Title of Hero of Republic Instituted within Five Days from Start of War
The first task assigned to the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly during the period of the past Fatherland Liberation War was to give commendations to the soldiers of the Korean People’s Army.
How did the Standing Committee of the SPA come to give commendations to the soldiers when it must have been fully occupied now that the war broke out in our country?
The KPA soldiers were rendering distinguished services on the front, displaying matchless valor, bravery and sacrificing spirit following the leadership of President
Being reported on the feats of the heroic soldiers every day and every hour, the President felt an irresistible impulse to put forward all of them fighting at the cost of their youth and life for the country before the whole world.
As a matter of fact, there already existed a well-regulated prize and decoration system established before the war.
However, our President felt the existing system just insufficient to acknowledge the heroic feats of the soldiers.
Having paid deep attention to what commendations and decorations had to be conferred on the feats of the soldiers from the first day of the war, the President summoned the officials of the Standing Committee of the SPA as soon as he finished the radio speech on June ２６, １９５０.
Then and there, he gave instructions as to instituting the title of the Hero of the Republic, the supreme honor of a citizen, in order to commend the KPA soldiers who displayed bravery and heroism in the sacred war for the freedom and independence of the country.
He taught that the Standing Committee of the SPA had to make designs and rules related to the commendation of this kind and issue a decree after deliberation.
The officials of the SPA Standing Committee had never thought that their first task in the grave situation of a war would be the commendation of the KPA soldiers.
Our President held the merits of the soldiers so dear and so precious.
As he was possessed of love for the people as a natural disposition, the President placed the life of brave fighters, who distinguished themselves in the sacred struggle for the country and the people, on the highest position of the Hero of the Republic.
Consequently, the title of the Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was instituted on June ３０, １９５０.
Accordingly, Rodong Sinmun dated July １, １９５０, delivered a decree on conferring the Order of National Flag First Class, the supreme order of the DPRK, a gold-star medal and the commendation of the Standing Committee of the SPA on those receiving the title of the Hero of the Republic and its counterpart on July １６ that year a report on conferring the title of the Hero of the Republic on１２ KPA officers and men including Kim Kun Ok and Kim Ki Ok.
The title of the Hero of the Republic instituted within five days from the start of war--this single story tells us how great trust and love the President had for the KPA officers and men.
Rodong Sinmun