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Generals, officers and soldiers, The moment has come, for which our Party and government, together with the numerous families in this country that sent their dear sons to the battlefields, have waited so eagerly. The whole country has waited for it. It is also a moment, for which I have waited counting on my fingers. As I see again at this meaningful ceremony the proud sons, the heroes of the country, who are a source of great pride for our state and for whom all the people have waited, I can hardly describe my feelings. I extend heartfelt thanks and warm militant greetings to the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas military operations units, who fought bravely as befits Koreans and the Korean People’s Army under a hail of bullets and bombs in the do-or-die battles in the alien land and have returned home with dignity. At the proposal of the Central Committee and Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea adopted a decree on awarding the title of Hero of the DPRK and other high commendations to the generals, officers and soldiers of our army who performed immortal feats in the overseas operations. I feel pleased to make the decree public here today. These are the first commendations conferred on the combatants in the overseas operations, who are excellent sons of the Korean people and representatives of the great honour of their country. Out of the desire to put forward in front of their country and fellow people the laudable heroes who have performed feats on the battlefields in the alien country in defence of the sacred prestige and dignity of their motherland and to make the whole country hold them in respect and esteem, the Central Committee of our Party has arranged a grand ceremony of awarding state commendations to them at its headquarters building. These are special and valuable commendations the country and people confer on the honourable victors for their great feats that can be performed only in a bloody struggle. You are entitled to enjoy this glory and the highest respect. Since the day when I dispatched our special operations units overseas, I have frequently received reports on the course of their battles and have been deeply moved by the ennobling spirit, matchless bravery and invaluable sacrifice of our officers and soldiers. And I have been eager to award high commendations to all of them when they return home after fulfilling the missions entrusted to them. As we are holding the first awarding ceremony today, I am reminded of the combatants who must be totally engaged in their tasks, even at this moment, true to the order of their motherland, as well as of the martyrs; and I am sorely sorry for failing to share this place of honour with all of them. My heart aches and breaks as I am facing the reality in which I have no other alternative but to meet those, who dedicated their dear lives for the great victory and glory, by only seeing their photos on the memorial wall. At the last moments of their lives of their own choice, they earned the most glorious eternity, leaving behind such feats and combat records as to be handed down through generations. My only thought is that how happy I would be if they shared this moment with me. I have looked forward to hugging them warmly while every minute and every day wishing them safe and secure; I have been anxious to pin the Hero medal on their chests myself as they went through thick and thin with our glorious national flag in their bosoms. Now that all this is impossible, I feel really regretful. As I am seeing the families of the fallen soldiers, I feel unspeakably sorry and chagrined for my failure to save the young lives, the invaluable sons they entrusted to us. Availing myself of this opportunity, I express deep condolences to the families of the martyrs who laid down their precious lives in the overseas military operations, and propose a moment of silence praying for their eternity. Our combatants in the war are all great men, great heroes and great patriots. Through a staunch struggle and ennobling self-sacrifice, they performed great exploits to be etched in history for all eternity to bring lasting prosperity and strength to our country.
