In the latter half of the 1920s President Kim Il Sung formed the Down-with-Imperialism Union with young revolutionaries of the new generation and many revolutionary organizations such as mass organizations representing youth and people of various strata.

In those days he judged that, in view of the growing number of youth organization and the expansion of their ranks, the publication of a newspaper providing ideological nourishment to the young people and broad sections of the masses was imperative.

He carried the work of publishing the paper into practice without delay. He made the newspaper, writing manuscripts himself through sleepless nights and gave the name Saenal (New Day) to it.

The newspaper Saenal saw thus the light.

Its first issue was a solemn declaration of heralding to the world the birth of a revolutionary publication of Juche type serving the struggle of the working masses for the cause of independence, a new-type publication radically differing from preceding ones. The revolutionary publications began to strike their historical roots in Korea from that time.

At that time the newspaper was a powerful ideological weapon for educating broad sections of people in patriotism against the Japanese imperialists and rousing them to the anti-Japanese struggle.

During the anti-Japanese armed struggle, the President, basing himself on the experience gained in founding the newspaper, brought out many other revolutionary publications including Sogwang, Jongsori and Samil Wolgan for the purpose of educating the anti-Japanese guerrillas and people and inspiring them to the revolutionary struggle.

The undying revolutionary exploits performed by the President in the foundation of the first revolutionary newspaper Saenal are still throwing rays under the wise leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Il who continues to cover the long journey of Songun with a rifle in one hand and a writing brush in the other.