In the DPRK the Worker-Peasant Red Guards constitute one of the two pillars of the country’s armed forces together with the Korean People’s Army.

All People Should Be Armed

One day in January 1959, the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung visited a village in Wonhwa-ri, Phyongwon County, South Phyongan Province.

That day he had an unceremonious chat with the members of the area’s cooperative, learning in detail about the size, organizational structure, emergency mobilization order and training of the local self-defence corps.

Then he said as follows: Now the Yankees are trying to frighten someone with A-bombs, but it is a foolish daydream. In order to counter their threat, we should all arm ourselves and intensify military and political training, so as to resolutely thwart the enemy’s theory of the almighty A-bomb with the concerted efforts of the people.

Several days later, on January 14, he proclaimed the founding of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards in the conference room of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Both Production and Training Should Be Done Well

One day in March 1972, the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il visited a rural village to acquaint himself with the work of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards there.

He said to the accompanying officials that it is very important to further strengthen the work of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards as the US imperialists and their stooges are making undisguised attempts to unleash a new war these days, adding that we should always be thoroughly prepared for combat so that we can defeat the enemies at a single blow.

That day he stressed that the members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards should do both of production and training well.

A Rifle in One Hand and a Hammer, Sickle or Writing Brush in the Other

One day in September 2023, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un had a photo session with the participants in the paramilitary parade held in celebration of the 75th founding anniversary of the DPRK.

That day he warmly congratulated all the participants in the parade who contributed to celebrating the Republic’s 75th birthday as a grand political festival to be specially etched in its history.

Then he said to the accompanying officials: The impressive parade, which showed the bravery and unity peculiar to Juche Korea, was a powerful demonstration of the invincible spirit of socialist Korea where all its people form a fortress for national defence to reliably protect the independent dignity, national sovereignty and peace and which steadily advances to achieve the great cause of building a powerful nation. All the people across the country should firmly defend the precious gains of the revolution by dint of the might of single-minded unity, each tightly holding a rifle in one hand and a hammer, sickle or writing brush in the other.

Ham Kwang Hyok