Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- The Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) led by President Kim Il Sung defeated the imperial Japanese army incomparably superior in numerical strength and military equipment. One of the secrets of its victory was the idea of army-civilian unity maintained in the struggle.

In those days activists for the national liberation movement in Korea failed to have confidence in the strength of its people, insisting on the existing theory on the national liberation in colonial countries and seeking to win the independence of the country with the backing of big powers.

However, Kim Il Sung was of the view that national sovereignty can be won and defended only by the nation's own efforts and, on the basis of this view he founded the KPRA relying on the popular masses with a strong sense of patriotism.

The excellent trait of army-civilian unity, created by him for the first time in history, made the KPRA emerge victorious in every battle with the enemies though it had neither state-backing home front nor other country's assistance.

"As fish cannot live without water, so guerrillas cannot live without the people." This was the way of the KPRA's existence and principle of its activities set by him.

There are many touching stories about the army-civilian unity created during the anti-Japanese armed struggle.

Among them are a story "Commander is also a son of the people" and a story about the KPRA returning cattle granted by inhabitants with sincerity. The members of the KPRA regarded it as their life and soul to protect people's life and property.

When the guerrillas infringed upon the interests of people, the President strictly reproached them, saying if they did not respect the people they would turn their faces away from them and that winning over the people was the most important thing for them.

The "KPRA Provisional Rules and Regulations" he personally worked out in December Juche 25 (1936) represented the character of the guerrilla army giving top priority to the people's interests.

Deeply moved by the character, they sincerely assisted the KPRA, not wavered by any sorts of the enemy's allurement and deception.

In the mid-1930s, the Japanese imperialists built concentration villages everywhere in a bid to block the people from access to the guerrilla army.

But, in the teeth of their repression, people provided the guerrillas with food and clothes, with the belief that assisting them was the only way for liberating Korea,

Meanwhile, President Kim Il Sung had considered the spirit of self-reliance to be one of factors for victory in fighting the Japanese imperialists.

At that time, the guerrilla army always lacked weapons, munitions and other supplies.

Inspired by his spirit of self-reliance, the guerrillas armed themselves with their own efforts, repaired weapons and manufactured bombs, called "Yanji bomb", by themselves.

With needles made with a file, they did not stop operating sewing machines, finishing the production of some 600 uniforms in time.

Carrying forward the army-civilian unity and the spirit of self-reliance, displayed in the days of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, the Korean people could defeat the U.S. imperialists in the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-July 1953).

By dint of the unity, the Korean people will always emerge victorious in their efforts for the prosperity of the country.