• Monday, 04 September 2023 | 10:05
• Juche Korea: 75 Years for Independence, Justice and Defense of Peace

On the 9th of September 1948, a new socialist state was born, a socialist country of Juche, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK ) which was founded by the great leader President KIM IL SUNG. The DPRK outlived those socialist countries which were founded around the same time and indeed outlived the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR ). This is because Juche Korea is firmly based on the Juche idea, on independence and self-reliance. In the DPRK under the guidance of President KIM IL SUNG, Chairman KIM JONG IL and Marshal KIM JONG UN an authentic and durable socialism, Juche-based socialism has flourished.

From the first day of its foundation, the DPRK has advanced along the road of Juche, the road of self-reliance, independence and socialism. Juche Korea was not a copy of another country but a unique and original state that had grown from the anti-Japanese revolutionary armed struggle led by the great leader President KIM IL SUNG and fully inherited the revolutionary traditions of the anti-Japanese armed struggle. Indeed the prototype of the DPRK was the People’s Revolutionary Government established in the liberated guerrilla zones that were established during the 1930s. In Korea, the people did not form Soviets ( councils of workers, peasants and soldiers ) but instead formed people’s committees. President KIM IL SUNG put forward the unique and original line of founding a Democratic People’s Republic. Also in People’s Korea , the regular armed forces, the Korean People’s Army was formed in February 1948, more than 6 months before the DPRK itself was founded which was different to other countries.

As respected Marshal KIM JONG UN remarked “ Our socialism is an independent socialism strong in the Juche character and national identity.”

The DPRK based itself on the Juche idea and on independence never depended on outside forces but carved out its own self-reliant path.  Under the leadership of President KIM IL SUNG People’s Korea built an independent national economy which was symbolised by Vinalon, a synthetic fibre made from limestone and is known as Juche fibre. Thanks to the line of building an independent national economy put forward by President KIM IL SUNG, the DPRK scored great successes in economic development with the growth of industrial output hitting 44 per cent in 1957. People’s Korea became known as a ‘model country of socialism ‘  and was praised by the revolutionary people of the world, even by economic experts of the Western countries such as the renowned Cambridge economist Professor Joan V Robinson.

Under the leadership of President KIM IL SUNG the socialist transformation of production relations was accomplished in an original Juche-based way with the result that an advanced socialist system centred on the people came into being. This provided people with real benefits such as free education, free healthcare, free housing and low-cost public transport. Taxation was even abolished in 1974.

When socialism was frustrated in some countries in the late 1980s and early 1990s President KIM IL SUNG made sure that the DPRK proudly held high the red flag of socialism. After President KIM IL SUNG passed away in 1994 the imperialists hoped for a ‘policy change ‘ or the ‘collapse of the system ‘ but Chairman KIM JONG IL, the successor to President KIM IL SUNG, declared ‘Expect No Change from Me “. When repeated natural disasters hit the country  Chairman KIM JONG IL led the ‘arduous march ‘ and ‘forced march ‘ to victory overcoming all obstacles and difficulties in the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance.

The ideas, policies and lines of President KIM IL SUNG and Chairman KIM JONG IL are ably carried forward by dear respected Marshal KIM JONG UN the general secretary of the Workers Party of Korea. Respected Marshal KIM JONG UN stresses self-development and self-reliance.

Today under the leadership of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN although the DPRK has had harsh and draconian sanctions imposed on it by the US-led imperialists, it is carrying out massive housing programmes. Whole new streets such as Changjon Street, Mirae Scientists  Street, Ryomyong Street, Songhwa Street and Hwasong Street have risen up one after the other, towering high into the sky symbolising the vitality of Juche-based socialism. Many new homes are also being built in the rural areas.

At the same time, the self-defence potentials of the DPRK have been boosted to a great extent. The DPRK has become a socialist nuclear power of Juche and an ICBM power. It is able to deter the threat of US imperialist aggression.

The 75 years of Juche Korea have been 75 years of victory and glory, 75 years of independence, self-reliance and socialism. Forward to the next 75 years of Juche socialism in Juche Korea!

Dr Dermot Hudson
Secretary General European Regional Preparatory Committee for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK
Chairman Korean Friendship Association UK
Vice-Chairman OCIFGPP
Chairman of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea