The whole country significantly greeted the holiday of the Juche-based Air Force which has performed heroic feats on the air route of devotedly defending the leader and safeguarding the country while glorifying the years of victory and glory with pride along with the long history of the great Workers’ Party of Korea in power.

An event took place in Pyongyang on November 28-29 to commemorate the Day of Air Men.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, who has always kept the brave pilots of the DPRK nearest to his heart and bestowed all sorts of love and privilege on them, showed the great benevolence on the commanding officers and pilots of the Air Force who creditably carried out the combat order of the Party Central Committee by performing a distinguished military feat in the large-scale air operations unprecedented in history to frustrate the reckless military provocations of the enemy. He made sure that they significantly mark the Day of Air Men in the capital city of Pyongyang.

A meeting was held to convey a congratulatory message from Kim Jong Un and award military ranks and state commendations to commanding officers and combat pilots of the Air Force.

Present there were Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Ri Yong Gil, minister of National Defence, Jong Kyong Thaek, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), Ri Thae Sop, chief of the KPA General Staff, commanding officers and pilots of the Air Force.

Courteously conveyed was the congratulatory message from Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to the combat pilots, commanding officers and all the officers and men of the People’s Air Force on the Day of Air Men.

In the message, Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated all the officers and men of the People’s Air Force on the significant Day of Air Men this year when great special events have taken place one after another in increasing the national power of the DPRK and demonstrating its dignity, and paid high tribute to the heroes of the honored Air Force who devoted their all to the service of loyalty and feats for defending the territorial air of the country.

Noting that the year 2022 is a year of our People’s Air Force and a year of its victory, he highly appreciated that our pilots, who have cherished the spirit of devoted service for the Party, the revolution and the people as their lifeline and noble duty, resolutely foiled the reckless military attempt of the enemies and fully demonstrated the capability and will of the Air Force to fight a war by displaying their matchless loyalty, fighting spirit, wisdom and courage.

He set forth the militant tasks for the People’s Air Force to cultivate in every way the revolutionary traits and mettle as the first death-defying corps of the WPK and perfect its full preparation for coping with any military crisis immediately and resolutely.

He expressed belief that all the pilots, commanding officers and men of the KPA Air Force would add shine to the history in which they have been absolutely faithful to the Party and the revolution, the honor and great heroism of the great victors and the proud tradition of invincibility and achieve greater successes and feats and thus continue to make a tangible contribution to defending the cause of our Party and ushering in a new era of higher glory and prosperity for our great state and people.

All the participants raised enthusiastic cheers with boundless reverence and trust in Kim Jong Un who ushered in a golden age of development of the Juche-based air force with his unique military idea and distinguished commanding art and is greatly encouraging the Air Force of the DPRK to display its might as the matchless and victorious service only defending the Party and the revolution in the sky.

The order of the chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission on promoting the military ranks of Air Force commanding officers and combat pilots who creditably carried out the flight combat order of the Party Central Committee was conveyed and higher military ranks and general uniforms were awarded.

A decree of the Standing Committee of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly on giving commendations to the commanding officers and combat pilots who displayed matchless bravery and indomitable fighting spirit was conveyed. Then the title of DPRK Hero with the Gold Star Medal and the Order of National Flag 1st Class was conferred on Kim Kwang Hyok and orders and medals to commanding officers and pilots of the Air Force.

The event venue was filled with the participants’ boundless emotion and joy over the deep trust shown by the great brilliant commander making the feats of the pilots, who fulfilled their duty as the front-line soldiers in charge of defending the territorial air of the country known to the whole country and putting them on the peak of glory.

Then followed oath-taking speeches.

The speakers stressed that the proud victory of the People’s Air Force to be brilliantly recorded in the history of heroic Korea’s confrontation with imperialism and the U.S. is a great victory brought about by the extraordinary distinguished leadership of Kim Jong Un, peerlessly illustrious commander who mapped out unprecedented large-scale counteraction military operations with his outstanding military wisdom, iron courage and pluck and exceptional trust in pilots and commanded them to victory on the front.

They hardened their resolution to prepare themselves more firmly as a phoenix in the sky and the red hawk of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regarding the warm love and deep trust shown by Kim Jong Un as their highest honor and lifeline of destiny, and to dash into the stronghold of the enemy at a go like the storm and lightning of Paektu when the moment of decisive battle comes and thus achieve the great victory of the flying corps of Kim Jong Un.

A letter of pledge to Kim Jong Un was adopted at the meeting.

There was a joint performance given by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of National Defence, the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Navy and the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Air Force to congratulate the participants in the commemorative event.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it fully demonstrated the firm faith and will that our pilots living and struggling under the warmest loving care and deepest trust of the great brilliant commander are the happiest in the world and they will always enjoy the victory and glory when they go along the aviation course indicated by the Party Central Committee.

A grand banquet was given for the Air Force commanding officers and combat pilots.

The celebrations of the Day of Air Men served as a significant occasion in further enhancing the invincible fighting efficiency and the mettle of the People’s Air Force which reliably guarantees the prosperity and development of our dignified state as being the most brilliant star and air fortress and shield remaining unfailingly loyal to the idea and leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un and defending the country.

Rodong Sinmun