THE LIFE AND LESSONS OF KIM IL-SUNG-by James Taylor UK KFA Communications Secretary

THE LIFE AND LESSONS OF KIM IL-SUNG-by James Taylor UK KFA Communications Secretary
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. His death in 1994 is 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.
“The oppressed peoples can liberate themselves only through struggle. This is a simple and clear truth confirmed by history.” – Kim Il Sung
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 situation 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, but 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.
When he proclaimed the founding of the Republic in 1948, his words are still fondly remembered by the progressive peoples of the world in their challenge for all of society to unite and build the new chapter in Korea’s history. It’s a quote you can see in print and on banners in the Korean Revolution Museum in Pyongyang:
“The time has come when we Korean people have to unite our strength to build a new, democratic Korea. People from all strata should display patriotic enthusiasm and turn out to build a new Korea. To contribute posi­tively to the work of building the state, let those with strength give strength, let those with knowledge give knowledge, let those with money give money, and let all people who truly love their country, their nation and democ­racy unite closely and build an independent and sovereign democratic state.”
He has also remained the consistent anti-imperialist:
“It is necessary to expose the false propaganda of the imperialists and thoroughly dispel the illusion that the imperialists will give up their positions in the colonies and dependent countries with good will.”
And advanced scientific socialism through application of his Juche Idea:
“The basis of the Juche Idea is that man is the master of all things and the decisive factor in everything.”
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. We wish his legacy a long life, and wish for peace and unification of Korea under socialism, a revolution he guided from victory to victory.