WHOSE FAULT IS THE EXCHANGE OF FIRE ?

WHOSE FAULT IS THE EXCHANGE OF FIRE ?
The media have paid a lot of the attention to the exchange of fire between
the DPRK and south Korea and have blamed the DPRK for this.What are the
facts; 1.The DPRK does not recognise the so called "Northern Limit line "
unilaterally imposed by south Korea and the US.The Korean Armstice
Agreement
of July 27th 1953(which the south Korean puppets were not a party to)
did not stipulate any "Northern Limit Line".However the US imperialists
later arbitarily and without agreement unilaterally imposed a "northern
limit line".It is a ghost like line.

2.On December 21st the Korean Peoples Army announced that the area in the
West Sea is a peace time firing zone and that all vessels should take
their own precautions for their safety.
3.It was a rountine exercise of the KPA coastal battery which the south
Korean side had been informed of in an advance and indeed the DPRK had
warned all shipping to stay away from the area.

Not withstanding all the above the south Korean puppets became hysterical
and fired back at the DPRK and spread stories in the media about "exchange
of fire".
In October 2007 when the south Korean ruler met DPRK National Defence
Commission Chairman leader Kim Jong Il the DPRK offered to make the area
into a peace zone and allow south Korean fishing boats and shipping to use
it.This was on the table for the south Koreans to take but it was just
ignored and they stuck to the anarchonistic policy of confrontation.

The responsiblity for the increased tension lies entirely witht the
south Korean puppets and their masters the US Imperialists.

UK KFA January 30th.

Fascist Suppression in south Korea

After the emergence of the Lee Myong-bak regime in south Korea in 2008 legal pro-reunification organizations were branded as “enemy-benefiting organizations”, subjected to suppression one after another, their core members were arrested and sentenced to severe punishment. And this is still the case.

- Suppression of the Solidarity for Realizing the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration

The solidarity is a lawful reunification movement organization which was formed after the adoption of the June 15 joint declaration in reflection of the desire of different social standings in south Korea for realizing the independent reunification by the concerted efforts of the nation.

It has vigorously waged the activities since its formation in order to facilitate the inter-Korean reconciliation and unity, and drive the US occupation force out of south Korea , achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula , abolish the fascist “National Security Law” and to defend the people's right to existence.

It has also conducted the propaganda functions in south Korea for the Juche idea and the Songun politics in accordance with the south Korean people’s demands.

The fascist authorities labeled it as an “enemy-benefiting organization” which praised and propagandized the Juche idea and the Songun politics, staged a farcical trial in April last year on its members by involving them in so-called “an incident of a spy group” of their own fabrication, claiming that its leading figure received instructions from north Korea, distributed them to the organization members, wrote and circulated documents praising the north. They committed such atrocity as sentencing them all to a severe punishment.

The fascist regime held a public trial of the members of the solidarity on December 27 last year, sentenced its permanent co-representative Kim Sung-gyu and organizational chairperson Kim Young-ran to 2-year imprisonment, 4-year probation and 2-year suspension of qualifications, and chief editor Yun Cheol-sin and management head Kim Za-kyong of the June 15 TV, a sub-organ of the above-said solidarity, to one and half-year imprisonment, 2-year probation and one and half-year suspension of qualifications respectively.

- Suppression of the South Headquarters of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification

The National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification is a tripartite solidarity organization from the south, north and overseas formed with the aim of expelling the outside forces and realizing the independent reunification of the country through the united efforts of the entire nation.

Its south headquarters is a lawful pro-reunification movement organization which has struggled in the van since its formation hand in hand with all the organizations and personages valuing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration and aspiring for their implementation.

On May 27 last year the fascist regime put all-out blockades on its office and 6 other places and the houses of its chairman and other 15 core members and conducted a forced search, and walked away its chairman Lee Gyu-zae, management director Lee Kyong-won, propaganda chief Choi Un-a on charges of violation of the notorious “NSL”.

The fascist regime claimed that they met with the north figures to exchange information, praised and encouraged the north Korean system through publications, and received instructions from the north, thus transforming the south headquarters into a stronghold of a spy network, terming it as an “anti-state organization”.

Succumbing to the showering protests and the intensified struggle of the various circles in south Korea against the fascist acts of the security authorities, the fascist regime could not but set free the chairman Lee Gyu-zae, Lee Kyong-won and Choi Un-a on November 17 last year.

- Suppression of progressive youth and students organizations

The fascist regime cast a dragnet for Song Hyo-won, chairperson of the 13^th-term South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, who strove for the sake of justice and truth, putting her on the list of wanted persons for years, and arrested her in December last year at last.

She, as the chairperson of the South Korean Federation of University Student Councils, stood in the van of the struggle for the settlement of the registration fee issue and against the expansion of the US military bases in Pyongtaek, and did not stop the patriotic reunification activities even under the condition of police search.

The fascist regime labeled the South Korean Council of Youth Organizations as an “enemy-benefiting organization” last year and suppressed it, and arrested Kim Son-nam, a patriotic student of Korea University , who devotedly fought for the country and the people for 7 years though he was facing the persecution of the police as a wanted person.

The successive fascist regimes in south Korea despicably maneuvered in a bid to stave off their ruling crisis by cooking up non-existent “spy incidents” whenever they found themselves on the brink of ruin owing to their sycophancy and treachery.

However desperately the fascist fanatics in south Korea suppress the reunification movement organizations and their members, they cannot block the vigorous movement of the south Korean people toward the reconciliation, unity and reunification.

Some 100 civic organizations and political parties including the Solidarity for Progress, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Democratic Labor Party formed the “Civic and Social Joint Measure Committee to Cope with the Suppression of the National Alliance for the Country’s Reunification”.

They announced to jointly struggle against the madcap suppression of the fascist fanatics against the pro-reunification movement organizations and hold denunciation rally, protest demo and conduct ad publication campaign almost everyday.

Gwon O-heon, honorary chairman of the Supporters’ Society for the Prisoners of Conscience under the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy and permanent co-representative of the “Civic and Social Joint Measure Committee” called upon all the people to dynamically wage the struggle to repeal the evil laws against human rights, democracy and reunification.

The “National Security Law”, an anti-democracy, anti-human rights, anti-reunification and anti-people evil law, should be repealed without fail.

The AINDF and the south Korean people from all strata will intensify the struggle to abolish the NSL, decisively smash the shuddering fascist suppression moves of the Lee Myong-bak clan and set free the arrested members of the reunification movement organizations.

UK KFA special Article -THE REAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

THE REAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

The Western media and some liberal groups accuse the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea of "human rights violations" .However the real violator of human rights on the Korean peninsula is the south Korean dictatorial regime which is fascist and is a creation and puppet of outside forces notably the USA.

Here are some recent examples of repression in south Korea.Recently international press agencies such as AP and AFP reported that

A South Korean court Wednesday jailed a college lecturer for 10 years after convicting him of spying for North Korea over almost two decades.

The 37-year-old, identified only by his family name Lee, was sentenced after breaching the national security law.

As well as the jail term, the court also fined Lee 31 million won (28,000 dollars), Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean official data shows that more than 4.500 people have falsely accused of
spying for the DPRK since 1948

The south Korean Federation of University Student Councils (Hanchongryon) issued a statement on December 31 last year at which it denounced such fascist action of the authorities as arresting the former chairperson of the organization. Recalling that on December 30 the fascist police walked away by force Song Hyo Won, chairperson of the 13th-term Hanchongryon, who had participated in the "72-hour emergency people's action", the statement declared that the suppression of Hanchongryon is intolerable as it is precisely an all-out repression of justice and conscience. It noted that the dictatorial regime should understand that it can never turn back the wheel of history advancing toward justice and progress no matter how desperately it is trying to stem the trend of the times by invoking evil laws including the "National Security Law" and mobilizing the security forces. It demanded the authorities set free Song at once and abolish the NSL.

The south Korean puppet police on Jan. 6 arrested Kwon Ho Yong, a media man of the "Socialist Workers Newspaper", on the charge of the violation of the notorious "Security Law". That day policemen in plain clothes belonging to the "Security Investigation Group" of the puppet National Police Agency broke into his office in Yongdungpho, Seoul, and arrested him before taking him to its "anti-communist section". The fascist police resorted to such repressive actions in October last year as forcibly searching his office and house and issuing summons to appear at the police station. They perpetrated the recent tyrannical action against him when he came out in protest against the police suppression, laying bare the injustice of the NSL.

The south Korean "national security law" and "Anti Communist Law" stipulate a minimum of 7 years imprisonment for those found guilty of "leftist pro north activities".The maximum sentence is death.Communist parties are illegal in south Korea.

The past south Korean puppet fascist regimes murdered the leaders of the Revolutionary Party for Reunification Kim Jong Tae and Choi Yong Do.They later killed other members of the RPR leadership.In the 1st and 2nd "Peoples Revolutionary Party" incidents the south Korean regime murdered activists including 8 people in the 2nd "Peoples Revolutionary Party incident.

South Korea is occupied by US troops who regularly commit robbery,violence,arson and rape.In 2002 US troops ran over south Korean schoolgirls Sin Hyo Sun and Sim Mi Son in an armoured personnel carrier and killed them.

South Korea is a human rights desert.UK KFA calls on human rights activists to campaign against human rights violations by the south Korean regime and the US troops there.

UK KFA January 23rd 2010.

State,ement of UK KFA in support of DPRK NDC

UK KOREAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION

London 19th of January

The UK Korean Friendship Association today issued a statement in support of the
statement made by the spokeman for the National Defence Commission of the DPRK
on January 15 in connection with the so called "plan puhang" of the south Korean
puppets.
This ridiculous and farcial plan of the south Korean puppets conceals their sinister
intention and desire to overthrow by force the people centred advantageous socialist
system of the DPRK chosen by the Korean people themselves and based on the idea
of self reliance.
It is nonsense for the south Korean puppets to talk about the so called "collapse" of
the DPRK,it shows that they do not understand the reality of the DPRK , powerful
and invincible Juche orienated socialist state.As the statement of the spokeman of the
National Defence Commission of the DPRK says such things as revolts are impossible
in the DPRK.In the DPRK there are no social contradictions and the people,party
and leader form a harmonious whole.No one should attempt to challenge this.

The sinister counter revolutionary plans to destroy the DPRK's socialist system are not
only the product of the south Korean puppets evil plot breeding but are instigated
by the US imperialists as part of their strategy to stifle the DPRK and destroy the
fortress of socialism in the far east.The wild schemes of the south Korean puppets
are also a challenge to peace and stablity on the Korean peninsula and the far
east.
We support the measures announced by the spokesman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK..These measures defemd the independence ,sovereignity
and the supreme interests of the DPRK and its socialist system.We support the
call for the dissolution of the puppet "Unification Ministry" and the hated "NIS"
which is the centre of anti DPRK plot breeding and enemy of the south Korean
people and indeed progressive people all over the world.We support the call for
exclusion of the south Korean puppets from the dialogue process unless they
apologise.The call for a retaliatory war is correct and just and all friends of Korea
should support it.
We call on friends of Korea and progressive and peaceloving people to support the
statement of the National Defence Commission Spokesman.

ASSPUK-JISGE statement in support of DPRK NDC

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF SONGUN POLITICS UK
president Dermot Hudson email juche007@yahoo.co.uk

London January 17th
Today the Association of Songun Politics UK and the Juche Idea Study Group of England
issued a joint statement in support of the statement issued by the spokesman of the
National Defence Commission of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea on January in
connection with the ill boding and repulsive anti DPRK moves of the south Korean
puppet regime.
It is completely intolerable that the south Korean puppets should plan to try and take
over the DPRK in the event of an "emergency"."Collapse " of the DPRK and " revolt" cannot
happen in the DPRK and are simply fantasies from the rubbish bin of the imaigination
of the disaesed south Korean puppets.Indeed it is the south Korean regime that faces
the possiblity of collapse due to external debts or a popular revolt owing to the internal
social contradictions of south Korean and the rotting and decaying anti popular
system.
The DPRK's socialist system is chosen by the Korean peoiple themselves.It is the
most advantageous socialist that provides welfare and everything for the Korean people.
It is the inviolable right of the Korean people to maintain their socialist system under
all circumstances.No one should be allowed to challenge this.

We support the measures announced by the NDC spokesman to protect the sovereignity
of the DPRK and maintain the security of the socialist system and the revolutionary
headquarters.We support the call for the dissolution of the so called "Unification
Ministry" and the "NIS".The NIS is the enemy of the south Korean people as it
represses them as well the enemy of all Korean people north,south and overseas as
it the centre of plot breeding.It is the enemy of the progressive peoples of the world.

If the south Korean puppets know what is good for them they will shut up and
withdraw their nonsenical plan at once.

We support the call for a sacred retaliatory war to destroy the strongholds of the
hated south Korean puppet regime.

We call on Juche idea and Songun idea followers and world progressive to expose and
smash the evil plots of the south Korean fascist puppets against the glorious dignified
DPRK,land of Juche and bastion of socialism.Let us turn out in the struggle against
the south Korean puppet regime and cast it on the rubbish heap for good.

ASSPUK.
JISGE.

Military Provocation Running Counter to Dialogue and Peace

Military Provocation Running Counter to Dialogue and Peace All the Koreans in the north and south and overseas are vigorously conducting the struggle to open up a new phase for independent reunification through realizing the national unity under the uplifted banner of the inter-Korean declarations in this significant year which marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 joint declaration and the 30th anniversary of the proposal for founding the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo. However, the south Korean war maniacs are running amuck in the military provocative moves from the outset of the New Year aggravating the tension and inter-Korean confrontation. On January 1 the 1st field army of the south Korean puppet army stationed in the forefront area staged in a blitz way exercises to cope with “infiltration and limited provocation” under the pretext of the alleged “possible infiltration of north Korea”. The drills were staged according to an abrupt order with the whole force under the 1st field army attending in a force-against-force basis and the commander of the field army bragged that the drills showed the “perfect preparing posture” stirring up the confrontation and war atmosphere. And the 26th mechanized infantry division of the puppet army staged field mobile exercises in the areas of Yangju and Dongducheon of Gyonggi Province from January 11 to 15. Meantime, the south Korean authorities decided to newly set up a “cyber command”. The war drills staged by the south Korean war maniacs against north Korea are a contemplated provocation to hinder the improvement of the inter-Korean relations and an anti-nation crime aimed at instilling distrust and confrontation consciousness in the people's mind and checking the pro-north Korean reunification mood of the people. All the facts indicate that the south Korean authorities intend to continuously go on for south-north confrontation and war against the north this year. The south Korean authorities should drop at once the confrontation policy and war drills against the north plainly aware of the people's desire to improve the inter-Korean relations by the concerted efforts of the nation and achieve the independent reunification, peace and prosperity through the reconciliation and cooperation.

DPRK Warns S. Korean Authorities of Anti-DPRK Operation

DPRK Warns S. Korean Authorities of Anti-DPRK Operation

Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK National Defence Commission issued a statement on January 15 which reads in full: It was reported by foreign press that the south Korean authorities recently worked out what they called "Emergency Ruling Plan-Puhung" to cope with a sort of "emergency" in the DPRK. The south Korean newspaper Munhwa Ilbo on January 13 did not bother to open to media the plan reportedly worked out by tricksters of the south Korean "Ministry of Unification" handling issues of the inter-Korean relations and the "National Intelligence Service" in top secrecy from the autumn last year to its end. This provocative plan reportedly puts into a concrete form the contents of the vicious scenario for toppling the system in the DPRK. After classifying the categories of "emergency" which is unimaginable in the DPRK and can never happen here into "incident", "coup d'etat", "revolt of inhabitants" and others the plan calls for deliberately "fostering and hyping them to the maximum" with an aim to bring down the dignified socialist system in the DPRK and putting into force even "administrative measures" to cope with them. The "Emergency Ruling Plan-Puhung" is a plan for bringing down the socialist system in the DPRK unilaterally worked out by the south Korean authorities while the already publicized "OPLAN 5029" is a scenario for toppling the system in the DPRK jointly drafted by the American master and his stooge with an aim to bring it to a "collapse." The army and people of the DPRK regarded from the outset the improved north-south relations and the resumption of dialogue touted by riff-raffs of south Korea including its chief executive as sheer hypocrisy and have followed their rhetoric with vigilance without even a moment's slackness. They did so because it was none other than the south Korean authorities who have played a double game since they designated fellow countrymen as "a principal enemy," insisting on the cooperation with outsiders even today when the desire and demand of the Koreans for peace and reunification are growing strong throughout Korea. Looking back on history, no sooner had the south Korean authorities come to power than they negated the two historic declarations, gains common to the nation, and cried out for "unification under liberal democracy". They unhesitatingly cried out for even "preemptive attack on the north" while kicking up an "anti-north human rights racket" and anti-DPRK psychological campaign. Under the prevailing grave situation, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK responsible for the security of the socialist system in the DPRK and its defence, is authorized to clarify internally and externally the iron will and tough stand of the army and people of the DPRK as follows: 1. The south Korean authorities should immediately disband the present "Ministry of Unification" and the "National Intelligence Service" of south Korea, the architects of the treacherous, anti-reunification and anti-peace "Emergency Ruling Plan-Puhung", and promptly take due measures to severely punish the prime movers of the said reckless plan for confrontation at the nation's trial. It is the steadfast stand of the army and people of the DPRK that there can be neither national reconciliation and cooperation nor improved inter-Korean relations as long as such plot-breeding mechanisms as the present "Ministry of Unification" and the "National Intelligence Service" are left intact in south Korea. 2. Once the reckless provocative plan of the south Korean authorities to bring down the supreme headquarters of our revolution and the dignified socialist system is completed and put into practice, there will start a sacred nationwide retaliatory battle to blow up the stronghold of the south Korean authorities including "Chongwadae" that have led the drafting of the plan and backed it. This battle will be a nationwide and all-out just struggle with all the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad including our revolutionary armed forces. 3. The south Korean authorities should bear in mind that they will be thoroughly excluded from all the forthcoming dialogues and negotiations to improve the inter-Korean relations and ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula unless they make sincere apology for the crimes committed against the DPRK before the whole nation. They should clearly understand that whoever incites distrust and confrontation, instead of working for national reconciliation and cooperation, and seeks war and division, not peace and reunification, is fated to meet a merciless punishment by the strong revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu.

Letter from Korean National Peace Committee

Dear friends,

Happy New Year!

The DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on January 11, 2010 to propose an early start of the talks for replacing the Armistice Agreement by the peace treaty this year which marks the lapse of 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War.

Here is the full text of the statement.

We expect that you who desire reunification, peace and security on the Korean Peninsula will take a measure to support the statement.

Yours in peace,

Koran National Peace Committee

Statement of the DPRK Foreign Ministry

A year has gone by while the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is standing at the crossroads due to serious challenges to it.

The denuclearization of the Peninsula is the goal of the policy consistently pursued by the Government of the Republic with a view to contributing to peace and security in Northeast Asia and the denuclearization of the world.

It was thanks to the sincere and exhaustive efforts of the Government of the Republic that dialogues had taken place for the denuclearization of the Peninsula since the 1990s and, in this course, such important bilateral and multilateral agreements as the “DPRK-US Agreed Framework” and the September 19 Joint Statement were adopted.

The implementation of all the agreements, however, stopped half way or was overturned. Since them the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula has not been decreased, but on the contrary it ahs further increased and, consequently, even nuclear deterrent came into being.

The course of the six-party talks which witnessed repeated frustrations and failures proves that the issue can never be settled without confidence among the parties concerned. Still today the talks remain blocked by the barrier of distrust called sanctions against the DPRK.

It is our conclusion that it is necessary to pay primary attention to building confidence between the DPRK and the United States, the parties chiefly responsible for the nuclear issue, in order to bring back the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula on track.

If confidence is to be built between the DPRK and the US , it is essential to conclude a peace treaty for terminating the state of war, a root cause of the hostile relations, to begin with.

When the parties are in the state of war where they level guns at each other, distrust in the other party can never be wiped out and the talks themselves can never make smooth progress, much less realizing the denuclearization. Without settling such essential and fundamental issue as war and peace no agreement can escape from frustration and failure as now.

The peace treaty by nature should have been already concluded in the light of its intrinsic necessity, regardless of the nuclear issue. Had durable peace regime been established on the Korean Peninsula long ago, the nuclear issue would have not surfaced.

Now that the issue of concluding the peace treaty is mentioned in the September 19 Joint Statement, too, it is good to move up the order of action as required by practice in the light of the lesson drawn from the failure of the six-party talks.

The conclusion of the peace treaty will help terminate the hostile relations between the DPRK and the US and positively promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at a rapid tempo.

Upon authorization, the DPRK Foreign Ministry courteously proposes to the parties to the Armistice Agreement an early start of the talks for replacing the AA by the peace treaty this year which marks the lapse of 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War.

The above-said talks may be held either at a separate forum as laid down in the September 19 Joint Statement or in the framework of the six-party talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula like the DPRK-US talks now under way in view of their nature and significance.

The removal of the barrier of such discrimination and distrust as sanctions may soon lead to the opening of the six-party talks.

If the parties to the AA sincerely hope for peace and security and the denuclearization of the Peninsula , they should no longer prioritize their interests but make a bold decision to deal with the fundamental issue without delay.

"MASS STARVATION" AND "FAMINE" MYTHS EXPOSED

"MASS STARVATION" AND "FAMINE" MYTHS EXPOSED
Recently KCNA announced that as of October 2008 the DPRK population had grown to  over 24 million.This exceeded the growth rate in the population
predicted by some experts.In 1996 the DPRK's population stood at 22.1 million so the population has increased by 2 million or 10%.If there had
been a famine or mass starvation such an increase would not have been possible-it would have been static or even decreased.Some wild anti
DPRK propagandaists claim that 10% of the DPRK's population died,if this was true that then the population would have decreased by 2 million and
not increase by 2 million.So another anti DPRK urban legend is exploded !

By UK KFA and JISGE and ASSPUK

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE ASSPUK AND JISGE ON THE DPRK NEW YEAR EDITORIAL

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF SONGUN POLITICS UK
President Dermot Hudson email juche007@yahoo. co.uk
London 5th January
The Juche Idea Study Group of England and the Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK today issued the following statement in support of the joint New Year editorial of the DPRK media "“Bring about a radical turn in the people’s standard of living by accelerating the development of light industry and agriculture once again this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea”.

The editorial correctly draws attention to the achievements and victories of the past
year 2009 such as the successful nuclear test and the launch of the second artifical
satellite as well achievements in the field of the economy.All these achievements are
due to the Songun revolutionary leadership of the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il and
the revolutionary spirit of self reliance and the Juche idea.

This year will 2010 see the 65th anniversary of the glorious Workers Party of Korea,the inspirer,guide and organiser of the victories of the Korean people.This will be a great
event in the history of the Korean people as well a landmark anniversary for Juche idea
and Songun idea followers throughout the world.

The editorial's central theme is raising the living standards of the popular masses.This
the supreme principle governing the work of the WPK and the cardinal principle of the
DPRK in everything.It is indeed magnificent that the DPRK plans to improve the living
standards of workers at a time when workers in the imperialist countries face job losses,
cutbacks and pay freezes and living standards of working people plunge lower and lower.
We are confident that the DPRK will carry out the task of raising living standards for
its people building a peoples paradise that is the envy of the people of the whole world.

The editorial correctly draws attention to maintaining the Socialist principle in commodity
circulation. It also stresses the need to instensify the Three Revolution Red Flag movement.

The editorial calls for peace on the Korean peninsula as well the improvement of inter
Korean relations in the year of the 10th anniversary of the historic north-south declaration.

We in the ASSPUK and JISGE support the joint editorial of the DPRK newspapers and
are sure that the Korean people under the wise leadership of the great leader comrade
Kim Jong Il will carry out the tasks outlined in it.We call on Juche idea followers to
add their support to this important editorial.
JISGE
ASSPUK

UK KFA STATEMENT ON DPRK NEW YEAR EDITORIAL

UK KFA STATEMENT ON DPRK NEW YEAR EDITORIAL
UK KOREAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION
                                   London 6th January
The UK Korean Friendship Association today issued a statement in support
of the joint editorial of the DPRK media published on the 1st of January
2010.

2009 has been a year of great victories for the DPRK.Now in 2010 under the
slogan Bring about a radical turn in the people's standard of living by
accelerating the development of light industry and agriculture once again
this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers'
Party of Korea" the DPRK, under the Songun leadership of
the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il ,plans to make another great leap
forward in the field of the economy and in the central task of improving
living standards.When this is accomplished then the people will enjoy the
full benefits of socialism and not envy anyone in the world.
The editorial calls correctly for pushing back the frontiers of
science.Successes have been made in the past year such as the widespread
introduction of CNC tools.We believe that new achievements will be made in
science.In the DPRK science and technlogy serve the people and are not
used for private profit or to oppress the people but to benefit the people
by making work more productive and increasing living standards.
            The editorial also correctly calls for maintaining the Korean
nation first spirit in all fields of life.The Korean nation
first spirit is a fine embodiment of socialist patriotism and
is based on the most advantageous socialist system of Korean
style.
We believe that the Korean people under the leadership of the great leader
comrade Kim Jong Il and the Workers Party of Korea will successfully
implement the tasks of the joint editorial and make a surge towards a
great prosperous powerful socialist nation.

World Peace-Loving Forces Called upon to Strengthen Unity

World Peace-Loving Forces Called upon to Strengthen Unity

Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- It is necessary for all the progressives of the world to get united in order to ensure the victory of anti-imperialist and independent forces and accomplish the cause of peace in the struggle against the imperialists, says Rodong Sinmun Thursday in a signed article. It goes on: It is possible to successfully avert a war and preserve peace if the world progressive people turn out in the struggle for protecting peace from imperialism while solidarizing and uniting with one another under the uplifted banner of unity. The world peace-loving forces should unite on the principle of independence and the might of this unity should be displayed in the anti-imperialist struggle. What is most important in the struggle to defend peace is to struggle against the imperialists' high-handed and arbitrary practices. The world peace-loving people should weaken the imperialists as much as possible and dismember them through counteroffensives against them in every part of the world. The progressives should never harbor illusion about imperialism as it is little short of giving up the anti-imperialist struggle. It is the consistent policy of the DPRK to struggle against the imperialists' aggression and war moves in firm unity with the world progressives in the idea of independence, peace and friendship. The Korean people will wage a more dynamic struggle against imperialists and war under the prevailing situation and thus ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and make positive contributions to realizing humankind's desire for peace, concludes the article.

Anniversary of Victory of Cuban Revolution Observed

Anniversary of Victory of Cuban Revolution Observed

Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a by-lined article to the 51st anniversary of the victory of the Cuban revolution. With the victory in the revolution the Cuban people put an end to the imperialists' long-standing domination and the reactionary dictatorial system and emerged genuine masters of the country, embarking on the road of building a new society while grasping their destinies in their own hands, the article says, and goes on: Since then, the Cuban people have been faithful to the idea of socialism and victoriously advanced along the road of justice chosen by themselves. The Cuban people have reliably defended socialism and the national dignity under the nose of the U.S. imperialists, the ringleader of the world reactionaries, because they have cherished the revolutionary faith in the validity of their cause and the indomitable fighting spirit. The Cuban people feel pride at the fact that they have resolutely defended the sovereignty of the country and the socialist system, the revolutionary gains won at the cost of blood, and are successfully advancing the revolution and construction, overcoming hardships with the confidence in victory and optimism. The Korean people highly esteem the Cuban people advancing under the uplifted banner of anti-imperialist independence and socialism and extend firm solidarity to their just cause. The DPRK and Cuba are far away from each other geographically but the two peoples stand firm in the same trench of struggle to defend and advance socialism. The DPRK-Cuba friendship provided by President Kim Il Sung and respected Fidel Castro is daily growing stronger under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries. It is pride of the Korean people to have as their comrade-in-arms and close friend the Cuban people strong in the spirit of independence against imperialism, the fighting capacity and the sense of obligation, the article says, wishing the Cuban people good successes in their future work.

Joint New Year Editorial of Leading Newspapers in DPRK Released

Joint New Year Editorial of Leading Newspapers in DPRK Released

Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi Friday published a joint editorial titled "Bring about a radical turn in the people's standard of living by accelerating the development of light industry and agriculture once again this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea" on the occasion of the New Year. The following is the excerpt from it: Today our service personnel and people greet the New Year Juche 99 (2010) with the pride of being victors, who wrote a new history of great revolutionary upsurge. A heyday unprecedented in the history of the nation lies ahead of them, who are courageously rushing towards the world by tapping the inexhaustible potentials of Songun Korea. Kim Jong Il is leading the campaign for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful nation to a brilliant victory as he steers the efforts to effect a great revolutionary upsurge on the strength of single-minded unity. Now all the service personnel of the Korean People's Army and all the people are offering their heartfelt thanks and the greatest glory to him who is shaping the brilliant future of the country and the revolution with unflagging energy and untiring leadership, and are filled with a firm determination to support the Party's cause to the last with intense loyalty and heroic feats. Last year Juche 98 (2009) was a year of dramatic change, when a phenomenal age of realizing all the ideals of the people has come. Kim Jong Il worked out a grand plan for making a decisive turn in the Korean revolution and the building of a thriving nation by effecting a new revolutionary upsurge and wisely led the efforts of the service personnel and people. After kindling the torch of a great upsurge in Kangson, home to the Chollima movement, he proposed launching the 150-day and 100-day campaigns successively, and took revolutionary measures to bring them to a victorious conclusion. His outstanding leadership ability was the source of impetus for the unprecedentedly great innovations and leap. The matchless fighting spirit of the leader, who continued the forced march of high intensity to vibrant hard-fought fields for an upsurge throughout the year, burning his heart with noble love of his country and fellow people, gave free rein to the mental strength of all the service personnel and people and worked world-startling miracles across the country. Last year's struggle etched in their hearts the truth that his decision is precisely practice and they will always emerge victorious when they follow him. Last year witnessed one remarkable event of knocking on the gate to a thriving nation after another. The successful launch of man-made satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 and the successful second underground nuclear test by our own efforts and technology were a landmark event signaling the first victory in the building of a thriving nation. The perfection of the Juche-based steel-making system in the Songjin Steel Complex and the attainment of the cutting edge of the CNC technology constitute a great victory of the great Juche idea and an auspicious event for the whole country and all the people that demonstrated our inexhaustible economic and technological potentials. The firework displays on the Day of the Sun--birthday of President Kim Il Sung--, May Day and the WPK anniversary in October were a striking manifestation of the lofty ideals and ambition of the Korean people who are building a thriving nation and the rosy future of Songun Korea that is advancing under the leadership of the great Party. The economy of the country entered the stage of full-scale upturn as all the people staged a life-and-death struggle under the leadership of the Party. The 150-day and 100-day campaigns were an unforgettable struggle that wrote the most brilliant chapter in the history of our great upsurge. The whole course of the heroic campaigns conducted by all the people, including the workers, clearly showed what kinds of miracles would be performed and what kinds of changes would be effected when we give free rein to the might of the harmonious whole of our leader, our Party and our people, in which the Party trusts the people and the people defend the Party and the leader at the risk of their lives. Production sharply increased in the sectors of basic industries, vanguards of the national economy, and the industry as a whole achieved revitalization. Structures of lasting value in the Songun era, like the Nyongwon Power Station, the Wonsan Youth Power Station, Waterway on the Miru Plain and Mansudae Street, were built across the country. The gasification project in the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex was completed, and dynamic efforts were made to upgrade major factories and other enterprises. Last year remarkable achievements were brought about in agricultural production and rural construction, many cooperative farms transformed into ideal villages appropriate to a prosperous country and the production foundations and potentials of the light-industry sectors, including the textile and food-processing industries, strengthened markedly. Remarkable successes were achieved in the development of socialist culture. In the heat of the revolution in literature and the arts in the Songun era conducted under the energetic guidance of Kim Jong Il, masterpieces were produced and re-presented one after another in the fields of the cinema, opera, drama and music. Examples of mass-based culture and the arts in the era of a great upsurge were set to inspire the whole country with revolutionary enthusiasm and militant spirit. Kim Il Sung University, Wonsan University of Agriculture and other institutions of learning were refurnished splendidly, and sportspersons registered good results bringing great pleasure to the people. The victorious great upsurge of last year confirms that the DPRK is developing in leaps and bounds, and the day when the successful building of a thriving nation will be proclaimed is just approaching. New Year Juche 99 (2010) is a year of general offensive, when all-Party and nationwide efforts should be concentrated on improving the people's standard of living on the basis of the laudable victory and achievements of the great revolutionary upsurge. Kim Jong Il said: "Our building of the country into an economic giant is aimed, to all intents and purposes, at radically improving the people's standard of living. When the people's living standards are decisively improved, hooray for socialism and singing of Arirang of prosperity can ring out louder across the country and the gate to a prosperous nation be opened." This year marks the 65th anniversaries of the founding of the glorious Workers' Party of Korea and the country's liberation. The anniversary of the founding of the WPK will be an important occasion for demonstrating the mounting national spirit and mettle of the Korean army and people, who are adding brilliance to the undying exploits performed by President Kim Il Sung in building the Party and carrying out the revolutionary cause of Juche and the human cause of independence, and are speeding up the building of a thriving socialist nation on the strength of the single-minded unity around the leadership of the revolution. We should celebrate the anniversary as a great revolutionary event to be written down in the history of Kim Il Sung's nation by giving the fullest play to our ardent loyalty to the Party, great guide, that has opened up a bright future for the country and people. The great upsurge we are bringing about as we make unheard-of creation and leap forward under the leadership of the Party has entered a new phase. The might of the country's economy, including the heavy industry, was strengthened in the flames of the gigantic great upsurge, setting up a springboard for the country, already a politico-ideological and military power, to justifiably reach the status of an economic giant. Now, based on the brilliant achievements of the great revolutionary upsurge, the Party is unfolding unprecedentedly grand plans and operations to bring about a decisive turn in the people's standard of living. It is the firm determination and will of the Party to enable the people, who have braved severe hardships together with the Party, to enjoy the blessing of socialism to their hearts' content by getting them relish the substantial fruits of the present great upsurge and realize without fail the noble intention and desire of President Kim Il Sung who devoted his heart and soul to the people all his life. True to the intention of the Party, which regards it as the supreme principle in its activities to steadily improve the people's standard of living and spares nothing for them, we should channel all our efforts to improving the people's standard of living. To launch a sweeping campaign to bring about a drastic turn in improving the people's standard of living in the flames of the great revolutionary upsurge--this is the general orientation of this year's efforts. We should conduct an all-Party and nationwide drive for improving the people's standard of living to ensure that the achievements of the great upsurge are followed by greater ones and this year becomes a prosperous year filled with the people's happiness. "Bring about a radical turn in the people's standard of living by accelerating the development of light industry and agriculture once again this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea!" is a slogan we should uphold. Light industry and agriculture are the major fronts in the efforts for improving the people's standard of living. Great are the foundations of light industry and agriculture, which our Party has laid out with an eye on today against all odds. An all-Party, nationwide effort should be directed to mass-producing consumer goods. The light-industry sector should carry forward the upgrading of its factories and enterprises on a high level, and strive to improve the quality of the consumer goods. Local-industry factories should be operated at full capacity, and units, as many as possible, should launch a campaign to turn out more daily necessities favoured by the public. The agricultural sector should sharply increase the grain production by thoroughly applying the Party's policy of agricultural revolution, like improving the seeds, doing double cropping and improving potato and soya bean farming. It should strictly observe the requirements of the Juche farming method and introduce organic and other new farming methods and technologies. We should ensure that the updated stockbreeding, fish farming and fruit production bases that have established a Juche-oriented breeding system and embodied the principle of profitability demonstrate their great effect in reality. We should radically increase the state investment in the fields related to the people's living, and all the sectors and units should supply fully and in time the raw and other materials needed for the production of light-industry goods. We should gain access to more foreign markets, and undertake foreign trade in a brisk way to contribute to economic construction and the improvement of the people's standard of living. The four vanguard sectors are the engine of the national economy and a key to solving the problem of the people's living. In December last year, Kim Jong Il kindled the flame for the new year's drive while inspecting the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex and placed the workers of the Songjin Steel Complex, who had perfected the Juche-based steel-making system, in the van of the great revolutionary upsurge in the Songun era. The vanguard sectors, with a firm view that the development of light industry and agriculture depends on that of heavy industry, should push ahead with today's general offensive for improving the people's standard of living by means of increased production. Steel production leads to the production of grain and machinery. The sector of metal industry should increase the capacity of Juche iron production that relies on the domestic raw materials and fuel and scale without fail the targets of pig iron, steel and rolled steel production set by the Party. The sector of electric power industry should channel effort to run thermal power stations at full capacity and push ahead with the construction of large-scale hydroelectric power stations, including the Huichon Power Station. The sector of coal industry should produce coal without condition for the thermal power stations, chemical factories and other important units, and step up modernization projects to steadily enhance its production capacities. The sector of rail transport should set an order and discipline as strict as in the army, produce new-type locomotives and freight cars in a larger number and make railway service modernized and railways heavy-duty. The sector of machine-building industry should extend the scope of introduction of the CNC technology on a high standard as required by the IT age, and effect a revolution in the production of tools, so as to produce high-performance, state-of-the-art machinery in a larger number. We should implement the people-oriented policies of the Party and the state to enable all the people to substantially enjoy the benefits of socialism. The true nature of our socialism lies in putting the people's well-being above anything else and providing them with all the benefits. We should ensure that the advantages of the people-oriented policies, like giving free medical care and free education, formulated by President Kim Il Sung and applied by the Party and state throughout their history are given fuller play in the people's living. We should speed up the construction of 100 000 flats in Pyongyang with those in Mansudae Street as a model, and build beautiful socialist streets and villages in a greater number in other urban and rural areas. Socialist principles should be maintained in commodity circulation, and the quality of welfare service improved decisively. The fundamental secret of making a new leap in this year's general offensive lies in launching a campaign to push back the frontiers of science and technology in all sectors. We must turn out as one under the slogan, "Let us push back the frontiers of science and technology in all the sectors of the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country and leap higher and faster!" The sector of defence industry, a major front in pushing back the frontiers of science and technology, should continue to lead the efforts to open the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful country, and all other sectors and units of the national economy should launch a drive to push back the frontiers of science and technology. They should bring science and technology close to production and put themselves on a modern and scientific basis in a far-sighted manner, focusing on enhancing their abilities to develop new technologies and products. We should map out a correct strategy for the development of science and technology as required by the 21st century, and rapidly develop core technologies, technical engineering of major sectors and basic science. Scientists and technicians should fulfil their role as the pioneers in pushing back the frontiers of science and technology and standard-bearers in making their country a scientific and technological giant, with a determination to glorify their country by means of their intelligence, their technology. All the sectors should conduct a vigorous mass technological innovation movement to push back the frontiers of science and technology and create new norms and records. Today's vibrant reality requires a revolutionary change in organizing economic work. The leading economic officials should map out aggressive and realistic business and management strategies, and actively push ahead with the advance of the current great upsurge. A strict discipline should be established in planning, financial management and labour administration, so as to give full play to the superiority of the highly-organized, socialist planned economy. In order to maximize the speed of this year's general offensive, it is necessary to give steady play to the unconquerable mental strength of the service personnel and people. Our Party remains unchanged in its stand to persistently hold fast to the ideological strength, mental strength, no matter how the situation may change. The mental strength of our people is based on the strong will and fighting spirit of General Kim Jong Il. All the Party members and other people should become staunch revolutionaries and vanguard fighters, who, defending their leader unto death, translate into reality the idea of great upsurge and the far-reaching plans of the General, who continues his unremitting forced march for the benefit of his country and fellow people. The slogan "When the Party is determined, we can do anything!" must become the eternal motto of our people in their life and struggle. For us, who have to make a higher and faster leap towards the world, national dignity is as precious as life itself. We should thoroughly embody the Korean-nation-first spirit in all fields of social life as befits the people of a dignified power, who opened up an era of frontier science in which our satellite is circling the orbit. The sector of art and literature should produce many masterpieces so as to give the fullest play to the mental strength of the service personnel and people. In order to achieve the goals set by the Party this year, we should strengthen in every way the might of our revolutionary ranks, whose core is the Korean People's Army. The KPA should plan and conduct all forms of its military and political work on the highest level this year that marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Songun-based revolutionary leadership of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il, thus giving fuller play to the inexhaustible might of the revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu. The KPA is an elite force that has formed a harmonious whole with the Supreme Commander in idea and will, in disposition and pluck, and in feeling and emotion. It should train all its men and officers into the vanguard fighters of the Songun revolution, holding aloft the slogan "Let us defend with our very lives the leadership of revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il!" It should ensure that it overflows with the soldiers' spirit of implementing without condition the orders and directives of the Supreme Commander by holding the work of establishing the revolutionary command system and military discipline as a priority task of the Party political work and developing the work without letup. It should always remain highly alert without a moment of relaxation or indolence while keeping itself fully ready for combat action so that it can resolutely frustrate any surprise attacks of the enemy. The men and officers of the People's Army should continue to perform feats that would go down in history in the grand construction sites, including the Huichon Power Station, by displaying the revolutionary soldier spirit. Under the slogan "Let us help the people!" they should strengthen the unity between the army and the people, a foundation of Songun Korea, and become the role models for civilians in the ideological spirit, morality, sports and physical culture, the arts and all other aspects. The working class, youth and all other people, who are taking part in the effort for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country, should launch determined offensives, regarding their work places as battle fields. Our workers should create a new speed of advance in the spirit of having performed labour feats during the 150-day and 100-day campaigns. The youth, who are a shock brigade in the great revolutionary upsurge, should make breakthroughs in the construction site of the Paektusan Songun Youth Power Station and other most difficult and labour-intensive posts and build more monumental edifices representing the Songun era, burning their hearts with the determination to move even the mountain if the Party calls them to do so. They should become heroes, who add lustre to the era of great upsurge with undying labour feats, and talented persons, who highly demonstrate the dignity of the country by pushing back the frontiers of science and technology. We should strengthen the Party and remarkably enhance the role of Party organizations to achieve a brilliant victory in this year's general offensive. This year, when we will be celebrating the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Party, Party organizations should give free rein to our Party's militant might, which was built in the tempest of the Songun revolution, by bringing about a fresh turn in the Party work. They should further intensify the Three-Revolution Red Flag Movement, so as to ensure that the revolution in ideology, technology and culture is waged briskly at all units. We should defend the interests of the masses in a thoroughgoing way and solve all problems by relying on their strength as required by the revolutionary mass line of the Party. Officials should become true servants of the people, who understand their sentiments and unfold their work as suited to these sentiments, and commanding personnel who, enjoy reputation and love among them, as they are possessed of free and easy character and ennobling humane traits. All Party members, with a high political consciousness that they are the members of the glorious Workers' Party of Korea, should become skillful political activists and courageous fighters, who always hold the flag in the van in all fronts of making a great upsurge. The working people's organizations should strengthen ideological education and briskly conduct various kinds of mass movements, like the socialist emulation movement among their members so as to give free rein to their patriotic enthusiasm in today's effort for building a great, prosperous and powerful nation. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. The North-South Summit and the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration in 2000 were a historic event that is of great significance in accomplishing the cause of national reunification. Under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, a new era of independent reunification has been opened, and great, unprecedented successes were achieved in the development of inter-Korean relations and the national reunification movement. The previous ten years since the publication of the June 15 joint declaration followed by the publication of the October 4 declaration for its implementation, during which the Korean nation has advanced along the road for independent reunification and peace and prosperity, has clearly confirmed that these declarations are the most reasonable reunification programmes and the ideal of "By our nation itself" is the very national spirit and the one and only ideal in the June 15 reunification era. Last year, we took active and bold measures and made sincere efforts in order to improve the aggravated inter-Korean relations and bring a radical phase in national reunification. Our measures evoked great support and sympathy at home and abroad and created an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation between the north and the south. The schemes of the separatist forces to thwart the advance of the era of June 15 reunification are vicious, but they cannot break the desire and will of the fellow countrymen to achieve independent reunification and national prosperity by implementing the north-south joint declarations, and it is inevitable that the pro-reunification, patriotic forces will prevail over the separatist forces and emerge victorious. This year we should hold high the slogan "Let the entire nation unite under the banner of north-south joint declarations and achieve national reunification at the earliest date!" The way for improving the north-south relations should be opened. Unshakable is our stand that we will improve the north-south relations and open the way for national reunification on the basis of the historic June 15 joint declaration and October 4 declaration. If the south Korean authorities continue to negate the June 15 joint declaration and cling to the policy of confrontation in collusion with the foreign forces, the relations between the north and the south will never be improved. They should refrain from committing acts that may aggravate the confrontation and tension, and take the road of respecting the inter-Korean declarations, promoting north-south dialogue and improving the relations between both sides. National reconciliation and cooperation should be promoted actively. Reconciliation should be promoted with the common national interests given precedence, and cooperation should be encouraged through travel and contacts between the people from all walks of life. All sorts of legal and institutional mechanisms that hinder the projects for common interests and prosperity of the nation should be abolished and free discussion and activities of the broad sections of the people for reunification should be fully ensured. The unity of the entire nation constitutes a decisive guarantee for the country's reunification. All the fellow countrymen in the north and the south and abroad should strengthen solidarity and collaboration to develop the national reunification movement. They should build up the atmosphere of independent national reunification, reconciliation, cooperation and unity on a nationwide scale to greet the 10th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and the 30th anniversary of the proposal for the founding of the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo. The entire Korean nation should crown the year 2010 as a year of opening a new phase of independent reunification by frustrating all challenges of the anti-reunification forces with their concerted efforts and stepping up the grand nationwide march toward reunification. The fundamental task for ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia is to put an end to the hostile relationship between the DPRK and the USA. It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to establish a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations. Our Party and the government of our Republic will strive to develop relations of good-neighbourliness and friendship with other countries and achieve global independence under the unfurled banner of independence, peace and friendship. Our Party is a great guide which steers our motherland and people to sure victory, and ours are heroic army and people who perform everything without fail once the Party has planned and decided to do it. The majestic firework display to be held on the auspicious October holiday will resound all over the world as a reflection of the determination of all the service personnel and people to follow the Party to the last along the road of Songun and the delight of all the people in enjoying the blessings of socialism.

Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Work Observed

Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Work Observed

Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates a signed article to the 20th anniversary of the publication of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's work "Let Us Give Full Play to the Korean Nation-First Spirit." The work comprehensively deals with the essence and contents of the Korean nation-first spirit and the tasks and ways to give full play to it. The article says: The Korean nation-first spirit cherished by the Korean people has been more fully displayed in the advance for the great surge for achieving the final victory of the building of a thriving nation. It also finds its vivid manifestation in that the Korean people are making a leap forward in building an economic power in the Korean way by their own efforts and has firmly preserved the socialist characteristics. It is the firm faith of the Korean people to fully demonstrate the dignity, honor, wisdom and talents of the nation and fling open the gate to a thriving nation at any cost under the leadership of the great Party. The Korean people regard the spirit of devotedly defending the leader as a soul peculiar to the nation and the starting point of all their thinking and practices. The slogan "Let us live our own way!" can be seen in all sites for effecting a great surge and the Korean-style mode of struggle and pattern of creation are being thoroughly applied there. This year was clearly recorded in the history of the country as a year in which the ideals of the people come true as the servicepersons and people gave fullest play to the spirit of national self-esteem. The Korean nation-first spirit cherished by the Korean people is the pride and self-esteem with which they live in the most advantageous socialist system in the world. The Korean people defended socialism to the last, braving all sorts of trials and difficulties in the "Arduous March", the forced march when they were at the crucial crossroad of defending socialism or becoming slaves of capitalism. That is why the Korean people can never abandon the socialist characteristics.