On June 26, Juche 39 (1950), President Kim Il Sung said that the title of DPRK Hero should be instituted to commend the service personnel of the Korean People's Army (KPA) who displayed bravery and heroism in the sacred war for the freedom and independence of the country.

A few days later a decree of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly on instituting the title of DPRK Hero was announced, and on July 15, the title of DPRK Hero was conferred on more than 10 officers and men who performed distinguished feats in major services and arms units of the KPA.

Among the first heroes of the DPRK are Ri Hun, the commander of the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division who showed the KPA mettle at the battle of Osan, in which they engaged the U.S. imperialist aggression troops for the first time, and Kim Kun Ok and Ri Wan Gun, commanding officers of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Squadron that worked miracles in the world history of naval battles by sinking the U.S. heavy cruiser "Baltimore" and damaging a light cruiser with four torpedo boats.

They also include Jon Ki Ryon, a KPA tankman who demonstrated matchless bravery in the van of the charge for the liberation of Seoul, and pilots Ri Mun Sun and Kim Ki Ok who displayed the bravery of the KPA Air Force by shooting down the U.S. bomber B-29 which boasted of being the "fortress in the sky".

Thanks to the meticulous care of the President who put forward the service personnel and civilians who performed heroic feats for the country, mass heroism was fully displayed at the front and in the rear and the DPRK could defeat the U.S. imperialists and win the war.