Born in Jonju City of North Jolla Province on Jan. 15, Juche 11 (1922), Ri keenly experienced the sorrow of the ruined people from his childhood.

After the liberation of Korea he ardently longed for the northern half of Korea where the people became its masters.

In south Korea he struggled against the U.S. imperialists and their stooges' moves for national division.

During the last Fatherland Liberation War he joined in the people's guerrilla army and had fought bravely against the enemies before being arrested.

With deep reverence for President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he had kept his revolutionary principles despite brutal tortures and persecution by the fascist hangmen for several decades in prison.

Kim Jong Il put forward Ri as DPRK Hero and winner of the National Reunification Prize and sent a birthday spread to him on his 80th birthday, making his life honorable as a revolutionary soldier.