I visited the DPRK from the 23rd of July to July 30th, at the invitation of the DPRK Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, to participate in the grand celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War and to participate in the international march for peace and reunification of Korea.
July 27th marked the 60th anniversary of the Korean people's great victory in the Fatherland Liberation War. US commander general Mark Clark lamented he was the first US army commander to sign an armistice without a victory. The victory in the Fatherland Liberation War was due to the great Juche idea of the great leader generalissimo Kim ll Sung and the unparallelled heroism of the Korean People's Army.
I arrived in Pyongyang on
July 23rd and was greeted at the airport by Mrs Kim Un OK secretary
general of the Korean Committee for Friendship with the British People
and desk officer of the Europe Dept of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with
Foreign Countries. This time I was accommodated in the majestic
Yanggakaddo hotel which has 43 floors and is situated on an island on
the River Taedong. The rooms command a birds eye of Pyongyang city and
there is an excellent revolving restaurant which serves the most
delicious food. On the ground floor there was several restaurants and a number of shops that sell DPRK made products .
Pyongyang was literally a buzz with excitement. Many delegations from different parties , societies and groups from the 4 corners of the earth came to the DPRK. Parties such as Workers' Party of Bangladesh , the Communist Party of the Russian Federation led by Secretary of the Central Committee , the Czechoslovak Communist Party the Communist Party of Belarus, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) , the Communist Party of Germany , the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) of the Communist Party of Chile (Proletarian Action) and the Ukrainian Communist Party to name just a few. This shows the deep respect of the world revolutionary movement for the DPRK. Friendship delegations from Australia, New Zealand , Philippines, Russia, France, Mongolia , Brasil, Spain , Britain, Ireland , Switzerland, Germany , Pakistan and Bangladesh. Representatives of international Juche Idea Study organisations were also present.
It was a wonderful opportunity to meet old friends such as
Alejandro Cao De Benos President of the Korean Friendship Association and also Martin Lotscher as
well getting acquainted with people such as Raymond Maxwell Ferguson of the
Australia -DPRK society the author of the book " Korea Welfare State
". I also met many old Korean friends such as the section chief of the
Korean Association of Social Scientists and comrade Zo Il Min head of
the Pyongyang Mission of the AINDF.
During our meeting with the AINDF we were shown an excellent video exposing the pathetic attempts of the US imperialists to portray the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement as some kind of victory , all rather perverse and flying in the face of historical fact. Had the US imperialists won the DPRK would not exist.
The situation in the DPRK is extremely good. Pyongyang is alive with
massive construction work everywhere including many new apartment
blocks. Since I last visited the DPRK in September 2012 many new cultural-leisure facilities such as the Ryugyong Health Complex have opened. On our way to Kaesong and Sinchon we could see crops growing in
the fields well . There were maize plants as tall as a person . The rice looked lush and green , the beautiful rice paddies seemed to stretch for miles. There was no sign of crop failure or damage by flood. Everyone looked well fed. There were no beggars and Korean people do not suffer from benefit cuts or " bedroom tax".
Nowadays there seem to be fewer Western products in hotel shops but mostly DPRK made products(partly because if the US/UNSC sanctions ). In the long run the attempt of the US imperialists and international reactionaries will boomerang on them as the probable long term effect of the sanctions will be to greatly stimulate the DPRK's domestic industry .Indeed basic products are very cheap I was able to buy DPRK made batteries "My Home Town " for 0.10p ,1 tenth of the minimum price of the cheapest batteries in the UK. A striking demonstration of the superiority of the DPRK's Juche based independent socialist planned economy !
Nowadays there seem to be fewer Western products in hotel shops but mostly DPRK made products(partly because if the US/UNSC sanctions ). In the long run the attempt of the US imperialists and international reactionaries will boomerang on them as the probable long term effect of the sanctions will be to greatly stimulate the DPRK's domestic industry .Indeed basic products are very cheap I was able to buy DPRK made batteries "My Home Town " for 0.10p ,1 tenth of the minimum price of the cheapest batteries in the UK. A striking demonstration of the superiority of the DPRK's Juche based independent socialist planned economy !
There were plenty of new play parks for kids by
blocks of flats in well the well laid out streets of Pyongyang.
Childcare is free in the DPRK. My guide Mrs Kim Un Ok told me that her
son goes to full time nursery free of charge. In the UK someone like Mrs
Kim would not be able to go out to work or would be able to work only
part time due to lack of childcare or the high cost of it.
I participated in the international peace March which was joined by high
level officials like SPA vice president Yang Hyong Sop . They also
wore the same T-shirts as the marchers. The DPRK is indeed an egalitarian society with no big distinctions between high officials and ordinary people.The march was accompanied by the
excellent woman’s band of the Ministry of People's Security who were
dressed in attractive and glamorous outfits. The banner of the UK Korean Friendship
Association was proudly carried by Korean friends !
At
Panmunjom I witnessed the crime of Korea's division . One could see that
there was no geographical or physical logic to Korea's division , it
was the artificial creation of the US imperialists . The Yanks and
south Korean puppets appeared to be hiding out of view. We visited the actual hall where the Armistice Agreement was signed. The area was very
tense and we had to enter the DMZ in single file according to nationality. Later we marched through the streets of Kaesong . I spoke at the mass rally against US hostile policy in the beautiful City of Kaesong . This was a great honour for me.
tense and we had to enter the DMZ in single file according to nationality. Later we marched through the streets of Kaesong . I spoke at the mass rally against US hostile policy in the beautiful City of Kaesong . This was a great honour for me.
We witnessed the heinous mass slaughter carried out by the US
imperialists at Sinchon Ri . Here the US imperialists murdered 35,383
people . The atrocities of the US imperialists in Korea greatly exceeded those of the Third Reich. Some of the methods of killing people surpassed the Hitlerite Nazis in terms of savagery and bestiality Particularly sickening and horrific was the murder of mothers
and children in the Chestnut valley . What I found shocking is that Sinchon county is such as beautiful and peaceful place but the US imperialists, outsiders and unwanted by the Korean nation chose to commit some of the worst barbarities of the 20th century here. It was not just the US imperialists
that carried out the massacre but also class enemies such as overthrown
landlords, former capitalists and exploiters. We must never forgot the
crimes carried out by the US imperialists and class enemies. An
indignation meeting was held addressed by veteran peace campaigner
Ramsey Clark who is a former attorney general of the US no less.
There were many colourful, exciting and dynamic events that took place.
Undoubtedly the high point of these, the pinnacle was the giant July
27th war victory parade and mass demonstration of civilians. I have seen nothing like
it. It surpassed even the excellent April 15th Military parade of 2012. It
put the military parades of the former socialist countries such as the
USSR and East Germany to shame . There was an amazing array of fire-power
demonstrating the massive Juche-orientated military might of Songun Korea led by dear
respected Marshal Kim Jong Un. Helicopter pilots daringly buzzed the
parade flying between buildings demonstrating the capacity of the DPRK to wage
urban warfare should the need for it arise. For the first time the DPRK's long range bomber aircraft roared above Kim Il Sung square . As comrade Kim Yong Nam said at the national meeting a day earlier
"Only July 27 of victory will be in store for the DPRK as the undying feats Kim Il Sung performed by winning the victory in the war and the Songun revolutionary exploits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are shedding their rays and there are the invincible Paektusan army and the great unity of the army and people wisely led by Marshal Kim Jong Un."
At the end of the parade dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un waved cheerfully to the audience. Watching the parade I was even more firmly convinced of the final victory of the Korean people over US imperialism.
We saw many KPA veterans at the parade and the other events. They were dressed in the olive green fatigues of the KPA at the time. Despite their advanced age they looked quite healthy . The DPRK treats its war vets well unlike capitalist countries where ex soldiers end up unemployed and on drugs or even homeless or prison. Here in the DPRK they were given pride of place.
As the DPRK pays great attention to the emotional and cultural lives of the people as taught by the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il as well as the military parade and the national meeting there were a variety of lively events . Pride of place should go to Aririang which this time was a wonderful Fatherland Liberation War themed one showing the feats of the Korean People's Army led by the great leader generalissimo Kim Il Sung the ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander and genius strategists in defeating the US imperialists aggressors. This was my third time to see Arirang . It demonstrated the unity and efficiency of the DPRK led by dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un.
We were treated to a grand firework extravaganza at the newly reconstructed Fatherland Liberation War Museum . The fireworks provided an exciting backdrop to the War Victory statue , indeed the fireworks seemed to represent the flames of victorious war destroying the US imperialists. There was a brilliant performance of the Unhasu Orchestra which skilfully and creatively used a video backdrop to enhance the music. Songs from the Fatherland Liberation War such as the "Song of National Defence " were played as well the famous song "Peace is On Our Bayonets ". This song makes the point that peace is not secured by submission but by the weapons of the DPRK's revolutionary armed forces. It was sang by the beautiful singer Ms Hwang Un Mi , at first solo and then with backing singers. Later the same day we enjoyed the soiree of the youth and students of Pyongyang . Part of the repertoire was the famous popular "Without a Break" . It was good to see young people enjoying themselves , they all looked so happy. In my country many young people do not how to enjoy themselves and turn to drugs and alcohol or to violence. In August 2011 the UK faced intense rioting by dissatisfied and angry young people. Here in the DPRK young people channel their energies to working for the country and peacefully enjoying themselves.
All in all a great visit and many things left to tell. I felt sad to leave the DPRK and return to capitalist Britain.
(British delegate to FLW celebrations)
urban warfare should the need for it arise. For the first time the DPRK's long range bomber aircraft roared above Kim Il Sung square . As comrade Kim Yong Nam said at the national meeting a day earlier
"Only July 27 of victory will be in store for the DPRK as the undying feats Kim Il Sung performed by winning the victory in the war and the Songun revolutionary exploits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are shedding their rays and there are the invincible Paektusan army and the great unity of the army and people wisely led by Marshal Kim Jong Un."
At the end of the parade dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un waved cheerfully to the audience. Watching the parade I was even more firmly convinced of the final victory of the Korean people over US imperialism.
We saw many KPA veterans at the parade and the other events. They were dressed in the olive green fatigues of the KPA at the time. Despite their advanced age they looked quite healthy . The DPRK treats its war vets well unlike capitalist countries where ex soldiers end up unemployed and on drugs or even homeless or prison. Here in the DPRK they were given pride of place.
As the DPRK pays great attention to the emotional and cultural lives of the people as taught by the great leader comrade Kim Jong Il as well as the military parade and the national meeting there were a variety of lively events . Pride of place should go to Aririang which this time was a wonderful Fatherland Liberation War themed one showing the feats of the Korean People's Army led by the great leader generalissimo Kim Il Sung the ever-victorious iron-willed brilliant commander and genius strategists in defeating the US imperialists aggressors. This was my third time to see Arirang . It demonstrated the unity and efficiency of the DPRK led by dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un.
We were treated to a grand firework extravaganza at the newly reconstructed Fatherland Liberation War Museum . The fireworks provided an exciting backdrop to the War Victory statue , indeed the fireworks seemed to represent the flames of victorious war destroying the US imperialists. There was a brilliant performance of the Unhasu Orchestra which skilfully and creatively used a video backdrop to enhance the music. Songs from the Fatherland Liberation War such as the "Song of National Defence " were played as well the famous song "Peace is On Our Bayonets ". This song makes the point that peace is not secured by submission but by the weapons of the DPRK's revolutionary armed forces. It was sang by the beautiful singer Ms Hwang Un Mi , at first solo and then with backing singers. Later the same day we enjoyed the soiree of the youth and students of Pyongyang . Part of the repertoire was the famous popular "Without a Break" . It was good to see young people enjoying themselves , they all looked so happy. In my country many young people do not how to enjoy themselves and turn to drugs and alcohol or to violence. In August 2011 the UK faced intense rioting by dissatisfied and angry young people. Here in the DPRK young people channel their energies to working for the country and peacefully enjoying themselves.
All in all a great visit and many things left to tell. I felt sad to leave the DPRK and return to capitalist Britain.
(British delegate to FLW celebrations)
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