Pyongyang: North Korea on Thursday pledged to achieve national prosperity and military strength under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, a day before the country marks the founding of anti-Japan forces that later evolved into its state armed forces.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the message as the country observes the 93rd founding anniversary of the People's Revolutionary Army. This army was led by Kim Il-sung in the fight against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule before he became the founder of North Korea.
North Korea celebrates April 25 as the founding date of its anti-Japanese forces, which it regards as the origin of the Korean People's Army (KPA). However, it officially changed the military's founding day in 2018 to February 8, the date the KPA was formally established. The KCNA referred to the current leader Kim as the symbol of the country's strength and the banner of victory, asserting that the grand historic task of achieving national prosperity and strength will be accomplished under his leadership.
The KCNA attributed the founding of the revolutionary forces to Kim Il-sung's "extraordinary ideology and wise guidance," stating that the military establishment provided "a powerful sword" to people who lost their nation due to a lack of power to defend themselves. North Korea last held a large-scale military parade to mark the anniversary in 2022. Since then, it has been observed only through news articles.
The North's mainstream Rodong Sinmun newspaper also reported that groups of people have visited former battlefield sites related to the People's Revolutionary Army to mark its founding.