On Juche and Postcolonial theory differences

 

Juche and postcolonial theory are two theories which stemmed from the will against domination. On the surface, they seem to be similar, but they differ in many ways such as how they define liberation, subjectivity, and historical agency. Although both theories criticise the imperialist agenda and reject the idea that the Western way is the only way, they both differ in their overall goal. As Postcolonial theory seeks to reset the thinking about nation, identity, and authority. Juche asks to transform anti colonial struggle into a doctrine which centralised national sovereignty.

Juche begins from the idea that independence is paramount and is the foundation of human existence. Juche opposes colonialism as it destroys the history and autonomy of a nation. Under foreign domination, a nation not only suffers from the lack of economic autonomy but also ideological and national consciousness. The only way to restore this is through a liberation under a strong organised organisation. In this thinking, the nation is the main historical subject. The revolutionary tendency of Juche is the mechanism through which collective consciousness can be made under a strong leadership. A leadership that can guide the people forward, in one voice, in solidarity.

Postcolonial theory approaches colonialism differently. Postcolonial theory is more mainstream and regarded as one of the most influential theories in politics, philosophy, and international relations. In this tradition, colonialism is understood as a system that influences language, identity, desire, etc. The colonised subject lack a unified national consciousness and therefore lack national identity. It is in this way that postcolonial theory is often skeptic of a solid-state identity. In a way, postcolonial thinkers believe that nationalism can be reproduce through the same structure of exclusion and authority that colonialism imposed.

However, Juche rejects this doubt. Juche insists on clear and united ideological clarity. It argues that the people are yearning for liberation, but they lack the right leadership to lead them. A leadership is needed to guide and open a way for the people to follow toward liberation. When the people are united, under the right leadership, they are one. They become a collective historical force. Juche seeks total integration of the people into the political community. This is different to postcolonial theory.

The way both theories treat culture is also noticeable. Postcolonial thinkers usually argue that colonialism produces cultural hybridity. Colonised societies, in postcolonial perspectives, absorb and integrate imperial influence into their own society. It views culture as something that is always changing, fluid, and can be a subject of manipulation and negotiation. Juche opposes this thinking almost completely. Juche views the hybridity of culture as weakness and contamination to national identity and ideology. It sees foreign influence as weapon, a threat to the state, a virus to national autonomy because dependence on external cultural forms can undermine local culture and political consciousness. Foreign influence on local national culture is an insult to not only the people, but to the heroes who sacrificed their blood to the motherland/fatherland.

The two theories have opposing views on power. While postcolonial theory sees domination spreading through dialogue and institutes, Juche tries to centralise the power instead. Liberation requires concentrated power, to mobilise the masses, to put forward what is to be done. Fragmentation is weak. Fragmentation means weak union and this opens for a possibility of external interference. Therefore, in Juche, the leadership is indispensable and must be protected at all costs. This structure is treated as the condition of true independence. Juche rejects Western universalism. It replaces this with national particularism. Each people must determine its own path according to each unique condition. This philosophy is important to understanding Juche. Extrapolate this and it would result in a theory that concerns with state power, national identity, than internationalism and globalisation.

Ultimately, postcolonial theory treats identity as unstable and contested. It views identity as historically produced by the dominators. Juche, in contrast, treats identity as something that is paramount and must be protected through the political organisation. Although both arises from anti-imperialist thoughts, one moves more toward multiplicity and criticisms, while the other moves toward national unity and state sovereignty.

Kimlong Ly

Assistant Researcher, British Study Group for the Study of the Juche Idea

“The Meaning of May Day in People’s Korea “-special article by Dr Dermot Hudson

 

The 1st of May ,international workers day , is the holiday of working people throughout the world . In some countries there will be demonstrations ,marches and protests but in People’s Korea where the working people hold power there is no need to hold demonstrations or protests but instead celebrate their power and the existence of the people-centred socialist system . People’s Korea ,May Day is marked by mass meetings , games such as football and volleyball ,picnics and dances. May Day is an official public holiday in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and has been since 1946 . In the DPRK May Day is celebrated on the 1st of May and not on another date like some of the capitalist countries which tried to “de-politicise “ May Day by having the May Day holiday on the first Monday after the 1st of May . The USA even does not mark May Day but holds a “Labour Day “ in September to avoid any connection with what they see as a “communist holiday “.

Last year the Korean Central News Agency reported as follows about the May Day celebrations in the DPRK “ Officials of Party and power organs across the country significantly celebrated May Day together with working people.

Officials visited the production sites seething with the drive for increased production and congratulated the working class on the indomitable struggle to provide a springboard for the comprehensive national rejuvenation with sincere efforts and on their innovative successes.

Various sports and amusement games took place at the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex, the Chonnaeri Cement Factory, the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory, the Haeju Tractor Parts Factory and other industrial establishments across the country.

Working people's organizations in North Phyongan Province, Nampho Municipality and other local areas held meetings with persons of merit of the preceding generation and front-rankers in noble traits and meetings to follow their example.

Colorful performances were given at theatres and outdoor stages in the capital city to add to the festive mood.

The festive mood was revved up with art performances given in North Hwanghae, Jagang, Kangwon and South Hamgyong provinces and other parts of the country.

Many people spent a pleasant time at the Central Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the Munsu Water Park, a riding service base in Hamhung City and other cultural recreation grounds.

Diverse holiday services at he public catering units in Pyongyang and local areas including Okryu Restaurant, Chongryu Restaurant, and Kyongam Restaurant of Sariwon and Songdowon Restaurant of Wonsan delighted customer”

The famous British comedian Michael Palin in his documentary “ Michael Palin in North Korea “ made in 2018 which although it was hostile and from a liberal standpoint , included excellent coverage of May Day festivities on the Moran hill in Pyongyang .

This contrasts with the so-called “free democratic” capitalist countries of the West the life of workers is very bitter indeed. There is mass unemployment with very few decent jobs available (many are “zero hours contracts “ ),insecurity , poverty , long hours and massive social inequality . In the UK according the website statista.com 2.9 million food parcels were distributed to people who could not afford to buy food.Food prices are sky high and inflation is rising all the time Working hours have actually lengthened in countries like Britain . Housing is unaffordable for many workers . In London the rent of a modest 2 bedroom flat on the outer reaches of London is £1,600 per month and that excludes council tax ,energy and water bills.

In People’s Korea workers can celebrate May Day joyfully not only with the pride of being masters of power , masters of their proud socialist country but because of the great benefits of people-centred socialism such as free of charge housing , free education , free health and the abolition of taxation. In People’s Korea food is distributed almost free of charge ; when I was in the DPRK in October 2025 I was told that food costs only the equivalent of 0.3 dollars -about 20 pence in British money - per month.

The workers of the DPRK have plenty to celebrate on May Day , no doubt the fireworks will fly high into the sky of Pyongyang on May Day !

Long live May Day !

Long Live People’s Korea !

(Dr Dermot Hudson ,general chairman KFA UK/deputy editor /reviewer PKT )

Ninth Congress of General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea Held

Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- The Ninth Congress of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea was held here on May 11 and 12.

The congress analyzed and reviewed in depth the work done by the GFTUK during the period under review and discussed the practical tasks and ways for the federation to fully discharge its mission and role as an ideological education organization in implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea by radically improving its work as required by the era of comprehensive development.

Present there were the members of the 8th-term GFTUK central leadership and delegates elected by trade union organizations at all levels.

Officials of the Party, armed forces organs, ministries and national agencies and those concerned were on hand as observers.

The platform was taken by Kim Jae Ryong and Ri Il Hwan, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Ju Chang Il, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., WPK, Kim Tok Hun, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and first vice-premier of the Cabinet, executive members of the C.C., GFTUK, chairpersons of the provincial committees of the GFTUK, exemplary trade union officials and members and officials in charge of the trade union work of armed forces organs.

The congress elected the presidium and the secretariat.

The agenda items discussed at the congress are as follows:

1. Review of the Work of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea

2. On the Revision of the GFTUK Rules

3. Election of the Central Leadership of the GFTUK

Kim Jae Ryong read out a congratulatory letter of the Central Committee of the WPK to the participants in the Ninth Congress of the GFTUK and all the workers and trade union members across the country.

The WPK Central Committee in the letter said that the period under review of the GFTUK is shining with the pride and honor of the trade union organizations and their officials and workers who injected vigor and vitality into the advance of our revolution by turning out as one to live up to the expectations of the Party Central Committee which put them forward in the vanguard of the struggle for fresh upswing and development in socialist construction, and highly appreciated their responsible and devoted efforts for it.

The period of the new Five-Year Plan is a very important period when the patriotic enthusiasm and practical ability of the working class and trade union members, who are intensely loyal to the cause of the Party and the state and their responsibility as the eldest son of the country, should be redoubled, the letter said, indicating the basic tasks and ways for the GFTUK in inspiring the working people to perform proud feats from the first year of implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the WPK.

Ri Won Jong, chairman of the Central Committee of the GFTUK, made a report on the first agenda item.

The reporter reviewed the work of the 8th-term GFTUK Central Committee.

He referred to the fact that the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un put forward the working class and trade union members as the vanguard and backbone unit that are taking the lead in ushering in a new era of upsurge for the comprehensive national prosperity and developed the GFTUK into an ideologically pure and organizationally integrated entity for the past five years.

He noted that a great upsurge in production has been brought about and unprecedented successes achieved in increasing production in the major fields of implementing the Five-Year Plan set forth by the Eighth Congress of the WPK thanks to the patriotic devotion and extraordinary creativity of the working class and trade union members.

He said that true to the intention of the Party Central Committee to prepare the GFTUK to be a revolutionary organization by preserving its nature as a mass political organization of the working class, the GFTUK has attached importance to its internal work and raised a strong wind of enhancing its fighting efficiency and strengthening its primary organizations.

All the successes achieved during the period under review are the brilliant fruition of the wise leadership of the respected Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong Un who led our workers in every aspect of their work to remain faithful to the historic mission they assumed before the Party and the country, the times and the revolution, the reporter stressed.

He called for bringing about a radical improvement in the GFTUK work as required by the era of comprehensive development.

The report analyzed and reviewed a series of deviations revealed by trade union organizations at all levels during the period under review and their causes on the basis of detailed data and indicated practical ways for putting the GFTUK work on the track of new qualitative development.

The reporter called for more dynamically conducting the revolutionary mass movement, the socialist patriotic movement to arouse the enthusiasm, initiative and ingenuity of the trade union members and make miracles and innovations on all fronts of economic construction.

Speeches were made on the first agenda item.

20 delegates including Kong Un Chol, delegate of the trade union organization of South Hamgyong Province, Ri Kwang Dok, delegate of the trade union organization of the Pyongyang Construction Commission, and Kim Yong Chol, delegate of the trade union organization of the Ministry of Railways made speeches and presented written speeches.

The congress discussed the revision of the GFTUK Rules as its second agenda item.

There was a report on the revision of the trade union rules.

The reporter submitted the revised rules for deliberation at the congress.

The congress adopted a decision on the revision of the GFTUK rules with full approval.

The congress discussed the election of the Central Leadership of the GFTUK as the third agenda item.

First, the Central Committee of the GFTUK was elected.

All the candidates were elected members and alternate members of the GFTUK Central Committee with the unanimous approval of the delegates.

The First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the GFTUK was held.

Ju Chang Il, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, made public a decision of the plenary meeting.

The Executive Committee of the GFTUK Central Committee was elected.

Ri Won Jong was elected chairman of the Central Committee of the GFTUK and Choe Jong Chol, Choe Song Nam, Pak Yang Thae and Kim Song Ho were elected vice-chairmen.

The Organizing Committee of the Central Committee of the GFTUK was formed.

The chairperson, vice-chairpersons and members of the Central Inspection Commission of the GFTUK were elected.

Department directors of the Central Committee of the GFTUK were appointed.

The congress elected a committee for drafting the decision of the congress with members of the newly elected ninth-term central leadership of the GFTUK, and the committee deliberated the realistic and constructive opinions raised by delegates and supplemented the draft decision.

The decision of the Ninth Congress of the GFTUK was adopted with unanimous approval.

A letter of pledge to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was adopted at the congress. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.05.13.)

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BGSJI and KFA UK on the 46th anniversary of the Kwangju uprising

   

BRITISH GROUP FOR THE STUDY OF THE JUCHE IDEA 
 email juche007@yahoo.co.uk
                                         
                                             

                                       London  15th May 2026
The British Group for the Study of the  Juche Idea(BGSJ)) and the Korean Friendship Association of the UK ( KFA UK) ) issued a joint statement on the occasion of the 46 anniversary of the Kwangju uprising in south Korea ;
  46 years ago  the residents of Kwangju city in south Korea on the 18th of May 1980 rose up against the rotten and reactionary corrupt rule of the south Korean fascist puppet regime of Chun Du Hwan and the colonial domination of US imperialism over south Korea. The great leader President KIM IL SUNG said " the heroic popular uprising in Kwangju last May when large numbers of people arms in hand ,shook the fascist rule of south Korea to its very foundations and set the US imperialists and their stooges , the military fascists  atremble with anxiety and fear "

 The Kwangju uprising was a brave and heroic manifestation of the anti -fascist, anti- imperialist struggle of the south Korean popular masses and revolutionaries .
    The Kwangju uprising, which lasted 9 days , added a new chapter to the history of the struggle of the south Korean people for independence ,democracy and reunification .  The participants of the Kwangju uprising showed remarkable courage and determination in the face of intense fascist repression by the south Korean puppet reactionaries and the Yankee imperialists.
    The Kwangju uprising was a great inspiration to the peoples of the third world struggling against neo- colonialism and dictatorial regimes and it was a great example to anti- imperialist and anti -fascist fighters throughout the entire world . The Kwangju up risers fought bravely against the suppression of the armed forces of the south Korean puppet regime backed by the US imperialist aggression troops . The blood they shed was not in vain as one day their deaths will be avenged.
    The Kwangju uprising proved beyond doubt that independence and social change cannot come peacefully , that counter-revolutionary violence must be defeated  by revolutionary violence.
   On the occasion of the  46th  anniversary of the Kwangju uprising we salute the heroic spirit of the Kwangju uprisers .The struggle for the full democratization of south Korea including the abolition of the National Security Law. should be stepped up an expanded. The US troops who are the exploiters and oppressors of the south Korean people must be expelled from the soil of south Korea. Only when this happens can the spirits of the Kwangju uprisers finally rest in peace !.

BGSJI
KFA UK 

Answer Given by DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on May 15 as regards the fact that Britain committed an extremely provocative act of putting the Songdowon International Children's Camp into the recently-issued list of sanctions against Russia:

On May 11, the British Foreign Office included our Songdowon International Children's Camp in the list of sanctions, while announcing "sanctions measures" against Russia's "organizational activities" to "forcibly transfer" and "militarize" Ukrainian children.

Britain's such reckless act is a heinous unethical politically-motivated provocation to tarnish the external image of our state and disparage the DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation by unreasonably linking our children's camping facility with the groundless issue of "forcible migration" of Ukrainian children.

We strongly denounce and reject the malicious act of the British government which targets even the camp, a sacred base for education and growth of children, for achieving its purpose of political machination.

So far, Britain has followed zealously the U.S. acts of hostility toward the DPRK, taken issue in every way with the exercise of sovereign rights of our state and participated in the war drills against the DPRK at any time, thus systematically aggravating the bilateral relations.

The British government's recent designation of the Songdowon International Children's Camp as a target of "sanctions" as part of its conspiratorial moves to demonize Russia is an intolerable insult to our dignified state and proves that its hostility toward the DPRK is exceeding the limits.

Now that Britain has committed such reckless acts as toying with even the rights and interests of the children that our state values the most, we have the adequate rights to counter London's malicious behavior.

The British government will be wholly responsible for all the consequences to be entailed from its grave hostile act toward our state. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.05.15.)

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Participants in Ninth GFTUK Congress

Pyongyang, May 15 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade 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, had a photo session with the participants in the Ninth Congress of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea on May 14.

The venue of the photo session was filled with great excitement and joy of the participants who took part in the significant congress held amid the great interest of the working people across the country out in the struggle for a new stage of transformation in socialist construction and had the highest honor and happiness they wished for even in their dreams.

When Comrade Kim Jong Un arrived at the venue, a stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" burst out.

All the participants paid the highest tribute to him, who respectfully put forward our working class and trade union members as the core unit of the revolution and self-reliant vanguard and bestowed deep trust and love on them so that they could demonstrate the proud honor of the socialist patriotic workers in the van of the struggle for national prosperity.

Comrade Kim Jong Un met and congratulated the newly elected chairman and vice-chairmen of the 9th Central Committee of the GFTUK. And he appreciated the efforts of the meritorious trade union officials and members.

Acknowledging the enthusiastic cheers of the participants, he encouraged them who glorified the Ninth Congress of the GFTUK as a significant occasion for demonstrating cohesion and revolutionary disposition of our working class and trade union members rallied close around the Party and accelerating the all-people advance for implementing the Party's decisions.

He said that in the last five years after the Eighth Congress of the GFTUK, our working people fully demonstrated their intense loyalty to the Party, patriotic consciousness and inexhaustible creativity. He highly appreciated that the outstanding feats of the working class, who broke precedents, went beyond limitations and proved that anything is possible to push ahead with the overall socialist construction, and the role of the GFTUK in mobilizing the ideological power served as a great strength for the Party which ushered in the great pioneering period of the comprehensive rejuvenation.

He stressed that there is no such group in the world as the reliable and loyal working class as they firmly defend the cause of the Party, being a fortress of unshakable faith no matter how frequently the times are changed and a generation is replaced by a new one. He added that the Party Central Committee is vigorously waging the struggle of new-stage transformation for the eye-opening development of the state, believing in the strong revolutionary disposition and patriotic loyalty of all the working people including the heroic workers.

The period of gigantic transformation facing us requires the constant active vanguard role of the working class, the main force of creation and construction, and their extraordinary efforts, he said, stressing that it is the basic task facing the working class and trade union members at the present stage of socialist construction to give fuller play to the fighting spirit of self-reliance and self-sufficiency in all spheres of ideology, technology and culture with absolute confidence in the Party's lines and policies.

Noting that all the workers and trade union members should play a vanguard role for the change of times and dynamically lead the whole country to attain the new five-year goal under the uplifted banner of the three revolutions, he emphasized that it is important for the GFTUK to fulfill its mission and duty as an organization for ideological education in firmly preparing them as a revolutionized and patriotic core force for national development and powerful vanguard for carrying out the three revolutions.

He expressed expectation and belief that all the participants in the congress would become standard-bearers and core elements leading the rapid development of all sectors and units in the worthwhile struggle to build a powerful and prosperous country through more fierce, innovative and determined struggle, and had a meaningful photo session with them.

When the photo session was over, the participants broke into enthusiastic and thunderous cheers, representing the faith and pledge of the working class and trade union members to remain boundlessly loyal to the leadership of the Party.

All the participants made a firm determination to fully demonstrate the self-respect, pluck, resourcefulness and courage of the heroic DPRK working class, socialist workers, and more vigorously struggle for the prosperity of our glorious country and the promotion of the wellbeing of our people, bearing in mind the great trust shown by Comrade Kim Jong Un. -0-

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Several Munitions Industrial Enterprises

Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade 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, gave field guidance at several munitions industrial enterprises on May 11.

Accompanying him were Jo Chun Ryong, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Jong Sik, first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Pak Jong Chon, advisor to the Ministry of National Defence, Kim Kang Il, vice-minister of National Defence and director of the General Armaments Bureau, Yu Chang Son, director of the Artillery Bureau of the General Staff, Kim Myong Son, director of the Armaments Examination Bureau of the Ministry of National Defence, and Kim Yong Hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences.

Comrade Kim Jong Un visited several munitions industrial enterprises to learn about the implementation of munitions production assignments for the first half of the year 2026.

He expressed thanks for the patriotic devotion of the workers in the munitions industry, who are making a great contribution to strengthening the combat power of our armed forces by achieving record growth in the production of various shells and bullets in hearty response to the decisions of the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the WPK, and gave encouragement to them.

Referring to the defects still latent in the structure, production system and facilities of our munitions industry, he stressed the need to concentrate on the modernization such as practical upgrading of production structure and rational arrangement of production lines and to wage a dynamic struggle intended to optimize the technical control and the management of talents and workforce and steadily increase the efficiency of production.

He also underlined the need for the munitions industrial enterprises to further modernize the product inspection system and to subdivide the inspection indices in a more scientific way and thoroughly establish a habit of strictly adhering to them.

He said that it is important to consistently hold fast to the modernization of munitions production equipment and the improvement of production environments and conditions and the promotion of supply service for the employees.

Acquainting himself with the production at a bullet production factory that day, he set forth an important task for establishing the production system to meet the demands for high-precision multi-purpose bullets of different calibers, special-function bullets and training bullets.

He repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen the mortar and howitzer forces and advanced some important tasks for setting up a specialized artillery production complex and a small-arms production factory to meet the prospective demand of our armed forces and for improving the production structure and the level of modernization and specialization of bullet and shell production factories.

He expressed expectation and belief that the officials and workers in the sector of munitions industry would make strenuous efforts to achieve the higher goal of strengthening the defence capabilities with redoubled confidence and inexhaustible creativity, true to the spirit and tasks of the Ninth Congress of the WPK.

The tasks and important instructions, given by Comrade Kim Jong Un during his field guidance at the enterprises, are scientific and vital guidelines indicating the shortest and correct way to the modernization of our munitions industry, and they serve as an important milestone for bringing about a radical turn in implementing the Party's policy of building up the national defence by further accelerating the qualitative, quantitative and technical transformation in munitions production. -0-

www.kcna.kp (2026.05.13.)

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