calendar>>February 28. 2009 Juche 98

Iron Logic Drawn from March First Popular Uprising

Pyongyang, February 28 (KCNA) -- The March First Popular Uprising 90 years ago was a nationwide resistance against brutal "saber rule" of Japanese imperialism. It was a great one which demonstrated fully the independent spirit of the Korean nation at home and abroad and, at the same time, a significant event as President Kim Il Sung participated in the anti-imperialist national liberation struggle for the first time by joining it.

With the large-scale anti-Japanese demonstration Pyongyangites held shouting slogans including "Japanese and Japanese troops, get out!" and "Long live the independence of Korea!" on March 1, Juche 8 (1919) as an occasion, the Korean people strong in national independent spirit staged a nation-wide popular uprising in all parts of the country, which was participated in even by Korean residents in Manchuria, Shanghai, the Maritime Province of Siberia, Japan, Hawaii and other countries.

At that time young President also joined the ranks of demonstrators and went as far as the Pothong Gate, cheering.

The Japanese imperialists committed crimes of massacring coldbloodedly a great number of peaceful demonstrators with empty hands and naked fists by mobilizing regular army, policemen, fire brigade and even ordinary Japanese in Pyongyang and other parts of the country.

It was the day when the President witnessed Korean blood being spilled for the first time. His heart burned with indignation.

As the sun set and it became dark the villagers climbed Mangyong Hill with torches in their hands. He also went up Mangyong Hill after his mother and there he joined the struggle together with them for several days.

The cheers for independence which rocked the mountains and rivers of the country echoed like a roll of thunder to the mind of the young President and marked an occasion in promoting his mental growth.

Later the President looked back upon that "it can be said that my childhood ended as I shouted for independence standing on tiptoe squeezed in between the adults."

Through the March First Popular Uprising the Korean people came to realize the truth that if they were to win in the anti-imperialist national liberation struggle, they should have a great leader and wage an organized struggle on the basis of a correct strategy and tactics under the leadership of a revolutionary party.

The desire of the Korean people who had thirstily longed for the appearance of a great leader was met when they upheld President Kim Il Sung as the sun of the nation.