It is more appropriate than ever to recall the exploits of Kim Jong IL in advancing the Korean Revolution and furthering the cause of Global Independence than on the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Great Leader. A decade has already gone by since the tragic news had broke about the demise of the Great Kim Jong IL, but the pain of the loss still remains for the Progressive peoples of the world. This significant anniversary will give us the opportunity to reflect on the varied and vast accomplishments of Kim Jong IL. In such a short speech it will be difficult to express the magnitude of Chairman Kim Jong IL's life and work.
The basic characteristic of Kim Jong IL's leadership was loyalty to the ideological and practical legacy of President Kim IL Sung. One of Kim Jong IL's greatest feats was to have systematized the Juche Idea into a complete and comprehensive structure. By putting President Kim IL Sung's Juche Idea onto a theoretical system, Chairman Kim Jong IL popularized the Juche theory as an invaluable asset in the human quest for emancipation. Therefore the works of Kim Jong IL crystallized the Juche Idea, the Juche-orientated revolutionary theory, and the Juche-based leadership methods. Kim Jong IL authored many profound works on the Juche Idea as "Understanding The Juche Originality of Kimilsungism", "On The Juche Idea", "On Some Problems In The Education of the Juche Idea" and "The Juche Philosophy Is An Original Revolutionary Philosophy". Essentially, Kim Jong IL advanced the theory and practice of socialism to face the conditions of the present age, the 21st century by developing the Juche Idea.
Kim Jong IL made many profound analyses of how the cause of socialism was frustrated in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and in the International Revolutionary Movement. With a keen insight into the situation, Kim Jong IL elucidated the reasons for the collapse of socialism in some countries and gave clarity and inspiration to the Worldwide Socialist forces. Kim Jong IL gave an in-depth appraisal of these questions in the works "The Historical Lesson In Building Socialism And The General Task of Our Party", "Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable", "Socialism Is A Science" and "On Preserving The Juche Character of the Revolution And Construction".The various writings of Kim Jong IL on the subject of the past, present, and future of socialism gave in-depth clarity for academics and activists alike. Kim Jong IL rallied the International Communist Movement at the publication of The Pyongyang Declaration in April 1992 and rejuvenated the socialist cause.
A new epoch of Songun Revolutionary Leadership was brought about by Kim Jong IL, on August 25th, 1960. Kim Jong IL developed the unique political mode of Songun Politics (Army-First Politics) which made it possible for the Korean Revolution to overcome any adversities and challenges and chart a firm strategic line that defends socialism and sovereignty against heightened imperialist aggression and interference. The creative and revolutionary nature of Songun Politics lies in the principled stances of anti-imperialist independence and of caring for the interests of the country, of the popular masses. The 1990s was a gave period for the DPRK, decisive for its destiny. A delegation from the British Group For The Study of the Juche Idea witnessed in June 1996 how the Korean people triumphed over the many problems during the Arbous March because they believed in Kim Jong IL. Under Kim Jong IL's direction, a powerful deterrent force was built up by the Korean Peoples Army with the first nuclear test occurring in October 2006. The monopoly of weapons of mass destruction had been decisively broken by the Songun Political Leadership, putting the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in a position where it was feared by its enemies and respected by its friends.
For Kim Jong IL, the reunification of Korea always remains the top priority of all party and government work. The ending of the territorial division of Korea was always the most pressing task in the view of Kim Jong IL. The approach taken by Kim Jong IL towards the issues of Korean reunification was that it could only be achieved by the Korean people themselves, whether they be in the north, in the south, or overseas, irrespective of differences in ideology, class, religion, and most vitally without interference from the hegemonic powers. This stand of Kim Jong IL in respect to the independent reunification of Korea was called "By-Our-Nation Itself" or "Uriminzokkri". Kim Jong IL formulated many action programmes for the reunification of Korea which were expressed in works like "Let Us Carry Out The Great Leader Comrade Kim IL Sung's Instructions For National Reunification" and "Let Us Reunify The Country Independently and Peacefully through the Great Unity of The Entire Nation" At Kim Jong IL's initiative the deadlock in Inter-Korean relations was broken and the North-South Summit meeting was held in Pyongyang, June 2000 and followed by the October 2007 North-South meeting. With a clear understanding of the importance of exchange between north and south of Korea Kim Jong IL paid great attention to the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration and encouraged cooperation in the areas of the economy, culture, tourism, and family reunion.
Kim Jong IL always stood for peace and good relations on the international stage. Ties with the neighboring countries of the Peoples Republic of China and the Russian Federation by the meeting of Kim Jong IL with Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Vladimir Putin. Kim Jong IL held meetings with the representatives of adversary nations like Madeline Albright, Bill Clinton, and Junichiro Koizumi so as to end hostility. At the beginning of the 21st century, Kim Jong IL launched brisk diplomatic activities with countries in Europe and the Aisa-Pacific region, Italy being among the first EU states to establish diplomatic relations with the DPRK. In May 2001, Kim Jong IL had talks with the highest level delegation from the European Union. Diplomatic ties were established between the United Kingdom and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 12th, 2000, and a DPRK Embassy was sited in London in June 2003. The UK Korean Friendship Association is working for a better understanding of Korea and for increased ties with the DPRK.
Single-hearted unity is a very unique characteristic of Korean-style socialism, where the leader, the party and people shares the same destiny. The single-hearted unity which is enjoyed by the people of the DPRK would be inconceivable without the guidance of Kim Jong IL. Regarding single-unity as the great foundation of socialism in the DPRK, Kim Jong IL always strived to consolidate this political methodology. If you ever had the chance to speak to a citizen of Socialist Korea, they would always use the expression "Our Leader," "Our Government", "Our Army", "Our School", "Our Factory" and so on, meaning that there is no alienation felt within the population to social life. The DPRK moves as one community in which material prosperity and political relations serve the interests of the popular masses. The term "The Politics of Love and Trust" was a term coined about the leadership style of Kim Jong IL, to describe the situation in the DPRK in which where the leadership and the people love and trust each one and are united for the common cause. A true social-political community in the DPRK was built up by the determination of Kim Jong IL for the realization of independence. History can only recount one genuinely harmonious society, where human aspirations and creativity are fully realized, and that is in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
Kim Jong IL spared no effort to improve the lives of the Korean people and on December 17th, 2011 on the train during the on-the-spot guidance, the Great Leader Kim Jong IL passed away from a sudden illness. At noon, December 19th, 2011, the sad news of Kim Jong IL's passing was reported in a special bulletin in the DPRK radio and television and then carried by the international media. This news came as like a bolt from the blue to the people of Korea and the rest of the world. I recall hearing the news firstly in the news programme of BBC Radio Four and disbelieving it, then to my utter horror having confirmation of the passing away of Kim Jong IL by the Korean Central News Agency. Indeed the world expressed its deepest condolences at the death of Kim Jong IL, with 190 countries expressing their condolences. More than 3,000 messages were sent to the DPRK from Heads of party, state and government, personages from the political, social, and economic bodies in 120 countries. The United Nations at its headquarters in New York lowered the flag of that organization in honour of Kim Jong IL. The British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea and the UK Korean Friendship Association sent heartfelt messages of grief to Pyongyang when the news was received about the passing of Kim Jong IL. In the latter stages of December 2011, the Friends of Korea in Britain organized many commemorative events in London, Stoke On Trent, and other British cities.
The Korean people were able to transform deep sorrow into greater strength and determination due to the fact that they had Kim Jong Un as the Respected Successor to the Great Leader Kim Jong IL. Since December 2011, Kim Jong Un has maintained the legacy of Kim Jong IL as the utmost responsibility of the party and people in the DRPK and has modernized Socialist Korea into a country that is in the vanguard of the 21st century. During the mourning period, Kim Jong Un paid extra attention to all the citizens who wish to pay their respects to Kim Jong IL, by providing warm food and winter clothing to the mourners while they waited in the freezing temperatures of December 2011. Reflecting the will of the people, Kim Jong Un renovated the Kumsusan Memorial Palace into the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, refurbishing the palace into the sanctuary of the Sun. I had the immense privilege of paying my deepest respects at the final resting place of the Great Leader Kim Jong IL in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on two occasions, April 2017 and September 2018. It was a highly emotional experience to have paid my regards to Kim Jong IL in the Palace of The Sun. In commemoration of Kim Jong IL's memory, February 16th was designated as the Day of The Shining Star (Kwangmyongsong) and the "Order of Kim Jong IL", the "Kim Jong IL Prize" and the "Kim Jong IL Youth Honour Prize" was instituted. The statue of the Great Leader Chairman Kim Jong IL stands alongside of the Great President Kim IL Sung overlooking Pyongyang on the Mansu Hill.
The life and work of Kim Jong IL are of everlasting value and become even more salient in this century and for all time. Let us study and uphold the ideology of the Great Leader Chairman Kim Jong IL through our activities
ETERNAL GLORY TO THE GREAT LEADER CHAIRMAN KIM JONG IL!!
LONG LIVE THE GREAT KIMILSUNGISM-KIMJONGILISM!
Shaun Pickford
Secretary-General
The British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea
(References from "History Of The Revolutionary Activities of Chairman Kim Jong IL", Pyongyang, Juche 104 - 2015).
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