August 15 is a historic day when our people, under the outstanding leadership of President Kim Il Sung , defeated the Japanese imperialists – who had gone wild over aggressive wars, taking themselves as “leader of Asia” – and achieved the sacred cause of national liberation.

It is 76 years since the national liberation, yet our people still cherish the memories of the feats of Russian martyrs who fought shoulder to shoulder with our revolutionary forerunners in the sacred final battles for defeating the Japanese imperialists.

One of them is Ya. T. Nobichenko, an internationalist soldier, who was highly appreciated by President Kim Il Sung as a symbol of DPRK-Soviet Union friendship.

Nobichenko left an indelible trace in the history of DPRK-Russia Friendship, since he took part in the anti-Japanese operation as a Red Army officer and contributed to defending the safety of President Kim Il Sung at his personal sacrifice.

At a celebration rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of March First Popular Uprising in March 1946, he saved many people by covering with his own body a grenade thrown at the platform by the terrorists.

He performed a heroic feat, even having lost one of his arms, but he said that he had just carried out his duty as a soldier. He returned home without requesting any reward or title when he finished his military service.

His feat faded away from the memories of the people with the passage of time, yet President Kim Il Sung kept him in mind for decades and gave instructions to find him who had been living a quiet life in a remote rural area of Russia. And President Kim Il Sung had a significant meeting with him at the Novosibirsk Station in May 1984.

Thereafter, President Kim Il Sung invited Novichenko and his family to Pyongyang and conferred him the title of DPRK Labor Hero.

The history of noble moral obligation of President Kim Il Sung has continuously been succeeded by Chairman Kim Jong Il and Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un .

When Novichenko died in December 1994, Chairman Kim Jong Il personally sent a message of condolence and a floral basket. Chairman Kim Jong Il also sent gifts of love to the bereaved family during the time when he made a historic visit to Russia in July 2001.

Novichenko’s grave was wonderfully reconstructed under the deep care of Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un . And on the occasion of Novichenko’s centenary birth anniversary, Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a floral basket together with his warm greetings to the bereaved family.

There are so many touching stories recorded in the annals of the DPRK-Russia relations. Thanks to the deep love and care of great leaders of the Korean people, hero Novichenko still survives into the present time as a symbol of the DPRK-Russia friendship and an eternal comrade-in-arms of our people.

Our people will not forget the feats performed by the martyrs of the Soviet Army who devoted their lives to the sacred war for the liberation of Korea. The tradition of DPRK-Russia friendship forged in blood in the struggles against the common enemy will steadily go down by joint efforts of the peoples of the two countries.