Now I am 95 years old. I was 20 when I fought in the Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953).

I still remember the days when I fought for the country and people with arms in hand. When the war broke out, we were poorly armed. The Korean People’s Army was a little more than two years old and our Republic was less than two years old.

Our enemy was the US, which had never lost a war in its history, and its vassal forces. The Korean war was literally a showdown between a rifle and an atomic bomb as the world people said.

In September 1950 the KPA units had to temporarily retreat for the strategic purpose after it performed operations to defend the line of the Raktong River. The unit I belonged to was more than 150 strong but only four or five were armed. It will be not hard to understand our situation. However, with a firm conviction that we would surely emerge victorious as long as we were guided by Comrade Kim Il Sung , an ever-victorious and iron-willed commander, we defended our country at the cost of our lives by displaying unparalleled bravery and self-sacrificing spirit in every battle.

At that time every KPA soldier believed that they should by all means defend their country not to repeat the wretched past when we were deprived of national sovereignty by the Japanese imperialists and forced to suffer colonial slavery.

Before the country’s liberation on August 15, 1945 my father and his brothers were all beaten to death by the Japanese police on the charge of involvement in an anti-Japanese movement and my mother died of disease. So I had to do casual work to support my younger brothers and sisters.

But our country was liberated and our people began to lead a new life thanks to Kim Il Sung . In the liberated country I had lived a worthwhile life as a human being for five years. That’s why, when the war broke out, I volunteered to join the KPA ahead of others to defend the country that could and should not be lost again. I fought in many battles as a machine-gunner.

After the war I was discharged from military service and entered the then Pyongyang College of Construction. After graduating from the college I worked as a builder until I retired.

I took part in many construction projects including the one to demolish the straw-thatched houses, a legacy of centuries-old backwardness in the countryside, and build new modern houses and another to construct dwelling houses and public buildings in many cities such as Phyongsong, the seat of South Phyongan Province, and the capital city of Pyongyang. During this period I engaged in several major construction projects of national significance and received high official commendations.

The only remarkable achievement I made throughout my life is that I volunteered to join the army ahead of others when the country was faced with the harsh trials of war and did my part in providing the people with houses in peacetime. Nevertheless, the state has put me forward as a war veteran and merited person and provided me with all happiness and glory.

Every year I attended the national conference of war veterans, and had the honour of having photos taken with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un several times. During every event I spent unforgettable days, enjoying best treatment ever. Though I am in the twilight of my life, I lead a happy life with my children under the warm care and love of the Party and the state.

Seeing the country rapidly changing under the leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong Un on TV and in publications, I am convinced that our country will before long grow into a socialist power admired by the whole world.

Pak Yong Man, a resident in Neighbourhood Unit No. 30, Wisong-dong, Unjong District, Pyongyang