Speech about the life of anti-Japanese war heroine Kim Jong Suk , made at meeting of the Juche Idea Study Group of England

Good afternoon comrades, today I am speaking on the birth anniversary of anti-Japanese war heroine Kim Jong Suk, who was the mother of comrade Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Suk was born on December 24th 1917 and was the daughter of a poor farmer. Kim Jong Suk rose from humble beginnings to become a true revolutionary fighter, of whom Korean women aspire to be like.

The story of Kim Jong Suks revolutionary life begins in July 1932, when she joined the Young Communist League of Korea, led by Kim Il-sung. On April 25, 1936, she was assigned to the KPRA main unit directly under the command of Kim Il-sung. During her time fighting the Japanese, Kim Jong Suks kind, caring and selfless nature was reviled. She always took care of other people at her expense. Whenever she was served food, she would share it with the more needy soldiers. She would also mend the torn uniforms and shoes of her fellow soldiers, when everybody else had gone to bed.

Kim Jong Suk was a great military strategist, who contributed greatly to the victory of the KPR. For example, Kim Jong Suk amassed details on troop movements at the battle in Jiansanfeng and reported them to Head quarters. She rendered a great contribution to the victory of the Peo ple’s Revolutionary Army and never failed to fulfil any difficult tasks in all circumstances.

Kim Jong Suk implemented all of the orders and ideas of General Kim Il Sung. She always lived up to the expectations of the General in her undertaking of all combat tasks and she was a skilled marksmen and strategist. Japanese soldiers would tremble upon hearing her name.

In the Dashahe battle of 1940 Kim Jong Suk bravely defended General Kim Il sung when five or six enemy soldiers unexpectedly approached General Kim Il Sung. The threat to the Generals life was imminent but without losing a moment, Comrade Kim Jong-suk shielded the General with her own body and shot down the first enemy soldier with her revolver. The General and Kim Jong Suk then fired upon the rest of the Japanese soldiers, killing them in an instant. Off the battlefield she was a steadfast Communist revolutionary who always remained loyal to the Great Leader. After her marriage to comrade Kim Il sung she gave birth to the future generalissimo Kim Jong Il in the secret camp, deep in Mt Paektu. One of Kim Jong Suks greatest achievements was her role in the liberation of women. Kim Jong Suks role in the liberation of women in Korea is very important as she founded the Korean Democratic Women's Union and elaborated Juche orientated theories on the liberation of women thereby smashing bourgeois, revisionist and opportunist theories on women's emancipation. After the defeat of the Japanese she participated in the building of a democratic Korea and her work in encouraging the masses to take part in this great task is most commendable. In particular, she was and shall remain the spiritual leader of the Korean Democratic Women's Union, placing emphasis on the fact that women and men are equal but that women should embrace their feminine qualities proudly. Kim Jong Suk's enduring legacy is that women in Korea now have equal rights to men and that they are playing an increasingly important role in society. Women are now extremely active in helping to build a powerful and prosperous nation under the wise leadership of Marshall Kim Jong Un. The teachings of Comrade Kim Jong Suk on the women's movement are a guideline for progressive women the world over. She wrote of how to avoid bourgeois feminism which simply sets women against men.

In 1949 Kim Jong Suk passed away at the young age of 32, but her immortal revolutionary exploits live on forever in the hearts of the Korean people and all of progressive humankind. Today the Korean Democratic Women's Union has it as one of its chief goals “to encourage the women to learn after Comrade Kim Jong Suk, the anti-Japanese heroine and distinguished leader of the Korean women's movement". On the anniversary of her birth the UK KFA joins with the Korean people and progressive people of the entire world in remembering her great revolutionary life.