THE LIFE AND LESSONS OF KIM IL-SUNG
It should go without saying that
anyone who is progressive, who believes in a bright socialist future
without exploitation and oppression, without imperialism and war, should
study the life and works of Comrade Kim Il Sung. All true
revolutionaries who have encountered his works and heard of his deeds
can only feel themselves inspired and heartened by his example and
leadership, by his contributions to applying Marxism-Leninism to Korean
conditions and his evolution of the Juche Idea. On this, his 101st year,
it's important more than ever that we keep his legacy alive, even
though the man himself may sadly be no longer with us. We celebrate his
birthday as an important date in the revolutionary calender. Next year
sees the 20th anniversary of his death, a loss the Korean people still
feel, even though they still have their socialist fatherland and the
Juche Idea expanded and being perfected through Songun politics and the
continual struggle and victories in self-defense and building a strong
socialist economy.
When still a student at the Kirin Yuwen Middle
School, he was secretly absorbed in reading the classics of
Marxism-Leninism, and other revolutionary literature, and learnt early
on the importance of theory and practice. He regarded Marxism-Leninism
as a weapon of struggle and a means of practical activity. He first put
this to use when he formed the Down-With-Imperialism Union in 1926 when
he was 15 years old. The aims of the union he said:
"Is to struggle
for the building of socialism and communism in Korea in the future, and,
for the present, to defeat Japanese Imperialism and achieve the
liberation and independence of Korea"
Later on he would achieve just
that after the victory in the anti-Japanese struggle. But his vision of a
liberated, independent Korea, free to build socialism under conditions
of peace, was sadly to be upset after the war by the aggressive actions
of imperialism, a vicious imperialism that still divides Korea to this
day. US imperialism divided the nation, then attacked the DPRk in an
attempt to destroy the young Republic. President Kim Il Sung's
revolutionary leadership was able to beat back imperialism but its
forces remained occupying the South.
In a speech he gave in 1955 he
gave a scientific analysis of the aituation and the complex social and
class relations created in the North and South at that time and, on this
basis, clearly defined the character and tasks of the revolution and
the Workers Party of Korea's strategic and tactical lines arising from
it. President Kim Il Sung said:
"The basic tasks of our revolution at
the present stage are to smite the aggressive forces of US imperialism
and their ushers and allies - the landlords, comprador capitalists,
pro-Japanese and pro-American elements, and traitors to the nation in
the southern half - and to free the people there from imperialist and
feudal oppression and exploitation, thereby achieving the country's
unification along democratic lines and attaining complete national
independence"
And in these times and after, President Kim Il Sung,
incisively exposing and criticising the reactionary allegations of the
anti-Party factionalists and dogmatists that the revolution in the
northern half should not be advanced farther until the North and South
were unified, proved in a scientific manner that socialist revolution
and construction in the north was by no means contradictory to the
nation-wide revolution and causes of the countries unification, buit
rather that building a strong socialist society in the North accelerated
and contributed to that cause of unification and national independence
by not back-tracking or yielding to the demands of US imperialism and
its puppets in the South Korean government, and by building a strong
socialist society under the banner of the Juche Idea.
Today we
honour and remember President Kim Il Sung and recognise his
contributions to theory and practice. It's important we learn from him
and study his works. One day it's to be hoped that his works can all be
put online, as it strecthes to so many volumes that to carry it home in
your luggage would be well-nigh impossible! We wish his legacy a long
life, and wish for peace and unification of Korea under socialism.
(made by James Taylor . member of JISGE and UK KFA and CPGBML activist
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