My biggest impression when I met Chairman Kim Jong Il was that he has unbounded devotion to the cause of peace and his people and outstanding active ability.

Clear-cut analysis and assessment on political situation and military strength of our planet, far-sighted measure for the prevention of wars and military commander’s will and decision, etc. moved me much.

I can openly say that Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and the Supreme Commander of the KPA, is possessed of such abilities.

His adroit and brilliant military strategy and will of peace can be well known through some open facts in recent years.

The US and puppet ROK launched the “Team Spirit” military exercises on a larger scale and raised a “nuclear racket” entering the 1990s, causing danger of a new war every moment.

In early 1993 when the international reactionary forces’ terrible “special inspection” and “collective sanctions” against the DPRK became an imminent reality, the world concluded that a military conflict would be inevitable on the Korean peninsula.

I also felt nervous about the danger of outbreak of a new war in the DPRK, a neighbouring country of Russia.

However, the DPRK which was before a storm went against my anticipation.

A Russian saying goes that only strong wind unfolds a main sail. Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il, possessed of strong will and outstanding strategy, took a decisive measure to turn adversity into prosperity.

State of semi-war was declared throughout the country according to the order of the Supreme Commander. 4 days later, the DPRK government declared that it would withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Hearing the breaking news, the whole world was seethed with astonishment and admiration.

French minister of defence praised by saying that the DPRK “is completely different from Iraq” and it has a seasoned leader, “people and army perfectly prepared militarily and strategically”.

Unique military activities of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il prove eloquently that he is undoubtedly a brilliant commander who is possessed of gifted qualities as such.

Kim Jong Il is not only exceptionally intelligent but possessed of strong and audacious disposition from his childhood.

I think that military discipline of a distinguished general’s family, gun report of anti-Japanese war and icy cold wind of Mt. Paektu inflicted a big influence on Kim Jong Il’s growth.

Kim Jong Il sucked up President Kim Il Sung’s peculiar way of thinking and art of command as a sponge.

The number of works and talks related to the military published by Kim Jong Il amounts to as many as thousands.

His extraordinary military intelligence and stratagem and profound military knowledge are admired even by veterans.

I have been aged with military service, but I am not exceptional. I confirmed it through my meeting with Kim Jong Il.

There has never been such a great man as Kim Jong Il who is versed in pen and sword by possessing perfect traits of a political leader and qualities of a brilliant commander.

Indeed, Kim Jong Il is a champion of peace and a great brilliant commander who opens up a new history in the relation between the state and all the people.

(This article was published in 1996 by the former USSR Marshal Dmitri Yazob, the 13th minister of national defence.)