North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was recently seen meeting and especially encouraging the great-grandson of Kim Chaek (1903–1951), one of Kim Il Sung’s closest comrades and an anti-Japanese guerrilla fighter, during his on-site inspection of Kim Il Sung Political University. This event appears to have been deliberately staged to emphasize Kim Jong Un’s efforts to support future generations.
According to footage aired by Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Thursday, Kim Jong Un was seen receiving a bouquet from a student during a welcoming ceremony at Kim Il Sung Political University.
The announcer identified the student as “Comrade Kim Myung Ju, the great-grandson of anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Kim Chaek.” The announcer added that upon hearing this, Kim Jong Un, deeply moved, warmly embraced him.
The announcer further stated that Kim Jong Un encouraged Kim Myung Ju to grow into a “capable and steadfast political and military leader who serves the nation and its people with unwavering loyalty, following in the footsteps of his great ancestor, a revolutionary who devoted everything to the sacred cause of the Party and leader.”
The video footage also showed Kim Jong Un shaking hands with Kim Chaek’s great-grandson and embracing him in front of the entire student body as an act of encouragement.
Kim Chaek, a first-generation anti-Japanese guerrilla fighter, was known as a close comrade and friend of Kim Il Sung, having fought alongside him against Japanese forces. After establishing the North Korean regime, he served as the first Minister of Heavy Industry, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister. He also fought as a frontline commander during the Korean War, where he was killed in action. Kim Chaek University of Technology and Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex were named in his honor.
This marks his great-grandson’s first public appearance. Kim Il Sung Political University trains political officers responsible for the ideological education of military personnel, suggesting that Kim Chaek’s great-grandson is following an elite path as a descendant of a revolutionary.
North Korea’s decision to prominently feature a descendant of a revered partisan during Kim Jong Un’s visit appears to signal an intent to cultivate the future generation.
The regime has been actively promoting partisan spirit and the spirit of victory through generations, urging younger generations to inherit these values. It claims that North Korea overcame hardships during the anti-Japanese struggle and the Korean War through ideological strength. It must once again rely on ideological commitment to overcome current challenges.
During his speech at Kim Il Sung Political University, Kim Jong Un emphasized that ideological fortification takes precedence over military technology in military construction, underscoring the importance of ideological training. This approach seems designed to reinforce the message through the lineage of partisans, who symbolize revolutionary spirit.
This move also sends a message to the youth that those who sacrifice for the Party and leader will be rewarded across generations.
The day after he visited Kim Il Sung Political University, Kim Jong Un visited the Kang Kon Military Academy, where he paid respects before the statue of Kang Kon, another anti-Japanese partisan leader.
On the same day, the Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun highlighted Kang Kon and Kim Chaek, stating, “Even in the face of gunfire, they upheld revolutionary principles with unwavering determination.” The paper further stressed that “new generations must be educated to live their lives as loyally as past generations who dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the Party and the leader.”