The revolutionary battle sites in the area of Samjiyon have been spruced up well to the convenience of visitors by the devoted efforts of the members of the 618 Shock Brigade.

Kim Jong Il first went round the statue of President Kim Il Sung newly erected in Chongbong Bivouac and various other places to learn about the construction in the battle sites and education there.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the President's statue was depicted so well that he looked just the same as he did in the days of the anti-Japanese armed struggle and measures have been taken to permanently preserve the revolutionary battle sites and they are successfully managed and education is conducted well.

Saying that the President was a legendary hero and peerlessly great man who made long journeys of bloody battles for the liberation of the country and the freedom and happiness of the people, he stressed that the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by the President would always be remembered by the Korean people and shine long in the history.

Underscoring the need to spruce up well Chongbong Bivouac and effectively operate it as it is an important place for education which can greatly contribute to firmly arming the visitors to it with the WPK's revolutionary traditions, he set forth tasks and ways to do so.

Then, he provided field guidance to the lodging house of visitors and cultural and welfare facilities newly built at the side of Lake Samji.

Watching the attractive bridge built at the side to match the landscape of the beautiful lake and the soft drink shop and tourist roads constructed in keeping with the features of the alpine area, he expressed great satisfaction over the construction of the splendid structures.

He moved on to the lodging house of visitors. Making the rounds of bedrooms and supply service facilities of the house, he acquainted himself with its construction. He appreciated the efforts made by the members of the shock brigade, noting that they designed the house well to the convenience of visitors' living and ensured the best quality of the construction in the spirit of devoted service to the people.

It is necessary to ensure the highest level in construction as required by the new century when building even a single house, he said, stressing that all the structures should be built to meet the need of the era of the WPK.

Then, he commanded a bird's-eye view of the bank of Lake Samji. The area of the lake has not only turned into a huge outdoor museum but its appearance has changed into an excellent and beautiful cultural recreation ground, he noted, adding that today witnessed the realization of the desire expressed by the President to see a modern rest house for people built there after the liberation of the country when he reached the bank of the lake during the anti-Japanese armed struggle.

After going round the newly built structures, he advanced the important tasks to be fulfilled to carry out the construction in the revolutionary battle sites.

He highly appreciated the shining successes made by all the members of the shock brigade, noting that they have successfully spruced up the area of Lake Samji, a holy land of revolution, and performed astonishing miracles and exploits in the construction projects for the prosperity and development of the country including the construction of the power station and roads by displaying intense loyalty.

He stressed that the exceptionally strong enthusiasm displayed by the members of the shock brigade in the construction in the revolutionary battle sites is a manifestation of the Korean people's unshakable will to eternally add shine to the glorious revolutionary traditions, a permanent cornerstone of the Korean revolution, and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche that started in Mt. Paektu.

Saying that the area of Lake Samji is a holy land of revolution where sites of the President's revolutionary activities during the anti-Japanese armed struggle are concentrated and an important center for the education in the revolutionary traditions, he stressed that to spruce up the battle sites well is a sacred work for firmly defending the revolutionary traditions, an eternal treasure of the revolution, and carrying forward and developing them.

It is the unshakable will and determination of our Party to always defend, carry forward and develop the revolutionary traditions established by the President during the protracted anti-Japanese armed struggle and accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche on the basis of these great traditions, he said, emphasizing that these shining revolutionary traditions serve as the basic source of the great mental power of the indomitable Korean people.

He underlined the need to provide better lodging houses and cultural and welfare facilities to the visitors as a large number of them are coming to the lake every year.

He stressed that it is necessary to design well structures and construct all of them to suit the topographical features of the revolutionary battle sites in order to build them in a peculiar style.

He expressed great expectation and conviction that the members of the 618 Shock Brigade would creditably perform their honorable duty in the future, too, and thus perform shining feats in the construction in the revolutionary battle sites.

He was accompanied by Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, Kim Kyong Ho, chief secretary of the Ryanggang Provincial Committee of the WPK, Ri Je Gang and Ri Jae Il, first vice department directors of the C.C., the WPK, and Generals of the Korean People's Army Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su.