Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

"Patriotic Song", National Anthem

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

   Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- "Patriotic Song", the national anthem of the DPRK, reflecting the ardent patriotism of the army and people, was created and staged under the warm care of the peerlessly great men. President Kim Il Sung proposed to create "Patriotic Song" and guided its composition right after the liberation of the country.
    On an autumn day in Juche 35 (1946), the President met writers and instructed them to write the song as soon as possible. On the occasion he earnestly said that the Korean people, who had established the people's government by themselves as the master of the country, were working freely and developing the national culture, but had not "Patriotic Song" as yet.
    He indicated the necessity and direction for the creation of the song and said that in order to make a good song loved by people, writers and artistes should go deep among the people.
    In June 1947, the song was referred to deliberation in the presence of the President in the conference hall of the then People's Committee of North Korea.
    While reading the words line by line, the President instructed the participants that the part of the words below from the line "With the brilliant culture" should be repeated. He elaborated that Korea was a country with a brilliant culture and time-honored history, and to repeat the part would make the song more effective, harmonious and solemn in the light of melody and let the singers feel national pride.
    Under the meticulous guidance of Kim Jong Il, the song was reproduced as a grand chorus by the State Merited Chorus of the Korean People's Army.
    The servicepersons and people loudly sing the song reflecting the revolutionary stamina of Korea.