bravery and brilliant combat exploits displayed by your unit.

Furthermore, it has been decided to award the title of Republic Hero, the Order of the National Flag First Class, and the Order of Honor of a Soldier First Class to the nine engineering combatants who, unfortunately, left our side while carrying out the combat order.

Today, entrusted by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Government of the Republic, I will award the Order of Freedom and Independence First Class to the regimental colors, the banner of victory and glory of your unit, and will pin the orders before the portraits of the sacrificed comrades-in-arms.

I offer thanks and sublime respect for your devoted service, always faithful before the homeland.

Long live the heroic Korean People's Army!