It has been 80 years since great joy and excitement over national liberation swept across Korea on August 15, 1945.

Yet, it seems that the cheers of “Long Live General Kim Il Sung !” and “Long Live National Liberation!” are still being heard. They were the Korean people’s acclaim for the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung who achieved the historic cause of national liberation.

He led the 20-year-long anti-Japanese revolutionary war to victory to win back the country from the Japanese imperialists. Korea’s liberation was a historic event that put a final end to the distress-torn history of the country and opened up a new era for it.

At that time the Korean people warmly welcomed his triumphant return home, highly praising him as their saviour and legendary hero.

Representatives of various social strata in Pyongyang and South Phyongan Province organized a preparatory committee for welcoming General Kim Il Sung to hold him in high esteem. The people of Taedong County formed a separate preparatory committee in the hope that they would be the first to welcome him in Mangyongdae where his native home is located.

On October 14, 1945, a mass rally was held at a public playground at the foot of Moran Hill in Pyongyang to welcome his triumphant return home.

The venue was overcrowded with people, some on trees outside the playground and many others looking down from Choesung and Ulmil pavilions on the hill.

At the time, The Pyongyang Minbo newspaper said in an article entitled “Cheers of 400 000 people shake beautiful Korea”:

“Pyongyang has a long history of 4 000 years and a large population of 400 000. Has it ever had such a large meeting as this? Has it ever held such an important meeting? …

In particular, what gave historic significance to this meeting and thrilled the emotions of people was that General Kim Il Sung , the great patriot of Korea and a hero of Pyongyang, attended the meeting and extended joyful and warm greetings and words of encouragement to the people.… When General Kim Il Sung appeared on the platform, the hero whom the Korean people hold in high respect and have looked forward to seeing, a storm of enthusiastic cheers went up and most of the audience were deeply moved to silent tears.”

Addressing the event, Kim Il Sung called on the people from all strata to turn out to build a new Korea with patriotic enthusiasm and to contribute positively to the work of building the state, those with strength dedicating their strength, those with knowledge devoting their knowledge and those with money donating their money.

His patriotic call was answered by thunderous applause and cheers.

The cheers raised by 400 000 people were an eruption of gratitude to the legendary hero and peerless patriot who brought the delight of liberation to them. They also reflected the public sentiment and determination to bring eternal prosperity to this land in response to his call.

Han Chol Ryong