January 22 is the day when President Kim Il Sung in his teens embarked on the 250-mile journey for national liberation with an ambition to win back his country lost to the Japanese imperialists.
Nearly one century has passed since then. But, still today, the Korean people significantly commemorate the day.
One day in January Juche 14 (1925), some months before graduation from Changdok School in Korea, Kim Il Sung was told that his father Kim Hyong Jik, an indomitable revolutionary fighter, was arrested by the Japanese police.
With a firm determination to take his revenge on the enemy of his father, his family and his nation and win back his country, he left his native home at Mangyongdae for Badaogou in Changbai County in northeast China and embarked on the road of the 250-mile journey for national liberation.
It was on January 22, Juche 14 (1925).
The thirteenth day after his departure from Mangyongdae, he arrived at a ferry of the Amnok River in Phophyong. Standing on the riverside covered with snow, he looked back at the motherland groaning under the Japanese military colonial rule.
Singing the Song of the Amnok River, he made a grim resolve not to return before Korea would have become independent.
… …
Blue waters of Amnok, my homeland,
Wait the day I return to you.
I crossed to attain our dearest wish
I’ll return when we have won.
True to his resolve made that day, Kim Il Sung waged a bloody struggle against the Japanese imperialists and finally accomplished the historic cause of Korea’s liberation in August 1945.
More From Naenara (En)
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in the heart of
December 21, 2025
The Advanced Science and Technology and Products Exhibition-2025 took place at the Grand People’s Study House in the heart of
Modern houses of diverse and unique styles have been built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County, South
December 20, 2025
Modern houses of diverse and unique styles have been built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County, South
As the whole country is filled with great emotion and joy in the new era of regional transformation and prosperity ushered in by
December 20, 2025
As the whole country is filled with great emotion and joy in the new era of regional transformation and prosperity ushered in by
Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation
December 20, 2025
Thanks to the energetic leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea dynamically opening up a new era of comprehensive rejuvenation
Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK almost every day, adorning the
December 20, 2025
Splendid inauguration ceremonies of regional-industry factories are taking place in the DPRK almost every day, adorning the
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
December 19, 2025
All the people across the DPRK honoured the memory of Chairman Kim Jong Il in humblest reverence on the occasion of the 14th
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
December 19, 2025
All the people in the DPRK greeted December with ardent yearning for Chairman Kim Jong Il who devoted his noble life to
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
December 18, 2025
DPRK players returned home on December 16 after taking part in the 5th Asian Youth Para Games held in the United Arab Emirates.
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
December 18, 2025
Thanks to the ardent desire of the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea, stirring events demonstrating the
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
December 18, 2025
Officials and members of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea (SWUK) held a meeting at the Hall of Women on December 16 to hear
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
December 18, 2025
DPRK schoolchildren met at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 16 to tell stories about the great leader Generalis
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
December 18, 2025
Officials of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea (UAWK) and agricultural workers held a meeting to hear about the noble
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
December 18, 2025
Chilsong Restaurant located at the foot of picturesque Moran Hill in Pyongyang draws many visitors. As one of the established
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
December 17, 2025
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea (GFTUK) met at the Central Hall of Workers on December 15
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
December 17, 2025
Youth and students met at the Central Youth Hall on December 15 to tell stories about the noble virtues of Chairman Kim Jong Il on
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
December 17, 2025
Preserved in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il (February 16, 1942–December 17, 2011)
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
December 17, 2025
Rangnim County of the DPRK has greeted the moment of celebrating the inauguration of regional-industry factories built under the
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
December 17, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have appeared in Taegwan County, North Phyongan Province of the DPRK, adorning more brilliantly
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
December 17, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been built in inland mountainous Sinyang County of the DPRK to fundamentally improve the quality
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
December 17, 2025
Along with the second inauguration season in implementing the regional development policy confidently promoted by the great
More Articles