People who live for tomorrow

Let us live not merely for today but for tomorrow!" is a slogan put up everywhere in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is an intensive representation of the Korean people's spirit of exerting themselves to devote every moment of their life to the happiness of younger generations.

Creators of laudable life

At the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong in Pyongyang there are enshrined the remains of over 150 former anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters who rendered heroic services in the anti-Japanese revolutionary, armed struggle to liberate Korea from the Japanese imperialists' military occupation and made a great contribution to the Korean people's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, the post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction and the building of socialist Korea.

Among the martyrs is Choe Hui Suk, who, as a woman, laid down her life in the anti-Japanese armed struggle. After she joined the armed unit in 1932, in the early days of the armed struggle, she fought as courageously as men in battles, and her comrades-in-arms held her in great respect. One February day in 1941, she had her leg shot through in a battle and was arrested by Japanese troops. The enemy put her to barbarous torture in an attempt to get secrets out of her. They went so far as to gouge out her eyes. But she never yielded. "Now I have no eyes, but I see the future of our victorious revolution," she shouted before dying a heroic death—at the age of 32.

The anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter O Jung Hup, an able military commander, also died in a battle—at the age of 29. Whenever his men felt difficult in a march, O would encouragingly tell them, "Now we have undergone hardships for ten years. But you know there comes a calm after a storm. Imagine that we march toward the homeland after defeating the Japanese imperialists. There's nothing more worthwhile and honourable for us Koreans than to do so. We should not forget that the arduous march today will lead to the liberated country."

Like this, the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters were confident that though they could not enjoy happiness, their children would have a good life in the liberated country, so they sacrificed themselves unhesitatingly for the sacred cause of national liberation. In the course of the arduous struggle they set most worthwhile and

laudable examples of life.

History-making outlook on life

The noble spirit of the anti-Japanese revolutionary martyrs has been carried on through generations, displaying its great vitality in the development of the Korean society for over 60 years.

In the 1950s, less than five years after Korea was liberated from the Japanese imperialists' military occupation, the Korean people had to fight the Korean war unleashed by the US imperialists, and defeated the aggressors who were boasting of their being the strongest in the world. And they accomplished the industrialization of their country in a short period of 14 years, and developed it into a socialist country independent in politics, self-sufficient in the economy and self-reliant in defence.

In the 1990s the Korean people had to undergo severe trials owing to the collapse of East European socialist countries, the following intensified moves of the allied imperialist forces to isolate and strangle the country and the natural calamities lasting for consecutive several years. The imperialists led by the US were talking boisterously about "coming collapse of socialist Korea," and the world opinion was apprehensive about the future of the country.

At this juncture when they had to choose to become socialist victors or slaves of imperialism, the Korean people decided to do the Arduous March and the forced march under the banner of Songun "not only for today but for tomorrow," "not only for themselves but for the happiness of coming generations." They successfully defended their socialism and created the springboard for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful nation.

At present the country is effecting an upsurge in the endeavour to open the gate to a prosperous nation in 2012. In recent years alone an advanced iron-production system has been established in the sector of the metallurgical industry, the reclamation of the Taegyedo tideland and other major projects completed across the country, and the introduction of CNC technology promoted vigorously in all sectors of the national economy.

The Korean people regard it as most laudable and worthwhile to live for the sake of their country and nation and for tomorrow, and such a viewpoint is promoting the unity of the society and further vigorously accelerating the development of the nation.

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