Kim Jong Suk Lives Eternally
Recorded in human history are many famous women, like warriors who fought for their countries and nations, and scientists and artists who contributed to the developent of human civilization and mothers who supported their husbands and children so that they became great persons.
One of them is Kim Jong Suk(1917-1949), an outstanding revolutionary born of the Korean nation.
Kim Jong Suk was born on December 24, 1917. Her poor peasant family was living Hoeryong in the northern area of Korea.
Having spent an unhappy childfood under harsh colonial rule by Japan, already in her teens she took part in the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle organized and commanded by Kim Il Sung, and fought for over ten years.   
After the country’ s liberation she assisted Kim Il Sung faithfully in his work for building a new Korea, beyond dying at the age of 32.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her death, we look back on her ennobling life.
Unusual Human Traits
As a human, Kim Jong Suk was modest, sincere and enthusiastic; as a woman, she was tender-hearted and gentle. For her proactive and bold temperament and kind-hearted and sympathetic traits, she won people’ s affection.
One of the characteristics of her traits was devotion for others. In the days of guerilla warfare, she used to patch up other guerillas’ shoes and clothes during breaks of the arduous march and at midnight, and share her meal with those with bulkier bodies or with young ones. It was her view of happiness to find her own happiness in giving her own to others, and it was her view of life to be ready to sacrifice her life for others.
The following shows her human qualities.
In 1937 she was sent to Taoquanli in Changbai County in northeast China to conduct underground activities. For her excellent traits, she was soon loved by all the local people; they called our Ok Sun(Ok Sun was her assumed name). When she was arrested, the enemy demanded a document that would guarantee that she was an honest-minded person for her release. The document had to be signed by 500 people. It was next to impossible as only 200 households were living in the village.
However, the villagers, who regarded her as their kith and kin, signed  the document. The written guarantee was their repayment of the sincerity and love she had shown them.
Imperishable Exploits
Kim Jong Suk performed brilliant exploits for modern Korea.
During the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, she rendered an outstanding contribution to defending Commander Kim Il Sung of the Korean guerillas.
She was absolute in remaining faithful to him, and paid utmost attention to his personal safety, defending him self-sacrificingly at critical moments. The ennobling actions she performed to defend Kim Il Sung in battles are told among the Korean people generation after generation.
She brought up her son Kim Jong Il to be a hero of the country and nation.
There is a saying that there is an excellent mother behind a great man.
Kim Jong Suk brought up Kim Jong Il not only to be a filial son for the family but also to be the son of the people who would share his destiny with the nation and the successor to the cause of his father Kim Il Sung. Chairman Kim Jong Il later recalled his mother’ s influence on his growth was great, saying that though his mother died when he was still young, he still felt the love she bestowed on him.
After the country’s liberation(August 15, 1945),  Kim Jong Suk assisted Kim Il Sung in building a new country. In the complex situation prevailing in those days, she visited hundreds of units like factories, farms and fishmen’ s villages, giving publicity to the ideas advanced by Kim Il Sung and inspiring the masses to implement them.
The sons and daughters of revolutionary martyrs who grew up under her care rendered great services at important posts of the state for strengthening and developing the country.
Even though she did not live long, her ennobling humane traits and exploits are etched in the history of modern Korea. She still lives in the hearts of the Korean people and progressive mankind.