April 25! Declaration of Independent Faith and Resolute Revolutionary Will

９４ years have passed since the first armed forces, great pride of our country and people, proclaimed its birth.

On the significant day, our people and service personnel recollect with deep emotion the sacred history of our revolution which has advanced by dint of arms and keenly feel that April ２５ is, indeed, a significant day when the genuine historic mission of communist fighters of Juche type started.

President Kim Il Sung founded the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army, the first armed forces of Juche type, on April ２５, １９３２, with a transparent faith and resolute will to oppose arms with arms and achieve the independence of Korea through the efforts of Korean people.

The foundation of the KPRA was the starting point of a bloody armed struggle that began before the establishment of our state power and the founding of our Party and brought about all the momentous events, and expression of a thoroughgoing standpoint to wage a death-defying resistance against imperialism and an independent faith and resolute revolutionary will of Korean revolutionaries to continue their dynamic advance for the final victory of the revolutionary cause by surmounting all difficulties off their own bat.

The KPRA developed into a genuine model of the revolutionary army of the era of independence, a powerful force of Juche revolution in the flames of the anti-Japanese struggle, and achieved the historic cause of national liberation by annihilating the gangster-like Japanese imperialists through armed struggle.

In the period of the bloody anti-Japanese war the preparations for founding the Party and establishing a power relying on the armed forces were steadily conducted, a new path for building a people’s power of Juche type pioneered and its brilliant example set.

The ideology, faith and great traditions, which our revolutionary army cherished and succeeded from the outset of its founding, constituted the basis of the spiritual strength and ever-victorious guarantee that made it possible to display an undying heroic and self-sacrificing spirit in defending the Party, the revolution, the territory and the people in the fiercest-ever anti-imperialist confrontation, in the first line of grim class struggle and in the ever-changing circumstances of history, mindful of its intrinsic revolutionary and class nature and mission.

Indeed, thanks to the KPRA, our people’s first-ever genuine armed forces founded by the President, the historic cause of national liberation could be brilliantly accomplished and the new era of the Juche revolution ushered in on this land.

The respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un, in his speech at the military parade held in celebration of the ９０th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army (KPRA), proudly said that the arms of revolution held by fine sons and daughters of the Korean people in the forest of Mt Paektu was the motive force that provided the Koreans with the spirit of self-respect and invincible strength.

Now our revolutionary armed forces have dramatically developed to fully demonstrate its might as a world-class powerful army under the outstanding and seasoned leadership of the respected General Secretary and the dignity of Juche Korea was put on the highest level.

As we have great Comrade Kim Jong Un, the peerlessly illustrious commander, the historic significance of April ２５ is getting greater and the Juche-oriented revolutionary armed forces will continue to demonstrate only glory and victory.

Rodong Sinmun

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Pays Congratulatory Visit to Combined Unit under KPA Mechanized Infantry Division in Western Area

 

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- The elite combat ranks, who are consolidating in every way their matchless war capabilities in the vanguard of building a powerful army while powerfully demonstrating the noble name of a symbolic unit of the heroic Korean People's Army which has creditably carried forward the revolutionary spirit of Paektu and the tradition of invincibility, greeted the moment of glory to be shined forever in its history.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, paid a congratulatory visit to a combined unit under the KPA mechanized infantry division in the western area on April 25, the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, and encouraged its officers and men.

The service personnel were full of great excitement and joy to have at their unit the Supreme Commander, whom they have been eager to see even in their dreams in the days of the glorious military service, on the significant day when the DPRK's revolutionary armed forces made the historic first stride with bayonets of self-reliance.

When Comrade Kim Jong Un arrived at the headquarters of the combined unit, all its officers and men broke into stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" with the highest respect for him, the iron-willed commander who is ushering in a new era of building a rich country with a strong army in which the revolutionary cause of Juche pioneered with arms and its steady advance are reliably guaranteed by the strongest military strength.

Comrade Kim Jong Un was greeted on the spot by commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK including Minister No Kwang Chol and the military and political commanding officers of the KPA mechanized infantry division in the western area and its combined units.

Officers presented fragrant bouquets to Comrade Kim Jong Un, reflecting the unanimous reverence of all the service personnel for him.

Comrade Kim Jong Un laid a bouquet at the monument to field guidance of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung standing in the unit and paid tribute to it.

He visited the revolutionary museum after looking round with deep emotion the monuments to the sacred exploits of the peerlessly great men in leading the army.

He said that the mechanized group with its sacred name and its subordinate units are the glorious ranks organized under the deep trust of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung hoping that they would take the lead in the vanguard of the whole army in reliably defending the Party and the revolution, the country and the people by carrying forward the brilliant traditions of the anti-Japanese war. The proud history of the anti-Japanese guerrillas who won only victories is reflected in the names of units, he added.

The combined unit is situated in the historic place where the slogan of defending the Party Central Committee unto death was put up first in the entire army and the Red Flag Company Movement started, he said, adding this is the first place where the faith of our revolutionary armed forces to preserve the ideological lineage and carry it forward took roots.

It is our Party's invariable idea of building a powerful army and its outlook on war that making soldiers ideologically elite is a treasured sword for invincibility, he said, stating that the only army strong in ideology, always aware of its lineage and root, can resolutely contain and frustrate any formidable enemy.

Stressing that the combined unit, intensively associated with the chronicle of guidance of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il over the Party's army, should be a model of the entire army in conducting the political and ideological work for soldiers and perfecting combat preparedness in conformity with its characteristics and position, he clarified the tasks to this end.

Comrade Kim Jong Un had a photo, to be recorded forever in the army-building history, taken with all the officers and men of the brigade significantly greeting the founding anniversary of the KPRA.

On the same day, he watched sports games with the service personnel of the unit.

The service personnel were full of boundless joy, pride and excitement as they significantly spent the happy holiday in the presence of the Supreme Commander.

All those officers and men, who received great affection and the highest honor of having Comrade Kim Jong Un at their unit on the significant day when the historic roots of our revolutionary armed forces were taken, pledged to creditably carry forward the sacred mission, ideal and indomitable fighting spirit of the army-founding generation and thus add shine to the KPA's glorious history of victory. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.04.26.)

조선중

Firing Contest of Mortarmen under KPA Large Combined Units Held to Mark Significant April 25

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- A firing contest of mortarmen of light infantry units under the large combined units at all levels of the Korean People's Army took place on April 25, the 94th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, oversaw the firing contest.

Among the spectators were No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, Ri Yong Gil, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and military and political commanding officers of the KPA large combined units.

The firing contest was conducted in the way of judging combat methods of the sub-units that are to rapidly conquer the natural and artificial interception lines, maneuver and deploy and destroy different targets within a set time and then hide and get away from the place according to their tactical missions.

Strikingly demonstrated in the contest were the high militant effectiveness and power in the use of mortars by shock troops of the light infantry units at all levels and their full war posture.

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over the results of the contest.

He extended warm encouragement to the units participating in the mortar firing contest, who significantly commemorated the birthday of the KPRA, an especially significant holiday for our state and revolutionary armed forces, with proud training success for perfecting the combat preparedness, and to the officers and men of the entire army. He highly appreciated that the enthusiasm for effecting a revolution in the training to enhance the combat efficiency is nowadays growing stronger in the army units at all levels.

The mortar sub-unit under a combined unit of the 11th Corps of the KPA won the first place in the firing contest.

The 2nd Corps of the KPA came second, the 91st Corps third, the 1st Corps fourth, the 4th Corps fifth and the 5th Corps sixth.

Comrade Kim Jong Un said that the combat drill should be organized and conducted with the main emphasis on bolstering up in every way the combat capability to completely destroy the enemy by thoroughly embodying the WPK's military strategic idea and all the requirements of the Juche-oriented tactics. And he gave detailed instructions on the development of training contests among units at all levels and among core and sub-units of the entire army in a more intensive and competitive way. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.04.26.)

 

Glory to the 94th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army

 

94 years today , on the 25th of April 1932 , President KIM IL SUNG founded the Anti-Japanese People's Guerrilla Army becoming the Korean People's Revolutionary Army(KPRA)  in 1934 the forerunner of the Korean People's Army.

The KPRA was the first genuine revolutionary armed of the Korean people composed of the workers , peasants and revolutionary youth . It was a true Juche-based armed force that fought in the spirit of self-reliance.

Today's Korean People's Army , equipped with ICBM's and commanded by respected Marshal KIM JONG UN , fully inherits the spirit of the KPRA and continues its traditions.

Glory to the 94th anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army !

94 years of victory-special article for the 94th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army by Dr Dermot Hudson

 

It is said that from small acorns mighty oaks grow . This is certainly true of the Korean People’s Army . Watching the grand military parade for the 80th anniversary of the foundation  of the great Workers Party of Korea in October 2025 seeing giant ICBMS and tanks  rolling past , no one would guess that the Korean People’s Army originally began as a guerrilla force . 

Once the anti-Japanese guerrillas were dismissed by the commanders of the Japanese imperialist forces  as a “drop in the ocean “ but now the ICBMs of the Korean People’s Army can hit the US mainland and Japan could be destroyed by the DPRK . As respected Marshal KIM JONG UN said at the 9th Congress of the Workers Party of Korea  “ I am sure to say: Ours is no longer a country that is susceptible to threats from others, and it has the power to threaten them, if necessary”. One can only marvel at the great advances that the DPRK has made in the field of national defence . When you look at the origins of the Korean People’s Army such achievements look incredible , in fact they tower high .

Although the Korean People’s Army(KPA)  was founded as a regular revolutionary armed force on the 8th of February 1948 , its origins go back to the days of the fiery anti-Japanese armed struggle when it was formed as a guerilla force  . Both foundation dates of the KPA are celebrated in People’s Korea.

It was on the 25th of April 1932 the President KIM IL SUNG founded the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army in the forests of Antu, Manchuria (many Korean people had been driven out of Korea by the ferocious Japanese imperialists so there were Korean communities throughout China and Manchuria ) .The Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army(AJPGA)  was later to become the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army. So the KPA was originally founded as guerilla force.

 President KIM IL SUNG  had taken up the cause of liberating Korea from the horrendous rule of the brutal and oppressive Japanese imperialists . At the Kalun meeting of June 1930 he had put forward the line of the Juche-based revolution and the line of armed struggle .First the Korean Revolutionary Army was founded in July 1930 , then President KIM IL SUNG decided that the armed struggle should be expanded and developed in depth so the founding of the AJPGA became the order of the day and it was founded on the 25th of April 1932.

On the day that the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army .was founded President KIM IL SUNG declared to the meeting to found the AJPGA that 

“The AJPGA is made up of the workers, peasants and young patriots who oppose the Japanese imperialists and their stooges and love their country and people; it is a revolutionary armed force which will dedicate itself to protecting the interests of the people.

The aim and mission of the people’s guerrilla army is to overthrow the colonial rule of Japanese imperialism in Korea and bring national independence and social emancipation to the Korean people.”

 As stated above the AJPGA was totally different to the armies of the imperialist countries and also armies of bourgeois nationalists because it was composed of workers and peasants and had as its aim the achievement of not only independence but social emancipation as well .

The AJPGA fought against the Japanese imperialists using weapons that they have captured or had made themselves in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance such as the Yongil bomb( a hand grenade). In March 1934 the AJPGA became the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army (KPRA). The KPRA fought many battles against Japanese imperialism, which was allied to Nazi Germany and fascist Italy , in order to liberate Korea from tyranny and oppression.. Among such battles were the battles at  Pochonbo on the 4th of June 1937 and Musan on the 23rd of May 1939 just to mention two of the hundreds of battles fought by the KPRA.   On the 9th of August 1945 the KPRA under the command of comrade KIM IL SUNG commenced  the final operation to liberate Korea from Japanese imperialist rule and on the 15th of August liberated Korea.

After liberation the creation of regular ,standing revolutionary armed force was made an important priority by President KIM IL SUNG and the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army was transformed into the Korean People’s Army on the 8th of February 1948 .

 Under the wise leadership of the great generalissimo’s KIM IL SUNG and KIM JONG IL the KPA grew into steel strong ranks each soldier being a match for a hundred enemy soldiers. The KPA inflicted a crushing defeat on the US imperialists in the great Fatherland Liberation War(referred to as Korean War in the West) of 1950-1953.It was notable that the KPA was able to liberate Seoul the south Korean puppet capital in 3 days after the war started. The KPA also defeated the US in the acute showdown after the  Korean War  such as  the ‘Pueblo incident’,'EC121 incident’, ‘Panmunjom incident’ of 1976 and the 1994 helicopter shoot down incident.

Under the command of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN the KPA faced down the US imperialists and ROK puppets in the tense situations that arose in the 2010s.

Fully inheriting the traditions of the anti-Japanese armed struggle the KPA is in fact a continuation of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army , it is totally different from imperialist and capitalist armies which both oppress the people and indulge in overseas wars of conquest .  Today the KPA , stands guard over the socialist paradise of People’s Korea . We salute the 94th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army , the original revolutionary armed force of Korea.

Dr Dermot Hudson

Chairman British Group For the Study of the Juche Idea

Chairman of the Korean Friendship Association of the UK

Hon Secretary General Global Farmy Study Group for respected comrade KIM JONG UN’s People-First Policies

Applying Korea’s Juche Philosophy to the Cambodian Context-Ly Kimlong

 

Juche is the main guiding philosophy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It emphasises on political independence, economic self-sufficiency, and self-reliance in national defence. Created under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung, the first president of Juche Korea, and developed further by his successors, Juche is more than just an ideology of governance, it is a comprehensive theory that promotes autonomy, dignity, and national self-determination in the face of external forces and pressures. Meanwhile, Cambodia is a country with long history of foreign intervention, foreign invasions, colonial domination, and modern struggles which presents a very compelling case for exploring the application of the principles of the Juche Philosophy. This writing examines how the Cambodian context offers a testing ground of how Juche might inspire Cambodia’s path toward national dignity, cultural integrity, and development.

At the centre of Juche is the believe in the people of the country. Juche places the people as the masters of their own destiny, and that a strong nation must do its best to persist foreign pressures to preserve sovereignty. Sovereignty is crucial to the livelihood of the nation. Cambodia’s past is marked by scars from external forces, from being colonised by the French for about 90 years from 1863 until 1953, to being dragged into brutal wars by the American imperialists during the Cold War. Even today, Cambodia still navigates pressures from major powers such as the United States and China. Applying Korea’s Juche Philosophy would mean prioritising Cambodia’s political independence, ensuring that policies are made in Phnom Penh rather than dictated by external powers. This approach could strengthen the voice of ordinary Cambodians citizens as well as boosting Cambodia’s voice in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the wider international community.

Juche advocates for economic self-sufficiency. This means reducing dependency on foreign aid and imports. As former Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Hun Sen has warned, some foreign aids bring disaster to the nation, and they can be used as tools to promote foreign agendas (Pressocm, 2017). Cambodia’s economy, while growing at a rapid rate, remains heavily reliant on external markets and foreign investments, particularly in important sectors such as garments, tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure projects. This is not ideal for Cambodia. These foreign investments, while being beneficial for the country’s economy, are ways that foreign nations can leverage on national Cambodian society politics. In this case, Cambodia can aim to diversify its industries, strengthen domestic agricultural productivity, and encourage local products and innovation. However, this is not to say that Cambodia should close its market to foreign investments. It is an urgent call to think about the over reliance on foreign investment and the lack of home-grown industries. Overall, Juche inspired strategies would encourage Cambodia to seek a more balanced economic relations and protect itself against overdependence on poisonous external aids and partners.

A Juche-oriented approach would also emphasise on mobilising the creative potential of the Cambodian people and the young population of Cambodia. Instead of relying on foreigners, Cambodia could encourage its youthful population to start localising enterprises which can directly support national needs. Such moves would not only stimulate domestic production but also create a sense of ownership and pride among Cambodians, promoting the belief that prosperity must come from the united efforts of the people, just as the banner “Cambodians Can Do!” in Sihanoukville Province. This is also a great opportunity for the Khmer people to polish their skills and build a sharper innovative mind. It is one way to ensure that Cambodia’s development would be grounded in its own resources and human capital rather than external dependency. It is “Cambodians Can Do!” in action.

The Juche philosophy also stresses the importance of cultural independence, preserving national traditions while adapting them to modern society. Cambodia, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, including the world’s famous Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other magnificent temples, is a cornerstone of national identity. If there is a country that knows well about the value of national culture, it is Cambodia. Cambodian’s culture is the heart and soul of Cambodians, and they are also a great economic driver as Khmer temples generate thousands of jobs and bring in millions of dollars to the country through the tourism industry annually. However, globalisation and recently foreign cultural influence risk minimising and polluting Cambodian values and traditions. Applying Juche philosophy here would mean strengthening Khmer cultural pride, promoting Khmer culture heritage, and safeguarding national history in the education system. A Juche-inspired cultural policy would balance the ongoing globalisation and modernisation with the preservation of the unique Cambodian values. This is one way to ensure that modernisation does not come at the expense of the Khmer national identity.

In addition, Juche Philosophy underlines the importance of self-reliance in defence. The theory says that a nation’s sovereignty cannot be safeguarded without strong national armed forces. Cambodia which is located in a geopolitically sensitive region of the world, faces challenges from border disputes and shifting alliances. While currently Cambodia cannot realistically maintain a military capability equal to the superpowers or even the regional powers like Vietnam, Juche Philosophy would stress building and upgrading the national forces to a higher level. The modernisation of the Cambodia’s armed forces and the political will the safeguard independence would be crucial to the protection of national interests and autonomy. Juche can also inspire the Khmer people to think positively of the armed forces and install the thinking that only Cambodians can protect Cambodia. Only the people of Cambodia have the willingness to die for Cambodia. In this sense, Cambodia could pursue security policies that reduce reliance on foreign military aids and start to invest more in the national defence sector, reinforcing Phnom Penh’s neutral stance and also boosting national pride through modern armed forces.

Applying the Juche Philosophy to Cambodia’s context could help protect sovereignty in decision-making. However, it is important to notice that due to Cambodia’s political system and landscape, applying this theory would not mean replicating the exact DPRK model, but rather selectively applying and adopting principles of self-reliance, interdependence, and cultural pride suited to the Cambodian realities. This essay is just piece of thinking where Juche is applied to Cambodia. It has described the possible advantages that Cambodia could gain if implement correctly the political philosophy of Juche.

Juche Philosophy, when contextualised for the case of Cambodia, provides a scenario in which can positively impact national independence, economic self-sufficiency, cultural identity, and sovereign defence. Juche inspires a mindset of self-reliance which can guide policymaking and practicing. By adapting this philosophy, Cambodia can pursue a path toward a future where all Cambodians are free from heavy external pressures. In a world where everything change rapidly, Juche becomes an interesting political philosophy and ideology which can be tested in many countries in the world such as Cambodia.

Ly Kimlong

Assistant Researcher of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea

BA (Hons) Sociology, The Open University, UK

MA International Relations, University of Suffolk, UK

Reference:

Pressocm, (2017), Selected Comments Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Meeting with Workers/Employees at 7NG Area, Available at: https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/17744#:~:text=We%20must%20hold%20on%20to,Thank%20You.%E2%80%9D (Accessed: 22 April 2026)

DPRK Missile Administration Test-fires Tactical Ballistic Missiles

Pyongyang, April 20 (KCNA) -- The Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted a test-fire on April 19 to evaluate the power of warhead of the improved surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11 Ra.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, supervised the test-fire.

Among the spectators were Kim Jong Sik, member of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Full General Jang Chang Ha, general director of the Missile Administration, Lieut. General An Yong Hwan, commander of the 1st Corps of the Korean People's Army, Lieut. General Ju Song Nam, commander of the 2nd Corps of the KPA, Lieut. General Jong Myong Nam, commander of the 4th Corps of the KPA, and Lieut. General Ri Jong Guk, commander of the 5th Corps of the KPA.

The purpose of the test-fire is to verify the characteristics and power of cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead applied to the tactical ballistic missile.

Five tactical ballistic missiles, launched towards the target area around an island about 136 km away, struck the area of 12.5~13 hectares with the very high density, fully displaying their combat might.

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over the test results, saying that the development and introduction of different cluster bomb warheads can meet the operational demand of the KPA in a more satisfactory and effective way and that it is of weighty significance in military actions to boost the high-density striking capability to quell a specific target area as well as the high-precision striking capability.

He appreciated that the technology and records we have acquired and updated today are a valuable result of clearly proving that the organization of a group specializing in research into missile warheads and the five years spent for it were not in vain.

He encouraged the defence science research groups, hoping that they will continuously make successes in the important undertakings to acquire and update various ultra-modern technologies necessary for the combat preparedness of our army. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.04.20.)