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)
Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of the Republic of Belarus, on an official visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
March 26, 2026
Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of the Republic of Belarus, on an official visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Forests provide the people with raw materials and food and help increase agricultural productivity and protect river basin. They
March 26, 2026
Forests provide the people with raw materials and food and help increase agricultural productivity and protect river basin. They
A research team at Kim Il Sung University has developed a titanium carbide-based metal-ceramic cutting tool conducive to the
March 26, 2026
A research team at Kim Il Sung University has developed a titanium carbide-based metal-ceramic cutting tool conducive to the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Ri Pyong Sam, former advisor to the Political Bureau of the then
March 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a wreath to the bier of Ri Pyong Sam, former advisor to the Political Bureau of the then
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on
March 26, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on
The Korean people are now making great efforts to attain the ambitious goal set forth by the Ninth Congress of the Workers’
March 26, 2026
The Korean people are now making great efforts to attain the ambitious goal set forth by the Ninth Congress of the Workers’
The Workers’ Party of Korea intends to rebuild the country’s public health on an advanced basis and radically develop it so
March 26, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea intends to rebuild the country’s public health on an advanced basis and radically develop it so
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is to be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 114th birth anniversary of
March 26, 2026
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is to be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 114th birth anniversary of
To pay an official visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic
March 26, 2026
To pay an official visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Comrade Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
March 25, 2026
At the invitation of Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Aleksandr
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
March 25, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex, a DPRK’s giant cement producer, is boosting production as never before. The Sangwon Limestone Mine
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
March 25, 2026
Sea Chilbo is part of Mt Chilbo, a celebrated mountain in the DPRK famous for its beautiful and distinctive scenery.The area of Se
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
March 25, 2026
Among the national intangible cultural heritage items of the DPRK are legends of Ulji Mun Dok, a patriotic general in the period
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
March 25, 2026
The scallop-harvesting season has started in the Sinpho City Offshore Farm, which was built as a model of offshore farming on the
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 25, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
March 25, 2026
Medical workers of the Breast Tumour Institute of the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital offer field service at the lowest curative and
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
March 24, 2026
The DPRK is proactively working to cope with disastrous abnormal weather in its effort to protect state and public wealth and
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
March 24, 2026
One day in May 1998, Chairman Kim Jong Il was on his field guidance trip in Changdo County of Kangwon Province before he suddenly
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
March 24, 2026
A pagoda called Saja (lion) is located at the Kumjang Hermitage in the Naegumgang-ri, Kumgang County, Kangwon Province. The
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
March 24, 2026
Some foreigners who have been to the DPRK advise their fellows: “If you want to visit Pyongyang, I recommend you should apply for
More Articles
