Late on New Year’s Eve in Juche 37 (1948), Premier Kim Il Sung got together with Vice-Premier Kim Chaek and looked back upon the year.
He said: This year we founded the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a banner of freedom and independence of the Korean people, and carried out the task of building the country’s revolutionary armed forces into regular ones. The year 1948 will shine as the founding year in the annals of the nation, he added.
He continued that back home after the country’s liberation, Kim Chaek took the lead in the efforts to found the Party and army and also fought well in the struggle for building the state, and the founding of the DPRK that year was a historic event that marked the birth of the first independent sovereign state in the colonialized East.
As both of us were busy with work, we have not yet had a chance to have a photo taken together, he said calmly.
Time went by and the bells were about to ring out the old year.
Looking at this watch, Kim Il Sung stood up and asked Kim Chaek about taking a photo to send out the unforgettable year, telling they say a photo evokes fond memories in life.
Kim Chaek was so pleased, and Kim Il Sung called a cameraman. Both posed for the camera.
He told the cameraman that he would not have the photo taken in his capacity as the Premier of the Cabinet with his deputy but he would like to do it in a personal capacity and in a comradely manner, so he hoped it would be a good shot.
“Yes, Premier, I got it. I’ll take a good shot for you to see it for a long time,” said the cameraman in a choked voice.
With utmost sincerity he pressed the shutter to capture the historic moment.
This was how the historic photo was taken. As the cameraman said, President Kim Il Sung had seen the photograph keeping it in a safe for over 40 years till the last moments of his life.
This was how the historic photo was taken. As the cameraman said, President Kim Il Sung had seen the photograph keeping it in a safe for over 40 years till the last moments of his life.
Kim Wi Hyok
More From Naenara (En)
On December 20, the director of the Institute for Studies of Japan under the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following press
December 22, 2025
On December 20, the director of the Institute for Studies of Japan under the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following press
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kim Jong Suk County, a historic place full of the pleasure of enjoying a new
December 22, 2025
Modern regional-industry factories have been built in Kim Jong Suk County, a historic place full of the pleasure of enjoying a new
Regional-industry factories have been inaugurated with splendid ceremony in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
December 22, 2025
Regional-industry factories have been inaugurated with splendid ceremony in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province of the DPRK,
New houses have been built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong of Sinuiju City, North Phyongan Province, and Sanbuk-ri of Suan
December 22, 2025
New houses have been built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong of Sinuiju City, North Phyongan Province, and Sanbuk-ri of Suan
In Sepho County of Kangwon Province, too, modern regional-industry factories have been built as another asset of prosperity to
December 22, 2025
In Sepho County of Kangwon Province, too, modern regional-industry factories have been built as another asset of prosperity to
The great Workers’ Party of Korea is translating the centuries-old desire of all the people into reality by building entities of
December 22, 2025
The great Workers’ Party of Korea is translating the centuries-old desire of all the people into reality by building entities of
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
New houses have been built at the Ujung and Phyongsang farms in Usi County and the Wolmyong Farm in Kophung County, Jagang
December 21, 2025
New houses have been built at the Ujung and Phyongsang farms in Usi County and the Wolmyong Farm in Kophung County, Jagang
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
More Articles
