#kim jong il
Today in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea socialism is gaining greater dignity and might under the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Chairman Kim Jong Il of the DPRK National Defence Commission wrote in his immortal classic work Our Socialism Centred on the Masses Shall Not Perish in May 1991 that the secret of durability and indestructibility of the DPRK’s socialism is that it is centred upon the popular masses, that it has made the masses the genuine masters of society and that it has devoted everything to the service of the masses.
Socialism in the DPRK is the application of the Juche idea and is centred upon the popular masses.
PresidentKim Il Sung founded the Juche idea, a new guiding idea of the revolution, early last century, on the basis of full understanding of the demands of the era when the oppressed and exploited masses of the people emerged as masters of the world and were carving out their destiny and writing history in an independent and creative way. The Juche idea means that man is the master of his own destiny and is powerful enough to carve it out. This serves as the ideological and theoretical foundation of the DPRK’s socialism. The history of the socialist construction in Korea is just the one of comprehensively applying the Juche idea, and all valuable gains in those days are the fruition of the Juche idea.
In particular, it is totally thanks to the Songun idea, which is the embodiment of the Juche idea, that the Korean people survived the hard time, called Arduous March and forced march, in the 1990s. At that time the imperialists and reactionaries were talking much about the “imminent end of socialism” and dead set on suffocating the DPRK. Chairman Kim Jong Il, believing firmly that Songun is the sure guarantee for national defence, made a new accurate analysis of the correlation between the army, the Party, the state and the people.
In the socialism of the DPRK the Party, the state, the people and the army are closely related with one another to share life and death. In the current realities in which the construction of socialism was going on against the unceasing military threat from the imperialists, the socialist state, the Party and the people can never exist without the protection by the army. In the Korean society the revolutionary army and the popular masses share the same fundamental interests, intentions and desires, so attaching importance to the army means giving importance to the socialist state and people.
From this view and stand the Chairman established the principle of Songun and made it clear that he would overcome harsh trials of the revolution and lead the Korean people’s patriotic struggle to victory by setting up the People’s Army as the mainstay of the revolution. On his way of Songun leadership, he saw to it that all the people learned from the revolutionary soldier spirit that is an integration of the spirit of guarding the leader with one’s very life, the one of implementing the Party’s policies at the risk of one’s life and the one of sacrificing oneself heroically. And he also wisely led the Korean people to rise as one for the building of a prosperous socialist country by turning misfortune into a blessing. Thanks to his Songun politics, the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the socialist gains remained secure and a new page of prosperity was written.
The indestructibility of the DPRK’s socialism rests on the single-hearted unity of the leader, the Party and the masses. Kim Jong Il stated that although the popular masses are the driving force of socialism, they can play their role as the independent driving force of the revolution and successfully carry out the socialist construction only when they are rallied around the Party and the leader.
The single-hearted unity was Kim Jong Il’s revolutionary philosophy. Believing that the unity of the entire nation is strong enough to outdo even atomic bombs in power, he gave a full explanation of the single-hearted unity of the revolutionary ranks in many of his works including Let Us Advance Under the Unfurled Banner of Single-hearted Unity. By single-hearted unity he meant the unity based on a great guiding idea with a great leader at the centre, and the moral and obligatory unity based on revolutionary comradeship and sense of obligation. With the single-hearted unity prepared by the leader with all his devotion, the Korean people could change the Arduous March and the forced march into the march to paradise and bring about epoch-making changes in the building of a prosperous country.
The single-hearted unity in the DPRK is reaching the highest ever phase. The Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army keeps genuine revolutionary comradeship with his soldiers, the leader and the people share the same purpose and feelings, and all the people are carrying out the leader’s policies and intentions faithfully. The Korean single-hearted unity also has brought about the trend of upswing across the country, miraculous successes in all parts of the country and victories in the anti-imperialist and anti-US struggle. The Korean people are convinced that the people-centred socialism has a bright future because it has the single-hearted unity of the leader, the Party, the army and the people.
The popular masses’ absolute support and trust are the sure guarantee of the durability and indestructibility of the Korean socialism. The Korean people regard socialism that puts everything in the service of the popular masses as the home of their life and happiness and entrust their all to it. As masters of the state and society, the Korean people fully enjoy their political, economic, ideological and cultural activities corresponding to the intrinsic need of an independent human being, in the people-centred socialist system. They, as masters of the government, take part in exercising state power and administering the state, and enjoy their political freedom and exercise their rights by taking part in the political and organizational life as members of certain political organizations including the Party and working people’s organizations. In addition, they, as masters of the economic management and masters of the means of production, enjoy a creative working life, provided with proper right to work. Thanks to the people-oriented policies of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government, they are provided with equal and sufficient material life.
The Korean people, as masters of ideology and culture, enjoy a wholesome and sufficient ideological and cultural life. As masters of all ideological and cultural organs and means they manage them to realize their politico-ideological and cultural and emotional needs. The Party and the government provide the people with all kinds of ideological and cultural conditions for life. As a result, the Korean people both create and enjoy spiritual and cultural wealth.
This is why the Korean people are deeply attached to their socialist land of Juche and cherish great love for their socialist country in which their ideals come true.
Mt. Paektu is standing in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province, in the northern part of Korea. It is 2,750 metres above the sea level.
The crater Lake Chon is on the top of Mt. Paektu. The area of the lake is 9.16 square kilometres and the maximum depth of water is 384 metres. There are many mountain lakes in the world but none of them is as beautiful as Lake Chon on Mt. Paektu with mysterious colours. Everybody admires the magnificent and wonderful view of Lake Chon at first glance. The main colour of water of Lake Chon is greenish blue. It is colourless to a certain depth from the shore. The water is so clear and transparent that all kinds of stones in it seems to be spreading on the bed. Going further, the colour of water turns light green little by little. As the lake gets deeper, it gradually changes from light green, green and greenish blue to complete blue, which is the main colour of the water of Lake Chon. The blue colour turns dark blue as the lake gets deeper and it is the colour peculiar to Lake Chon that cannot be found elsewhere.
The colour of water of Lake Chon mysteriously changes into multifarious colours according to the watching position and distance, seasons and weather, and natural phenomena. When the sun rises spreading golden beams, it looks like a gilt plate on the red background. When the beautiful evening glow appears and full moon rises, the silvery and golden waves of the lake are very spectacular. The original colour of water of Lake Chon is peculiar and beautiful and mysteriously harmonizes with various colours, adding to the marvellous and distinctive looks and character of Mt. Paektu.
Voice of Korea
We now bring an extract from the newly published book: History of Revolutionary Activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il(2015)
Chapter 6. Organizing and Leading the Struggle to Defend People-Centred Socialism of The Korean Style (January 1990 - July 1994)
1. Ideological and Theoretical Activities To Defend And Advance
The Socialist Cause
Kim Jong Il conducted energetic ideological and theoretical activities to
defend and advance the socialist cause in the first half of the 1990s.
He said:
“In order to defend and develop socialism in its fierce struggle against enemies of all hues, we must further develop the revolutionary ideology and theory of the working class and make them perfect as required by the times and the developing revolution.”
In the period between the late 1980s and the early 1990s the people’s cause
of independence, the socialist cause, encountered vicious challenges by the
imperialists and reactionaries. The wind of reform blew hard in some socialist countries, rapidly degenerating socialism and reviving capitalism. Consequently, socialism collapsed and capitalism revived in the Soviet Union and some East European countries. Taking advantage of this, the imperialists and reactionaries made a fuss about the end of socialism and slandered the ideal of socialism.
As rapid progress was made in socialist construction, the limitations of the preceding revolutionary ideas and theories of the working class, those on socialist construction in particular, became more apparent.
With a keen insight into the prevailing situation Kim Jong Il elucidated the essential characteristics and advantages of the Korean-style socialism and the
source of its invincible might in several works including the speeches titled, On
Some Problems of the Ideological Foundation of SocialismandSocialism of Our Country Is a Socialism of Our Style as the Embodiment of the Juche Idea delivered to senior officials of the WPK Central Committee on May 30 and December 27, 1990, respectively and in a talk titled, Our Socialism
Centred on the Masses Shall Not Perish given to senior officials of the WPK
Central Committee on May 5, 1991.
First of all, he proved that Korean-style socialism is a unique one, the ideological foundation of which is the great Juche idea. Socialism is a society based on the revolutionary ideas of the working class and its development is guaranteed by the scientific accuracy, revolutionary character and a practicability of the ideas and theories on which it is based. Korean-style socialism is a unique one based on the Juche idea, the most scientific and revolutionary idea of the working class. As it is based on the Juche idea it is marching along the road of victory without vacillation in the face of all manner of pressure and slander by the imperialists and reactionaries.
Next, he clarified the advantage of Korean-style socialism.
He said:
“The basic advantage of our form of socialism is that it is a
man-centred society, a society which considers everything with man at the centre and makes everything serve him. This advantage is defined by the Juche idea, a man-centred idea.”
He noted that Korean-style socialism is advantageous in that it embodies the
intrinsic requirements of man on the highest level. Independence, creativity and consciousness are the essential attributes of a social being and collectivism is an intrinsic requirement of man who can carve out his own destiny only in the social collective. Korean-style socialism is the advantageous socialism which splendidly embodies this intrinsic requirement of a social being as clarified by the Juche idea.
Kim Jong Il elucidated that Korean-style socialism is the most advantageous social system which provides the masses of the people with a genuine independent and creative life. Political life, economic life and ideological and cultural life are major fields of social life. How the working people enjoy their independent rights and creative abilities in every field of social life is the key factor in determining the progressive nature and advantage of society.
The advantage of the Korean-style socialism which is based on the Juche idea lies not merely in that the master of the state power and means of production is the masses of the people but in that it substantially provides them with an independent and creative life in all fields of political life, economic life and ideological and cultural life. Herein lies the advantage of the socialist life over the capitalist life and the greatest advantage of the Korean-style socialism over the one in other countries which was established on the basis of the materialistic world outlook.
Next,Kim Jong Il elucidated the invincibility of the Korean-style socialism and its eternal viability. The driving force of socialist society is the masses of the people. However, only when they are united behind the party and the leader as one can they perform the role of the independent motive force of the revolution and carry out socialist construction successfully. Even after the establishment of socialist system the single-hearted unity of the whole society can not be achieved of its own accord. The work of advancing a correct guiding ideology and scientific strategy and tactics for the masses’ struggle and of awakening and organizing them is carried out only by the outstanding leader and the party of the working class.
As they are guided by the outstanding leader and the seasoned leadership of
the party the single-hearted unity of the masses around the party and the leader can be achieved, and this unity serves as the source of invincibility of socialism and its eternal viability.
In a talk titled, The Historical Lesson in Building Socialism and the General Line of Our Party delivered to senior officials of the WPK Central Committee on January 3, 1992, Kim Jong Il elucidated the reasons for the frustration of socialism in some countries and the lessons drawn from it and the general line to which the WPK was adhering in socialist construction. Above all else, he specified the reasons for the collapse of socialism in some countries and the lessons drawn from it.
He said:
“In short, the basic reason for the frustration of socialism in some countries is that they did not put the main emphasis on strengthening the motive force for building socialism and on enhancing its role; they failed to understand the essence of socialism, of centring on the masses of the people, the makers of history.”
Socialist society is one in which the masses are the masters and that is developed by dint of the creativity of the masses who are united as one. The essence of socialist society which makes it different from all exploitative societies and the driving force which promotes the progress of the socialist society lie in the fact that the masses work in comradely unity and with a high degree of consciousness of being masters and displaying their ability as such. Therefore, the basic way to promote the building of socialism successfully is to strengthen the motive force of the revolution by giving priority to the remoulding of the people, as well as to enhance the role of the driving force by giving the fullest play to the revolutionary enthusiasm and creativity of the masses. Because they did not understand this, the parties in some countries which were building socialism failed to strengthen the motive force of the revolution and enhance its role. Herein lies the basic reason for the collapse of socialism.
Kim Jong Il clarified that another reason is that they failed to recognize the qualitative difference between socialism and capitalism and adhere consistently to the fundamental principles of socialism. Defending the masses’ desire for independence and their interests and embodying them is the fundamental principle that should be consistently adhered to in socialist construction.
In order to build socialism to meet the masses’ desire for independence and
their fundamental interests it is imperative to strengthen the working-class party organizationally and ideologically, ensure its leadership of the revolution and construction, steadily enhance the functions and role of the socialist government, safeguard and develop socialist ownership and resolutely combat
imperialism. In the past the people of some countries that were building socialism wavered in the face of transient difficulties that arose in the course of
building socialism and went so far as to yield to the pressure of the imperialists,
gradually conceding and abandoning their revolutionary principles. This resulted in the frustration of socialism and revival of capitalism.
Kim Jong Il pointed out that the frustration of socialism in some countries is also due to the fact that the parties of those countries had not strengthened international solidarity based on independence in their relations. To unite and cooperate with one another on the basis of independence and maintain their independence while strengthening international solidarity is a basic principle that the parties of socialist countries must hold up in their relations.
On the basis of the comprehensive analysis of the reasons for the frustration of socialism in some countries Kim Jong Il concluded that historical experience shows that when people steadily strengthen the motive force of the revolution, with a strong conviction in socialism and a correct guideline, hold fast to socialist principles in all circumstances and strengthen comradely unity and cooperation on the basis of independence, the socialist cause will advance along the road of victory; otherwise it will suffer setback and frustration. He added that this is a serious lesson mankind has learned on its path to socialism.
Next,Kim Jong Il elucidated the general line the WPK pursues in socialist
construction and its validity. He formulated that to carry out the ideological, technological and cultural revolutions thoroughly while strengthening the people’s government and steadily enhancing its functions and role is the general line for building socialism put forward by Kim Il Sung. He clarified that the general line is a scientific and revolutionary line indicating the road for accomplishing the socialist cause and fully realizing the independence of the masses of the people by embodying the Juche idea. He stressed that this line is applied in the building of the Korean-style socialism and its validity and viability have been substantiated through practice.
He advanced principles to be maintained in laying bare the absurd nature of the sophistry by the enemies who are slandering socialism and in shattering it to accomplish the cause of socialism.
Kim Jong Il published a discourse titled, Abuses of Socialism Are
Intolerable on March 1, 1993 in Kulloja, the official magazine of the WPK
Central Committee.
He said:
“It is sophistry to call socialism ‘totalitarian,’ ‘barracks-like’ and
‘administrative and commanding.’ ”
He laid bare the impropriety of the sophistry of the enemies who call
socialism“totalitarian.”
Totalitarianism served as the political idea of fascist dictators. The fascist dictators like Hitler and Mussolini stamped out even the most elementary democratic freedom and rights of the masses of the working people and enforced unprecedentedly tyrannical policies, behind the misleading name of
“national socialism,” claiming that for the sake of the whole nation and the
whole state no working-class movement and no class struggle could be
permitted. The reactionary nature of totalitarianism is that the interests of the
working people are sacrificed for the sake of the rapacious interests of the
reactionary ruling class under the pretence that the individual should be
subordinated to the whole.
The two fascist dictators Hitler and Mussolini who tyrannized Europe in the first half of the 20th century.
What is meant by the whole in totalitarianism is not the whole of the masses of the people but a tiny handful of the privileged circles. Calling socialism, under which the masses of the people are the masters of everything, “totalitarianism”is, ultimately, a preposterous lie which identifies the most progressive idea that reflects the demands of the masses of the people with the reactionary idea of fascist rulers.
Kim Jong Il laid bare the impropriety of the preposterous lie of the enemies who are calling socialism barracks-like. Socialism is the most progressive of ideas that reflects the intrinsic demands of people, and the socialist system is the most advanced of systems under which the masses of the people enjoy an independent and creative life to the full. The restraint of their independence and creativity occurs not under the socialist system but under the capitalist system in which the working class are the slaves of capital. Claiming that socialism is“barracks-like” is pernicious propaganda that attempts to turn black into white.
Kim Jong Il also clarified the impropriety of the sophistry of the enemies
who claim that socialism is barracks-like. In general, the administrative and commanding method of management is an old method of rule that serves the demands of the privileged classes by invoking legal authority in an exploiter society. In socialist society the masses of the people, who have become the masters of the state and society, hold the position of masters and play the role of masters in the administration. The administrative and commanding method of management which was manifested in socialist practices in the past did not emanate from the essential nature of socialist society but was a legacy of the exploiter society. Therefore, accusing socialism of being “administrative and commanding” is also unreasonable.
Kim Jong Il also presented important principles to be maintained in defending and accomplishing the socialist cause. He said that if the socialist cause is to be defended and completed, the socialist idea should be developed and perfected constantly and the masses of the people should be equipped with it, so that they accept socialism as their unshakeable conviction.
He clarified that in order to defend socialism and add eternal brilliance to it,
people should regard it as their moral duty to defend it. He noted that the party and the state of the working class should concentrate their efforts on giving full play to the advantage of socialism by carrying on the construction of socialism properly in order to defend the socialist cause and bring it to completion. He put forth concrete ways of giving full play to the essential advantage of the socialist society. He underlined that the principle of collectivism should be thoroughly applied in every field of social life to safeguard and defend socialism.
The pernicious propaganda of dubbing socialism “totalitarian,”“barracks-like”and“administrative and commanding” is aimed at undermining socialist collectivism and eulogizing bourgeois individualism. So opposing individualism and applying the principle of collectivism to the letter in all fields of social life is crucial to defending and accomplishing the socialist cause. Kim Jong Il’s ideological and theoretical activities in the several years of the first half of the 1990s rendered a great contribution to revitalizing on a new ideological basis the socialist movement that was undergoing temporary setback.
History of Revolutionary Activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il, Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang, Korea Juche 104 (2015)
Towards the end of August 1999, Jong Song Ok finished first in the women’s marathon in the 7th World Track and Field Championships held in Seville. Chairman Kim Jong Il called officials to his office. When they came wondering what could be the matter, he asked them abruptly about the news of the women’s marathon. Beaming with joy, he said our runner won the race in the championships and that he had had a wakeful night at the news. With this, he paced the room. After a while, he said,
“It’s grand, really grand! The marathon race is the most significant of all sports events. Still now, there has been no Korean who won a marathon race in the world track and field championships. Before liberation the Korean runner Son Ki Jong came off first in a marathon of the Olympics, but he had to run in the name of an alien country because he was a member of a ruined nation. But this time our runner has won the world marathon championship for the first time as a Korean. How splendid!”
The press made a feature of her spectacular success and the whole country was in a festive mood singing a song about her.
Later, the Chairman said that she was a heroine of our nation who won the title in the women’s marathon in the World Track and Field Championships, the arena of competition with the best athletes from the world.
Naenara.com.kp
The Korean Film Studio was set up in February Juche 36 (1947) and covers a vast area in Hyongjesan District.
The studio has an artiste corps, as well as production rooms for direction, photographing, fine arts and recording and indoor photographing grounds which are furnished with various remote-controlled illumination, recording, film edition and special photographing equipment. The typical feature films produced by the studio include My Home Village(내 고향)created in Juche 38 (1949), Star of Korea (조선의 별),Mt. Paektu(백두산),The Sun of the Nation (민족의 태양),Guarantee(보증),Hong Kil DongandThe Nation and Destiny(민족과 운명).
Wangjaesan Light Music Band
