The Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea collects a shell case inscribed with Chinese and Korean languages. It is a valuable cultural relic that attests to the China-DPRK friendship.
In 1993, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, Major General Chai Chengwei, who acted as the secretary general of the delegation of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) during the Korean armistice negotiations in early 1950s, donated this shell case that he had cherished for more than 40 years to the Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
The shell case was presented by the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Lieutenant General Lee Sang-jo to Chai Chengw after the armistice became a reality. Lee was representative of the KPA delegation in the armistice negotiations.
On one side of the shell case is inscribed, “To my dear comrade-in-arms Chai Chengwen at the 3rd anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fight in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.
From Lieutenant General Lee Sang-jo of the Korean People’s Army
Kaesŏng, October 25, 1953”
On the other side is inscribed: “Where the shells of the American imperialists fall, there their invasion will be defeated, as in the land of Korea.”
The shell case records the stories of the CPV and the KPA fighting side by side.
Both Chai Chengwen, secretary general of the CPV delegation, and Lee Sang-jo, representative of the KPA, participated in the whole process of the armistice negotiations at Kaesŏng and Panmunjom. They worked together and forged a deep friendship during the armistice negotiations which lasted two years. After China and Korea won the war, Lee Sang-jo presented this precious shell case to his close comrade-in-arms Chai Chengwen in October 1953 in memory of their friendship.
