30th anniversary of “Socialism Is A Science “- Some reflections by Dr Dermot Hudson- Chairman of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea

The 1990s were very dark days for the socialist forces and international communist communist movement . Socialism had been frustrated in the former USSR , a country that many had looked up to as a model and indeed worshiped as a ‘perfect socialist state ‘ and bastion of the international proletariat. Socialist countries in Eastern Europe disappeared as did the People’s Republic of Mongolia. The reactionaries and imperialists bragged that they had won a great victory , even that it was the “end of history “ .Many were dispirited ,disillusioned and confused .

However in the far east one socialist country did not collapse ; Juche Korea of President KIM IL SUNG and Chairman KIM JONG IL . Amidst the fog of disillusion and confusion , Chairman KIM JONG IL raised the red flag of socialism high declaring “Expect No Change from Me “. In those days there was a vital need to reassert and reaffirm the scientific nature of socialism which was being slandered as never before by the imperialists and anti-communists . Indeed old forms of anti-communism became supplemented by new forms of anti-communism which blared about the “failure of socialism “ and supposed “unscientific nature” of socialism. In his work, “Socialism Is A Science “  comrade KIM JONG IL answers such slanders . He points out that 

 "The crumbling of socialism in various countries does not mean the failure of socialism as science but the bankruptcy of opportunism which has corrupted socialism. Although socialism is temporarily experiencing a heartrending setback because of opportunism, it will without fail be revived and win ultimate victory for its scientific accuracy and truth".

This analysis shows remarkable clarity and understanding . It was not socialism that collapsed  as such but in fact revisionism or opportunism . What had existed in the USSR and other socialist countries was actually revisionist socialism , a corrupted socialism . Comrade KIM JONG IL shows that socialism is scientific and despite the heartrending setbacks that occurred in those days . Comrade KIM JONG IL was probably the only leader of a socialist country to do so .

When I read the work for the first time in November 1994 I thought it was a real intellectual tonic and an ideological shot in the arm.

Like a knife cutting through soft margarine comrade KIM JONG IL smashes revisionist and reformist arguments about class co-operation by saying that "The exploiter class and their stooges put forward the "theory of class cooperation" and tried to block the struggle of the exploited working masses against exploitation and oppression. Within the communist movement, reformists and revisionists demanded "class cooperation" and seriously harmed the revolutionary movement. Today, traitors to socialism are also clamoring for a return to capitalism, harboring illusions about capitalism and expecting "aid" and "cooperation" from the imperialists. History shows that to expect "good will" or "class cooperation" from the exploiter class is to make a mess of the revolution “

The idea of class cooperation and class collaboration is deeply embedded in the labour movements of European countries and even found its way into the communist movement . Some people wanted People’s Korea to ‘open up to imperialist aid and become an aid dependency of Western imperialism but the DPRK saw through it and refused.

Today under respected Marshal KIM JONG UN the DPRK harbours no illusions about imperialism or the south Korean puppets so it rejects ‘aid ‘ from them.

Also in “Socialism Is A Science “ comrade KIM JONG IL points out that there can be never be reform under capitalism by saying that

 “The farce of “reform” staged by the ruling bourgeoisie is essentially aimed at extricating themselves from the crisis of capitalism. Social transformation on progressive lines can only be carried out by the awakened and united popular masses.  Since everything in society is created by the masses, they must naturally be the masters of everything. Only in socialist society, where state power and the means of production belong to the people, can the masses be the real masters of everything in society.”

This is very true , there is no way that there can be change in favour of the working people under capitalism , it is indeed a farce . It is an illusion to expect reform under capitalism to benefit the working people . Thus “Socialism Is A Science “ is militantly anti-revisionist and anti-reformist .

Lastly , comrade KIM JONG IL explains that because the socialism of People’s Korea is based on the Juche idea it is strong and durable . He points out that  

“The truth and advantages of socialism are demonstrated in the people’s support of and trust in it.  Now that our socialism is based on the Juche-oriented view of and attitude towards the masses of the people, it has become the most advantageous and powerful socialism and enjoys the people’s absolute support and trust.”

Thus socialism in People’s Korea is different to that in other countries . It is a socialism centred upon the masses and based on benevolent politics . As comrade KIM JONG IL concludes  

“Our Party will invariably and fully pursue genuine politics for the people, benevolent politics which regards the popular masses, the masters of everything in society, as supreme beings and bestows everlasting love and trust on them.  Our Party and people are faced with the heavy yet honourable task of carrying forward and consummating through generations, the socialist cause of Juche which was initiated and led by the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung.  As it has always won victories in the past by believing in and relying on the people, so too in the future, our Party will accomplish the socialist cause of Juche by believing in and relying on them.

Man-centred socialism, socialism centred on the popular masse, is absolutely scientific, and the most advantageous and powerful socialism.  For its scientific accuracy and truth, socialism is sure to be victorious.”

This adroitly sums up the superiority of Juche-based , people-centred socialism .

The work “ Socialism Is A Science “ is a very powerful work .Although it was published 30 years ago , it's clear  message is still relevant, indeed very relevant today . I urge a deep study of this work .

Dr Dermot Hudson

Chairman British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea 

Chairman Korean Friendship Association UK

Crucial Test Showing DPRK's Definite Response Will and Overwhelming Edge of Its Strategic Attack ForceTest-fire of DPRK's Latest ICBM Hwasongpho-19 Successfully Conducted under Guidance of Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un

Test-fire of DPRK's Latest ICBM Hwasongpho-19 Successfully Conducted under Guidance of Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un

Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA) -- The cause of the DPRK reliably defending the regional and global peace and security as a responsible nuclear weapons state and achieving the comprehensive national prosperity and promoting the well-being of its people is faced with vicious challenges and ever-escalating war crisis by the most hostile and threatening rival states.

The most hostile enemies of the DPRK have developed into a nuclear alliance and the U.S. imperialists and the ROK puppet forces have recently intensified the frantic arms buildup and provocations largest-ever in history while often letting loose threatening reckless remarks against the DPRK government. All these are posing a grave danger to the DPRK's sovereignty and security environment and sparking off the surging anger and retaliatory will of its army and people.

The present grave reality, seriously reminding of the instructive law of history that the destructed balance of forces between friend and foe means a war, more clearly emphasizes the necessity of the overwhelming force capable of containing the enemy and controlling the situation at all times and the validity of its steady improvement. It also calls for continuously developing and updating the strategic weapons as deterrent capable of actively coping with any military threat and foiling the enemy's provocative attempt and will for war in advance.

At a time when the strategic option for reliably defending the national security and regional peace from the adventurous military moves of the U.S. and its vassal forces for aggression and the urgency of its powerful implementation are being further highlighted, a new entity has emerged again to demonstrate the absolute might of the DPRK nuclear combat forces rapidly developing day by day.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued an order to the Missile Administration to conduct a test-fire of the latest ICBM Hwasongpho-19 and guided on the spot the crucial test, which would set an epochal milestone in perpetuating the absolute superiority of the strategic armed forces of the DPRK, in the morning of October 31.

The absolute weaponry strongest in the world, a result of the DPRK's might and spirit that have been steadily augmented for the great dignity and honor of the country and people, for the duty of defending peace and the right to existence that should never be conceded, and for a new world of justice where war, hegemony and injustice are not allowed, advanced into its launching position, giving birth to the new strength the world has not yet experienced.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, with his noblest and heavy mission to firmly defend the sovereignty of the DPRK and its absolute security and rights to development, personally went to the launching site to learn about the preparations and plan for the test-fire and took the central command post.

The venue waiting a historic moment when the DPRK's newly-updated ultra-powerful offensive means, an ICBM of ultimate version, would show its appearance, was seething with the will of all defence scientists and strategic missile soldiers to strike terror into the most ferocious rivals keen on nuclear confrontation with the DPRK by demonstrating its war deterrent which has reached the highest level in the world.

The moment has come to display the tremendous power of the world's strongest strategic missile.

When Kim Jong Un approved the test-fire, General Jang Chang Ha, director general of the Missile Administration, gave an order to the honored Second Red Flag Company.

The moment, the entity of absolute power loaded with the DPRK people's soaring enmity and strong will to punish all evils and injustice on earth was launched toward the sky.

The missile traveled up to a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 km and flew a distance of 1,001.2 km for 5,156 s before landing on the preset area in the open waters off the East Sea of Korea.

The test-fire had no negative effect on the security of neighboring countries.

The test of the latest strategic weapon system updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK and demonstrated the modernity and creditability of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent.

On the launching spot, Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction at the fact that the successful test-fire of the new-type ICBM proved before the world that the hegemonic position we have secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means of the same kind is absolutely irreversible.

The perfected weapon system of ICBM Hwasongpho-19, to be used by the strategic forces of the DPRK along with Hwasongpho-18, pursuant to the long-term plan for building the state nuclear forces set forth by the Party Congress, will perform the mission and duty as the primary core means in defending the DPRK, thoroughly containing the enemies' acts of aggression and reliably protecting the national security.

Kim Jong Un said that the test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic recently, of our counteraction will, and it also constitutes an indispensable process in the course of constantly developing our state's strategic attack forces.

He went on to say:

As recently witnessed by us, the rivals' dangerous tightening of their nuclear alliance and various adventuristic military maneuvers go to further highlight the importance of strengthening our nuclear forces. We should never allow any threat to approach the security sphere under our state's influence.

The security situation of our state and ever-aggravating prospective threats and challenges require us to continue to bolster up our modern strategic attack forces and more perfectly round off our nuclear forces' response posture.

And he clearly reaffirmed that the DPRK would never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces.

On behalf of the Party and the government and all the Korean people, he gave the highest thanks to the defence scientists and the workers in the field of munitions industry for their distinguished contribution to demonstrating the DPRK's matchless strategic nuclear attack capability before the whole world.

He once again stressed that only peace, to be defended by the powerful force capable of controlling and deterring the enemy, is reliable and safe and durable and herein lies a sure guarantee for the security and future of the state and people of the DPRK. And he clarified the important tasks to be constantly carried out by the field of national defence science in implementing the line of bolstering up the state nuclear forces.

Expressing expectation and belief that the national defence science and technology group, always faithful and absolute to implementing the requirements of the revolution, would achieve the better defence development successes and thus always remain faithful to its sacred responsibility and duty, he had a photo session with the masters of this great event at the historic site where the absolute prestige of the state was lifted once again.

All the defence scientists and strategic missile soldiers vowed to devote themselves with redoubled courage to the sacred struggle for further bolstering up the arsenal of the Juche revolution and strengthening the state's nuclear response posture. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2024.11.01.)