June 6 this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children’s Union.

Every year the day is celebrated nationwide.

During the anti-Japanese armed struggle, the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung organized the Children’s Corps in guerrilla bases in order to prepare children to be staunch fighters who know how to wage revolution, love the motherland and devote themselves to them from childhood.

Members of the Children’s Corps performed distinguished feats in the enlightenment of masses of the people, artistic activities, guard duty, message delivery, reconnaissance and weapon seizure. In the battles to defend the guerrilla bases they conducted artistic activities blowing bugles, beating drums and playing the harmonicas, which greatly encouraged the fighting guerrillas and adults.

The year after Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, the Korean Children’s Union was established as a revolutionary mass organization of the Korean children that inherited the revolutionary tradition of the anti-Japanese Children’s Corps.

Since elated processions passed through streets in celebration of the founding of the KCU, its members have written brilliant pages in the annals of the 80-year history of their organization.

After Korea’s liberation they lent a helping hand to establishing the people’s power and laying the foundations for building a new democratic country. They formed groups to fight against the US aggressors and class enemies during the Fatherland Liberation War (1950-1953), contributing to the victory in the war. Throughout the post-war rehabilitation and socialist construction they carried on the precious tradition of the young heroes of the resourceful and brave preceding generations.

Their heroic role was highlighted in every period of grand socialist construction.

They studied hard and conducted dynamic socio-political activities, playing their part in achieving national prosperity.

Through the do-good-deeds movement, they helped fund the manufacture of trucks, bulldozers, tractors and other equipment named Sonyon to be sent to the vibrant socialist construction sites.

Many of them grew up to be famous PhDs, heroes, labour innovators, meritorious persons, scientists, technicians and officials.

The children wearing a red tie around their necks and with a KCU badge on their chests are to grow up to join the youth league and then the Workers’ Party of Korea, constituting the main ranks of society.

Today under the care of the respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un , the KCU members are preparing themselves to be revolutionaries of Juche type and competent pillars who will shoulder the future and the cause of socialism.

Ko Jin Chol