This would have been unthinkable without the undying feats of leader Kim Jong Il, who had made tireless efforts all his life to defend the dignity of the country and the nation under the banner of the Songun (military-first) politics.

His Songun leadership began on August 25, Juche 49 (1960) when he visited the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

It was his belief that one could neither build up the party and the nation in a desirable way nor ensure the people's happiness without giving priority to the army.

He paid efforts, above all, to establishing the steadfast guidance system of the Workers' Party of Korea over the KPA. He set modeling the whole army on Kimilsungism as the general principle the KPA should maintain and advanced the slogan "Let us fight devotedly for the great leader", the mainstay in developing the KPA into the army of the leader and the party.

When the country was pressed hard after the demise of President Kim Il Sung, he resolutely defended socialism by dint of Songun leadership. Through his inspection tour of the dwarf pine-covered military post on January 1, 1995, Kim Jong Il showed his steadfast will to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche with the KPA as driving forces.

His ceaseless inspection tours of frontline military units were aimed to tide over the difficulties facing the country by force of arms. The tours led him even to mountainous areas and remote islets day and night, regardless of weather conditions.

The journey of his military inspection and field guidance covered 353 576 kilometers from 1995 to the end of 2011 when he passed away.

Thanks to the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il, the KPA emerged the powerful Paektusan revolutionary army and the DPRK turned into a military power.