President
"We felt one truth intensely during the whole anti-Japanese revolution: if an army does not enjoy the support of the people, it can never be strong and win a battle."
During the anti-Japanese armed struggle, President
In autumn 1936, his unit had stopped at the entrance to Diyangxi, Shijiudaogou of Changbai County. Then they were all having a very hard time, owing to a shortage of food. One day two recruits came back with an ox sent by peasants from Yaoshuidong, upon hearing that the guerrillas were taking only soup made of dried vegetable leaves for their meals.
As they had not tasted cereals for many days, even the veterans and commanders were delighted at the thought of eating plenty of beef soup after such a long break. However, after examining the decorations of the full-grown ox such as neatly made nose ring, the bridle nicely wound with red cloth, yellow brass bell and coins which bespoke the wholehearted devotion of its owner, the great leader told the men to gather in one place and then said gently to return the ox to its owner.
Then he reasoned with the men, who were extremely disappointed: Why are we going to return this ox to its owner? Precisely, because it is the precious property of the peasant, its owner. Look how dearly he has held his ox and loved it! This brass bell has probably been kept with much care for several generations in his family. Most likely the grandma of the family brought the coins in the strings of her purse attached to her skirt, when she was married and treasured them all her life. Our mothers express their affection for oxen in such a way. We should also return the ox, because the farming of the peasants in Yaoshuidong is largely dependent on it. What will happen there, if we slay the ox because it is the sincerity of the people, without taking this into consideration? The owner of the ox and his neighbours, who have become indebted to the ox, will have to do the work of the ox from tomorrow onwards. They will have a hard time of it in carrying the load, which used to be carried by the ox, on their backs and turning over, with picks and hoes, the fields, which have been ploughed by the ox until now. When we think of this, we can't feel at ease, if we were to eat this ox, can we? Almost all of you are the sons of poor peasants, so think of your parents, who are toiling away.
The soldiers, who had brought the ox, felt the pricks of their consciences and returned the ox to its owner in Yaoshuidong.
Like this, the President established the public morals of the KPRA that were based on the thoroughgoing spirit of love for the people considering that the army's love of the people and enjoying their support determined its existence more than the outcome of the battle.
Therefore the KPRA, "a drop in the ocean" as the enemy used to describe, were supported and encouraged by the people, connecting the blood-sealed ties with them and eventually defeated the Japanese imperialists for the liberation of Korea.
