Kim Il-sung's 1,000-ri Journey for Learning

North Korea claims that kim Il-Sung, at 11, left Manchuria North Korea claims that Kim Il-sung to begin a lonely trip to his hometown in Pyongyang, following his father's suggestion that he should learn and experience the realities of his fatherland under the Japanese colonial ruler, in order to lead the Korean people. 

Pyongyang propagandists claim he walked all the 1,000 ri (10 ri equal 4 km) from Pataoku in Manchuria to Pyongyang via Popyong, a border town along the Tumen River. On March 16, 1923, he started the journey, and this event is remembered by North Koreans as the "1,000-ri Journey for Learning."

It also is claimed that in 1925 Kim walked back to Man- churia with an ambition to lead the people's struggle to restore the independence of the fatherland, and this journey is re- membered as the "1,000-ri Journey for Restoration."

During the "Loyalty Festival Period" or on other important occasions, exemplary students in their teens participate in the march to walk in the footsteps of Kim Il-sung's "1000-ri Jour- ney for Learning" or "1,000-ri Journey for Restoration."