As one of popular songs in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Three Years of War (2015) highlights the preciousness of the blood shed by the Korean people in the three-year Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953) by expounding its meaning in a profoundly lyric way.
The four-verse song written by the collective and composed by Sol Thae Song starts as follows:
The war dragged on for three years, swallowing everything into flames and agony .
The fight between the two-year-old DPRK and the aggressive US was beyond imagination. It was more than a clash of strength and firepower. It was rather a war of indiscriminate destruction and brutality, in which the US dropped 18 bombs per square kilometre of the DPRK. The US committed appalling atrocities, unprecedented in human history of wars, against the Korean people.
The song says: The catastrophic war covered the mountains with empty shells and cartridges, turning rivers into those of tears and blood, expelling birds and reducing flowers to ash . This passage speaks volumes about the sufferings, pains and agonies sustained by the Korean people during the war.
We couldn’t bury the bodies of fallen comrades-in-arms with flags to cover them torn by enemy bullets . This is about neither sorrow nor despair. It is more about an outcry of history from the bottom of the heart of former combatants, or alive war veterans, who dashed towards the enemy positions through a hail of bullets with no time even to look back their fallen fellows during the charge.
A passage goes: Dear things were lost but a precious thing was won—great victory of war . This reflects the feeling of the Korean people who would not take the memories of the war merely as those of the bygone years.
The thought-provoking line carries a great weight of the war that brings a dramatic change to the destiny of a country or a nation, and it also bears the ideological and artistic core of the song, for which it has become a song of sacred defence and great victory.
In a word, the song is a hymn to the war victory that sings of the truth that the righteous struggle of the people to defend the validity of their own cause and their own things rallied around their great leader will bring about a brilliant triumph.
During the war, the Korean people lost their beloved parents, wives, children, brothers and sisters, with their fellow villagers and comrades-in-arms falling back. They died too young and too sorrowfully.
But the Korean people braved it out sacrificing themselves to defend the dignity and honour of their country. It was a great victory.
They proved themselves through the three-year war.
While the world’s people were keeping their eyes on the newly independent DPRK, the Korean people dedicated their lives to defending the national dignity and honour and saved all the precious things from the claws of aggression.
The melody of the song commensurate with its profound lyric description is extremely impressive as it is finely combined with emotion evoking deep thought and powerful appeal.
The song ends with We will never forget the three years of war when everything precious was saved from trials .
Without any clarion call for a do-or-die battle and delight of destroying the enemy, the song is run through with lyricism of victory based on the people’s absolute confidence in their leader and passionate love for their country, and filled with their determination to carry forward the tradition and history of their great victory.
Yang Ryon Hui
More From Naenara (En)
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
January 23, 2026
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
January 23, 2026
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
January 23, 2026
Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses have been built in Soje-ri of
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
January 23, 2026
Koryo paper takes an important place in Korean culture. Several kinds of paper were produced in the period of the Koryo dynasty
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
January 23, 2026
The Mt Paektu area located in the northernmost part of the DPRK is abundant in tourist resources. The area unfolds distinctive
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
January 22, 2026
In recent years new rural houses have been mushrooming across the DPRK–from the remote mountain villages in the northern areas
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
January 22, 2026
One night in June 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Taedonggang Fish Restaurant built on the banks of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in the DPRK. The catalyst production base is
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
January 22, 2026
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) in his teens embarked on a 250-mile journey with a resolve to win back Korea’s
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountainous villages in Jagang Province of the DPRK are turning into fairyland ones. There took place house-moving in Puji-ri of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
January 21, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in his speech at the event to celebrate the New Year 2026 that he would never exchange for
In December last year several modern hotels were inaugurated with due ceremonies in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province of
January 21, 2026
In December last year several modern hotels were inaugurated with due ceremonies in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province of
One day in December 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Masikryong Ski Resort newly built in Kangwon Province. He
January 21, 2026
One day in December 2013, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Masikryong Ski Resort newly built in Kangwon Province. He
At the end of last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un met the labour innovators and meritorious persons who were invited to
January 21, 2026
At the end of last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un met the labour innovators and meritorious persons who were invited to
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm in the DPRK. The pedigree farm has an office building,
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm in the DPRK. The pedigree farm has an office building,
Several farms in Kangwon Province of the DPRK have presented unusual scenes of rural rejuvenation. Newly-built public and
January 21, 2026
Several farms in Kangwon Province of the DPRK have presented unusual scenes of rural rejuvenation. Newly-built public and
The Academy of Forestry has been built on a modern basis in the DPRK. The academy has all conditions, including an office building
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forestry has been built on a modern basis in the DPRK. The academy has all conditions, including an office building
In December last year it was reported that more than 90 young people from Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, volunteered to
January 20, 2026
In December last year it was reported that more than 90 young people from Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, volunteered to
The Taean Heavy Machine Complex is bringing about innovation in the production of various kinds of machines and equipment from the
January 20, 2026
The Taean Heavy Machine Complex is bringing about innovation in the production of various kinds of machines and equipment from the
As the New Year begins, various sectors of the national economy of the DPRK have registered high production records. The Kim Chaek
January 20, 2026
As the New Year begins, various sectors of the national economy of the DPRK have registered high production records. The Kim Chaek
More Articles
