The influence of guerrilla war on Kim Il Sung political vision

How can we define a guerrilla? If we take a look at the dictionary a guerrilla is a member of an irregular force operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy, as by surprise raids, using unconventional, inexpensive means to get attention and generate interest.

The guerrilla experience taught Kim Il Sung the value of maintaining a united front and of using unconventional tactics against a stronger opponent.  The years Kim Il Sung spent outside his motherland had a great impact on his life experiences and decisions. Even though he and his guerrilla group had not had many great victories they succeeded in well knowing not only in North Korea but also in the Soviet Union and China. The years he dedicated to anti-Japanese war were recompensed with the acknowledging of Union Soviet and finally with the leadership of the northern part of the Korean peninsula in 1945 after he came back to Korea. When he returned to his motherland, he was seen as a guerrilla patriot with charismatic experience, commitment, and solidarity.

In this photo, Kim Il Sung was in command of Second Directional Army in Jilin, China (1938),

Photo source: http://koreanhistory.info/KimIlSungsLife.htm 

The guerrilla years is the root of Kim Il Sung`s national ideology and all his past experiences in Manchuria represent the prototype of how a political system should manage difficult situations.

Kim Sung Ju, (김성주) on his real name, after he fled with his family in Manchuria, started to be interested in participating in anti-Japanese organizations as well as in Marxist underground groups.  This led to his arrest and interrupting his studies. However, he managed to get the post of political commissar for the 3^rd a detachment of the second division.

During Chientao 5.30 Incident (that took place in 1930 May 30) the Korean communist guerrillas started a big riot against Japanese, Kim Il Sung did not play a big role, however, Korean fighters caught the attention by attacking the Japanese consulate and different enterprises.  Kim Il Sung led around 200 guerillas fighters to the city of Bochonbo in 1937 June. Even though this battle was on a small-scale it was quite daring and made the name of Kim Il Sung well know also because the Japanese portrayed him as the general of the anti-Japanese struggle. This battle is used by the propagandistic machine of North Korea to over-exaggerate the role of Kim Il Sung. It is true that it had quite a big impact and was the highest point in Kim`s career.

Between 1940 and 1941 guerrilla’s groups had to flee in the Soviet Union as the Japanese attacks intensified. Kim Il Sung got all the support from Russian communists and he received the command of the 88^소 special Brigade with 200 Koreans and around 100 Chinese. These years were decisive as Kim was respected by the Russian comrades and made him the best choice for a future leader of North Korea.

        The question is why Kim got to have so much fame during his years in Manchuria and the Soviet Union?

First of all, Kim got the trust of his older Korean comrades who chose him as their leader. During his stay at Khabarovsk Soviet, Chinese and Korean Anti-Japanese forces appointed him as the leader of Korean Task Force.

               The harsh environment in Manchuria had a great impact on Kim Il Sung. This hardship (like frozen or starved to death) made Kim and his comrades be united. Another key to their survival was the flexibility, Kim Il Sung had to adapt to new environment, he had to abide every day in order to survive. Making a living while fighting for his motherland independence made his group be brutal as well. The guerrilla years made Kim seize the all-important political power and make allies. Later on, after becoming the new leader of North Korea we can see how he got to take advantage of his guerrilla years making himself a big hero and a great fighter. He might have fought for Korean peninsula`s independence, and became a hero for his people, but it turned out that later on, he became a heartless dictator that was not afraid to kill his own allies and friends in order to maintain the power.

              Kim Il Sung was not the only Korean guerilla who fought outside Korean peninsula, however in North Korean history is used as a propaganda tool and Kim Il Sung`s guerilla`s years are putting on the light only Kim`s figure, ignoring other heroes who fought for freedom.

 

This photo is used as propaganda in North Korea showing a good looking and brave Kim Il Sung.

Photo source: 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-MzPhtGGNQgx26jcUnbavNSYxS3ncijuUHG_52LZrX6KzwCZvjUME9ZNO9azDdfSaZqsUo2Ucz0hJphxCV4BDPr-Sic_B-sMcTVkQKIO2TLiKKM861H25nlf3AasCI1qKBsCZlvkUin-/s1600/03.jpg

Sources:

Andrei Lankov, The Real Korea. Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia, New York, Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lim Un, The founding of a dynasty in North Korea, translated from A secret history of the founding of a North Korea dynasty, Japan, 1982.

Scott Snyder, North Korean Behavior. Negotiation on the Edge, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, 2002.