In the latter half of the 1920s President Kim Il Sung formed the Down-with-Imperialism Union (DIU) with young communists and other organizations involving people of various social strata.

With revolutionary organizations increasing, he felt the need to publish a newspaper for educating people in an ideological and mental way.

Under his guidance preparations were made to start publishing a newspaper.

He wrote articles to be published in the newspaper he named Saenal.

The name of the newspaper reflected his intention to save the Korean people from the Japanese imperialists' oppression and liberate the country.

The first issue of Saenal was brought out in mid-January Juche 17 (1928).

The first issue strongly denounced the Japanese imperialists for their aggression and colonial plunder and called on the Korean people to fight against them in close unity.

The newspaper served as a teaching material for revolutionary organizations, including the Saenal Children's Union, and contributed to encouraging the people to fight against the Japanese imperialists.