The battle of Pochonbo is a surprise attack which was carried out by the main unit of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army under the command of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung on June 4, 1937 in the township of Pochon County, Ryanggang Province (the then seat of Pochon, Pochon Subcounty, Hyesan County, South Hamgyong Province).

Japan militarily occupied Korea at the beginning of the previous century. By the latter half of the 1930s it strengthened its unprecedentedly fascist rule over the Koreans more than ever before. Korea was literally turned into a living hell, with Koreans at the crossroads of life or death.

With a keen insight into the prevailing situation, Comrade Kim Il Sung convened a meeting in Xigang in March 1937 to set forth a policy on advancing into the homeland by large forces, and decided to raid Pochonbo, a place of great military importance for the enemy. As it stood, the enemy had at least 20 police organs established in the Pochonbo area, with a gun turret set up every two kilometres and roads built along the border. They were harshly oppressing and exploiting the locals.

With full political and military preparations, Comrade Kim Il Sung advanced into the homeland leading a newly formed expeditionary unit of the KPRA.

At 22:00 on June 4, 1937, at the signal of a gunshot fired by him, the KPRA soldiers stormed into the street of Pochonbo. The entire street was rattled by the ubiquitous sound from machine guns, rifles and pistols.

The police substation, subcounty office, forest conservation office, agricultural experiment station, fire hall, post office and other enemy’s administrative centres were all engulfed in flames, and enemies fell down.

Greatly frightened by the surprise attack, the enemies were embattled and fled for their lives.

People came out from all corners and shouted at the top of their voices “Long live General Kim Il Sung !” and “Long live the independence of Korea!”

Comrade Kim Il Sung delivered a passionate speech, instilling confidence and courage of national liberation into the people and calling on the people from all walks of life to turn out in the scared struggle against the Japanese imperialists.

After wrapping up the successful battle, he saw to it that the chasing enemy troops were all destroyed in the battle on Mt Kouyushui and the battle of Jiansanfeng.

The battle of Pochonbo declared to Japan that the Korean people were alive and they would keep resisting with arms in their hands till Japan was defeated, and brought home to the Korean people the faith that if they fought against the Japanese they could surely win national liberation.

Afterwards, the Korean people turned out as one in the sacred anti-Japanese struggle under the leadership of Comrade Kim Il Sung , thereby defeating the aggressors and liberating their country on August 15, 1945.

Kim Hyok