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)
A national exhibition and presentation of forest sci-tech achievements was held at the Central Botanical Garden from October 29 to
November 07, 2025
A national exhibition and presentation of forest sci-tech achievements was held at the Central Botanical Garden from October 29 to
The 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the field of
November 07, 2025
The 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the field of
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
November 07, 2025
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
The semi-finals between the DPRK team and the Brazilian team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 5 (lo
November 07, 2025
The semi-finals between the DPRK team and the Brazilian team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 5 (lo
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
November 07, 2025
A delegation of the Military-Political General Department of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation headed by Director Viktor
A photo exhibition “The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a magnificent world created on the east coast in the great era of Kim
November 06, 2025
A photo exhibition “The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a magnificent world created on the east coast in the great era of Kim
Officials of the Party, power and armed forces organs, ministries and national agencies of the DPRK visited the bier of Kim Yong
November 06, 2025
Officials of the Party, power and armed forces organs, ministries and national agencies of the DPRK visited the bier of Kim Yong
The National Exhibition of Sci-tech Achievements in the Field of Public Health-2025 has opened with due ceremony at the Central
November 06, 2025
The National Exhibition of Sci-tech Achievements in the Field of Public Health-2025 has opened with due ceremony at the Central
The Pyongyang General Hospital opened in the DPRK on November 3. The medical workers and employees of the hospital are determined
November 05, 2025
The Pyongyang General Hospital opened in the DPRK on November 3. The medical workers and employees of the hospital are determined
DPRK players proved successful at the 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships held in India from October 31 to November 2.
November 05, 2025
DPRK players proved successful at the 14th Asian Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships held in India from October 31 to November 2.
New villages with unique architectural beauty have been built at the Nongpho Vegetable Farm in Chongjin City, North Hamgyong
November 05, 2025
New villages with unique architectural beauty have been built at the Nongpho Vegetable Farm in Chongjin City, North Hamgyong
The exhibition of intangible cultural heritage items-2025 closed with due ceremony at the Moranbong Youth Park on November 2.
November 04, 2025
The exhibition of intangible cultural heritage items-2025 closed with due ceremony at the Moranbong Youth Park on November 2.
The regional-industry factories, which have been built as the first entities of the implementation of the regional development
November 04, 2025
The regional-industry factories, which have been built as the first entities of the implementation of the regional development
Efforts are directed to developing physical acrobatics in the DPRK. In recent years, Korean physical stunts have won a variety of
November 04, 2025
Efforts are directed to developing physical acrobatics in the DPRK. In recent years, Korean physical stunts have won a variety of
The quarterfinals between the DPRK team and the Japanese team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 1 (l
November 04, 2025
The quarterfinals between the DPRK team and the Japanese team for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took place on November 1 (l
DPRK players have won gold medals at four events of the 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games held in China. Ri Yun Gyong and Ri So Yon took
November 04, 2025
DPRK players have won gold medals at four events of the 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games held in China. Ri Yun Gyong and Ri So Yon took
New houses have been built at the Township, Jiksol and Jigyong livestock farms in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province of the
November 04, 2025
New houses have been built at the Township, Jiksol and Jigyong livestock farms in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province of the
New houses have been built in Taeung-ri, Rajuk-ri and Muchang-ri of Kim Hyong Jik County in Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The
November 03, 2025
New houses have been built in Taeung-ri, Rajuk-ri and Muchang-ri of Kim Hyong Jik County in Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. The
In recent years the DPRK has been successful in its irrigation efforts. Amid a nationwide irrigation drive, the project for
November 03, 2025
In recent years the DPRK has been successful in its irrigation efforts. Amid a nationwide irrigation drive, the project for
Great efforts are being made to improve the quality of education at universities and colleges in the teacher training field. This
November 03, 2025
Great efforts are being made to improve the quality of education at universities and colleges in the teacher training field. This
More Articles
