General Sorkin's Admiration

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:

"Great, indeed, was the resolution of President Kim Il Sung to hold high the banner of independence in the previous century, when sycophancy, dogmatism and dominationism were prevalent; more worthy of note in modern political history was his revolutionary practice of never abandoning the principle of independence but courageously propelling the cause of our revolution in the harsh international circumstances in which the imperialists and dominationists were cutting a swathe with their high-handedness and arbitrariness."

Through his great revolutionary practice, President Kim Il Sung proved that independence is the justice of the history, the victory of the revolution and the foundation of the development of fair international relations. And he set the trend of the history of the 20th century towards independence, thus opening up a new history of independence in which the masses of the people independently carry out the revolution in their own countries, throwing off the shackles of domination and subordination.

One spring day in 1942, a consultative meeting took place with high-ranking military officials of the Soviet Union on the formation of the International Allied Forces (IAF) at Camp South in the vicinity of Voroshilov in the Far Eastern region of the Soviet Union.

One day, on behalf of the Comintern and the Soviet military authorities, General Sorkin of the Soviet Union entered the headquarters of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, which was located in Camp South, together with high-ranking officers of the Soviet Army.

Sorkin saluted Commander Kim Il Sung and offered him a courteous greeting.

After exchanging greetings, Kim Il Sung warmly offered him a seat.

As he sat down, Sorkin said that they visited the Commander to learn in more detail about his initiative on forming the IAF unveiled at the meeting in Khabarovsk and discuss practical measures for that.

After listening to him, President Kim Il Sung said that he saw the establishment of the IAF as a very urgent matter in light of the present situation.

Sorkin was very pleased to hear him say so.

Then, he asked the Commander to tell him about the plan for that.

At Sorkin's earnest request, President Kim Il Sung detailed the plan for founding the IAF he had been maturing for a long time.

Saying that the Khabarovsk meeting seriously discussed the orientation of future activities of the Anti-Japanese Allied Army in Northeast China and the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, he told him that at that time the Soviet side had proposed that the Anti-Japanese Allied Army in Northeast China should give up its independence and merge with the Soviet Army.

He stressed that at that time he had made a stand against an unreasonable merger where any one side ignores the other side or does not recognize the independence of the other side.

The form and method of the joint struggle should not only be helpful to the Soviet Union, but also meet the interests of the Korean revolution, he noted, indicating the ways for that.

Saying that an ideal form of alliance of the revolutionary armed forces of the three countries, namely Korea, China and the Soviet Union, was the International Allied Forces, he explained that it was to form such forces by organizing a combined force on the basis of recognizing and ensuring the independence of the armed forces of the three countries.

Sorkin nodded repeatedly as he listened to the President and said with excitement:

"That's a very good idea. The most appropriate measure needed in the present situation is the organization of the International Allied Forces. To tell the truth, I also thought that such a measure would be needed sooner or later. However, I was unsure whether I would gain the understanding and support of the Korean and Chinese comrades, and whether, instead of appreciating this and supporting me, they would perhaps mistake me for a great-power chauvinist. Therefore, I have been hesitating."

Then, President Kim Il Sung said smiling benignly: Winning independence by our own efforts is our invariable principle. Nevertheless, this does not exclude international cooperation or alliance with the international revolutionary forces. In order to defeat such a formidable enemy as Japanese imperialism, we should join our efforts. Even a large country like the Soviet Union should receive assistance from other countries if it is necessary. Internationally, receiving help from other countries or fighting in alliance with their revolutionary forces is not big-power worship.

General Sorkin sprang to his feet with excitement and saluted him respectfully.

"Thank you, Commander Kim Il Sung. I fully support and approve of your plan concerning the formation of the International Allied Forces. When I return, I will report to the Soviet military authorities and the Comintern the matter of forming the IAF suggested by you and take measures to implement the plan."

The consultation ended successfully like this.

Indeed, the noblest internationalist deeds of President Kim Il Sung unprecedented in history are deeply engraved in the minds of the world people like stars shining forever in the sky.