Politics

President Kim Il Sung made the 1 000-ri (250-mile) Journey for Learning at the age of 12 and its historic significance is great indeed.

This journey led to the 1 000-ri Journey for National Liberation, the long bloody battles of the anti-Japanese war which accomplished the historic cause of Korea’s liberation, the building of a new democratic Korea, the victory in the grim Fatherland Liberation War and the era of Chollima when world-startling miracles were performed in succession.

After reading the full-length novel “1 000-ri Journey for Learning” which was produced in 1971, schoolchildren in the city of Kanggye marched to Pyongyang along the historic route for the first time in 1973, the 50th anniversary of the President’s trek.

The first regular national expedition was formed with 5 000 schoolchildren a year later and a 10 000-strong expedition embarked on the journey for learning the following year. 

This was how the schoolchildren’s study tour along the route began.

An average of more than 10 000 schoolchildren have made the study tour every year since the 1970s.

While marching along the route taken by the President, study tourists learn about his immortal trek, burning love for the country and people and lofty aim of revolution.

They conduct a variety of political and cultural activities including the study of his reminiscences With the Century, the study session of the reminiscences of anti-Japanese guerrillas and poem recitation.

Through the tour, schoolchildren grow both mentally and physically.

On their 1 000-ri journey, the tourists walk nearly 900 ri. Though they get exhausted as they march 70 to 80 ri on a daily average, they overcome all challenges with the strong will by modelling themselves on the President and take pride in that.

For the study tourists the journey for learning constitutes the first step of their life which makes them know their country, the revolution and their ability to overcome difficulties.