On September 10, 1973 when an official had a chance to meet Chairman Kim Jong Il, he told the Chairman that he had read a Japanese publication.
Those sent by a Chongryon(General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) official carried the Japanese people’s opinions of Admiral Ri Sun Sin. Followings are the contents.
In the period of the Russia-Japan war, a banquet was arranged for the commander of the Japanese combined fleet who defeated the Russian fleet. The first speaker at the banquet highly praised the commander as a strategist and a distinguished general more excellent than British Admiral Nelson and Korean Admiral Ri Sun Sin. However, the commander, stopping acclamation, explained that it was a fault to compare him with Admiral Ri in Korea and he could not surpass Admiral Ri even if he were born again.
A military researcher whose origin was the Japanese navy noted that although the commander distinguished himself in war, he was unable to be superior to Admiral Ri, and a Japanese Navy Commander explained that Ri Sun Sin was the general whom he admired throughout his life.
Listening to the official, the Chairman explained the following fact, to add him.
…It was told that not only in the 18th-19th century but also entering the 20th century, portraits of Admiral Ri used to be hung in the form of hanging-roll on battleships of the Japanese navy. In fact, it was amazing that the Japanese who used to despise the Korean nation without reason had respected Ri Sun Sin, a patriotic illustrious general of Korea. Furthermore, officers and men of the Japanese navy used to make a deep bow to Ri’s portrait before going to war and prayed for their victory in the battle.
The official had expected that the Chairman would be much interested in the fact the publication had carried. But he was much surprised as the Chairman knew better than him.
The Chairman said in a resonant voice.
There are several means and ways in displaying dignity and authority of a country. Might of a country can be cemented through development of the economy and luster can be added to honor of a country by developing science, culture and sports. However, it is unable to develop economy and science, culture and sports if a country is deprived of. So the fundamental key to the demonstration of dignity and authority of a country is to strengthen the military to defend firmly the national independence so that no foreign aggressive force can provoke.
The official was deeply impressed by the Chairman’s saying.
The official just felt a surprise and interest, and a certain national pride through the publications, but the Chairman awakened the official with the reputation of an illustrious general the fact that the military strength is precisely the national strength and sovereignty.
