A Fundamental Turn in the Destiny of the Koreans

Marta Grelak, Warsaw Group for the Study of the Juche Idea, Poland

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the DPRK, we, Polish friends of Korea, want to wholeheartedly congratulate the Korean people on this joyful day, the birthday of their beloved Motherland!

75 years ago, when President Kim Il Sung founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a fundamental turn was brought about in the destiny of the Koreans. Just several years earlier, they suffered under the brutal Japanese occupation, being treated as slaves. But on the 9th of September 1948, the new Republic was born, truly independent and sovereign state that was dedicated to genuinely serving their interests, ensuring their rights and dignity, fostering their prosperity and realizing their dreams and aspirations.

Seven-and-a-half decades have passed since then and the DPRK unwaveringly and consistently continues to tread this noble path. Despite facing external pressures and challenges, the country remains steadfast in its commitment to the independence, self-reliance, justice and well-being and happiness of its people. The admirable journey of development and progress traveled by the Korean people under the leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il carries forward today, under the guidance of another outstanding leader, the respected President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un.

In September 2018, 5 years ago, our Polish delegation came to the DPRK to celebrate 70th anniversary of the proclamation of the DPRK together with the Korean people and friends of Korea from around the world. The stay in this beautiful country – the country so totally different than the Western media portrayal of it, the country where state's care for citizens is visible at every step and where enthusiastic and good-hearted people live, building a society of economic and social justice and unity – was a wonderful and fascinating experience. It was my 3rd visit to the DPRK, and the 3rd visit that deeply impressed me as I again witnessed impressive new progress and development.

Over the course of recent years, the DPRK, indeed, has made tremendous strides in various fields, including economy, education, healthcare, science and technology.

The country witnessed the remarkable transformation of its landscape, with the construction of numerous modern and beautiful structures catering to the needs and desires of its people. Enormous amount of new places to live have been build and then given to the Koreans free of charge, from the modernist city streets of high-rise apartment buildings to lovely, colorful villages. Plenty of factories and enterprises furnished with cutting-edge equipment and machinery and innovative large-scale farms have arised as well. All kind of magnificent public facilities have been created, like the ones providing high quality education or healthcare for the people or the ones giving them access to various attractive recreational activities, promoting a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

In other words, the DPRK has not only achieved remarkable advancements in various sectors, but has also prioritized the well-being and quality of life for its citizens all that time along. And these all happened despite shameful efforts by formidable forces that, being hostile to the Korean people, were trying to block their country's road of progress.

Extremely admirable and praiseworthy are also DPRK's efforts in strengthening national defense and developing a nuclear deterrent.

In the 1950s the U.S. invaded the country, reduced it to ashes and killed over 1.2 million of defenseless Korean civilians. American policymakers has never ceased threatening Korea since then. The Korean people have deeply experienced the tragedy of war in their history and they very well understand the value of peace. This becomes even clearer when we witness the unwavering determination of the DPRK to protect and uphold this peace. Importantly, its fight for guaranteeing that the Koreans will never again have to suffer and perish amid the ruins of their cities and villages has yielded admirable results.

The country successfully developed and tested a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles, what virtually guarantees that no aggressor will ever dare to attack it again. These are magnificent and noble achievements for safeguarding state's sovereignty, the safety and interests of the Korean people. But also a significant contribution to the common good of other nations in the region, considering that preventing a potential escalation of conflict on the Korean Peninsula and protecting peace and stability benefit all of them.

So far, under the outstanding leadership of the respected President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un, under His care and love for the nation, the Korean people, wise and talented great people, achieved countless amazing, awe-inspiring successes. All the facts indicate that their future, the future of our dear friends, will be very bright and it fills our hearts with joy.

Long live the respected President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un! Long live the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!