I
was able to return to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, after
an interval of three years and saw immense improvements in the cultural
and living standards of the Korean People. All the progress which is
being realized in the DPRK, is based on socialist principles and self
reliance. The Supreme Leader of the DPRK, Marshal KIM JONG UN, is
working continuously for the welfare of the Korean People and spares
nothing for the well-being of the workers, farmers and intellectuals.
Such a leader as KIM JONG UN, cannot be found elsewhere in the world, as
the DPRK leader is always putting the people first in everything.
When
the concept of socialism has become dirty word among some circles,
there is one country which upholds socialism and that nation is the
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The DPRK not only defends its
socialist system, but is bringing in more socialism, in other words
displaying all the material, ideological and cultural advantages of the
socialist system. In the space of a nine days in the DPRK (June 16 -
June 25), I was to witness all the successes made in the endeavourer to
build a thriving nation on the land of Korea. When the Air Koryo plane
arrived at the Sunan airport, I sang to myself the songs "Song of
General KIM IL SUNG," "The Red Flag" and "The Internationale", because
it was so exciting to be back in this land of Juche once again.
Healthcare
is one priority area for the enrichment of a population's living
conditions. I was able to go around The Ryugyong Dental Hospital, which
is in the eastern part of Pyongyang. Whereas, most capitalist countries
are closing down or reducing public health services, the DPRK is
expansing them.The Ryugyong Dental Hospital was opened on October 2013
and is located in the Munsu area of Pyongyang. Within the hospital,
there are diagnosis and treatment rooms, first aid treatment room,
material and dispensary, a shop and a playground. The hospital has all
the latest advances in dental technology at its despoil and helps to
increase the level of medical science in the DPRK. This dental hospital
plays a vital role in the prevention and treatment of dental diseases
and increase the asethic and physical standard of the people. I told
the director of The Ryugyong Dental Hospital and my guide about how
dental care is so expensive in the UK and quoted my own dentist as an
example ,who stated that a single replacement tooth would cost £2,000.
Both the directer and my guide could not believe prohibitive cost of
dentistry is in Britain and stated that all forms of dental care were
free of charge in the DPRK.
The
party and government of Socialist Korea has always put alot of emphasis
on the physical and emotional development of children. On the
itinenary of my visit was The Kyongsang Kindergarten in the Manusdae
district of Pyongyang. The Kindergarden has latest amenities for the
care of the pre-school children and appeared to be ultra modern in its
design. All access to the Kindergarden is completely free and takes the
burden of childcare off the mothers, so women can concentrated
themselves in economic construction, without worry or stress. Marshal
KIM JONG UN paid the highest attention to development of The Kyongsang
Kindergarten and ensured thed becomes a palace for the young children.
The Kyongsang Kindergarden has raised many child prodigies, many of whom
achieved first place in the children's and young people's International
Chopin Piano Contest.
Health
care for children is regarded as a specialist medical field, so when I
visited Okryu Children's Hospital, I encountered a medical centre,
second to none, in its quality of provision. Instead of being like a
hospital, The Okryu Children's Hospital was more like a palace in its
design and layout, rather than a medical institution. To make the
children feel at home, there are 1,7000 fairy tale illustrations in the
six storied hospital, as well as indoor playgrounds. As education and
intellectual development are important goals for the Workers' Party of
Korea, so there are functioning kindergardens and class rooms located
within the hospital. Even the cities and provinces outside of Pyongyang,
benefit from the hospital expertise, due to the tele- medicine service
and just outside the main building, there is the heliport, ready to
receive sick and injured children from all parts of the DPRK for urgent
treatment. As the capitalist countries such as Britain are closing down
hospitals and medical services due to austerity, whereas Socialist Korea
is expanding its public health network. Marshal KIM JONG UN makes sure
that the Korean children want for nothing in their young lives, so as to
live full and happy lives in the DPRK.
For
a pleasant day out, I went to the Folk Park, which lays at the foot of
Mount Taesong. When I came to Pyongyang in 2012, the park was being
constructed and three years later, the attraction is up and running. I
observed during the tour of the Park, families and parties of
schoolchildren looking around the various models of famous Korean
monuments and learning the history of their proud nation. It is the
policy of the Workers' Party of Korea preserve and maintain the
centuries' old cultural heritage of the Korean People, one can see this
policy in the appearance of the Pyongyang Folk Park. The Park consists
of general history education, historical relics, folk village, folk
games and contemporary times. Walking around the Park, you are instantly
transported to various eras of Korean history such as Koguryo and
Koryo, to every province in Korea, from Ryangyang to Cholla. All the
models and reconstructions of such famous landmarks "The Turtle shaped
ship" (the world's first ironclad ship) and The Chomsongdae Observatory,
and other temples and pagodas, were perfectly created by the Korean
craftspeople. I had the opportunity while in the Folk Park, to have a
chat with a Professor of Ancient Korean History and was able to have
watched Korean customs such as a wedding ceremony.
I
was driven many times through Changjon Street in Central Pyongyang,
which was renovated in 2012, the centenary year of the birth of
President KIM IL SUNG. Changjon Street, goes well with the fine scenery
of the Taedong riverside, comprising 45, 40 and 30 storeyed apartment
houses and theatres, schools, kindergardens, pharmacy, catering and
welfare service establishments. I was able to a congenial last evening
meal of my trip with my guide and driver at a restaurant in Changjon
Street. We were treated to such delights of Korean cuisine as Pyongyang
Cold Noodles, Kimchi and even potato chips, washed down with generous
amounts of Taedonggang Beer.
Sports
is seen as a important activity in the building of a socialist thriving
nation in the DPRK. It is the goal of Marshal KIM JONG UN to turn
Socialist Korea in a world class sporting power. All Korean people of
whatever age and occupation, are encouraged to take up a sport and
engage in physical exercise. As a illustration of this policy of sports'
promotion by the WPK, I was taken around The Mirim Riding Club, in the
Pyongyang's suburbs. The Mirim Riding Club covers an area of 60
hectares, with stables, and indoor and outdoor training grounds. I had
the opportunity to visit the indoor riding gymnasium, which is a two
storeyed building. The first floor was for horse riding training and the
second floor was used as a gallery for seating spectators. It appeared
that the Mirim Riding Club was very busy with people with learning to
ride horses and perfecting their riding technique. As I was told that
the riding club is affordable for most people to use regluraly and
practice physical fitness. Touring the outside of the club, I saw riders
galloping on the turf course and they reminded me of the Korean People
rushing forward to the heights of socialist civilization.
The
Workers' Party of Korea's strategic aim is to build up an economic
giant in the DPRK, based on independence and self -sustenance. It is the
desire of Marshal KIM JONG UN to provide everyone in the DPRK with a
affluent life, enjoying all the material benefits of Korean-style
socialism to the full. In compliance with the economic line of the
Songun era, there has been given preferential development of the defence
industry and of light industry and agriculture. In recent years, rapid
progress has been made in science and technology and in creating a
knowledge based economy. CNC technology have been introduced into
many areas of production throughout the DPRK. With the protection of the
nuclear deterrent, Peoples Korea wants to diversify foreign trade and
encourage investments from outside. An economic development zone is to
be setup in every province in the DPRK and, Wonsan, Mount Chilbo and
other resorts have been turned into modern tourist zones
.
Fundamentally,
self-reliance and collective management in forms of the Taean Guidance
System and the Chongsan-ri method remain the bedrock of the DPRK's
socialist economy. Socialism in the DPRK is bulit by socialist
methods,and not on capitalist models. The DPRK's economy is not a
prisoner of the IMF, the World Bank and the Multi-National
Corporations,but is owned and controlled by the Korean People, social
wealth and relations in the DPRK serve the people's interests.
The
greatest reason for the survival and consolidation of Korean style
socialism throughout the decades, has been down to the fact that
revolutionary ideology was developed and perfected by KIM IL SUNG and
KIM JONG IL. The Juche Idea was not evolved in academic sanctities, but
was created on the fierce battlefields of national and class liberation.
So from its essence, the Juche Idea reflects the prevailing reality and
changes it to suit man, the master of the material and social
conditions. Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism is an integral whole of the Juche
Idea, and the theory and method of revolution and construction clarified
by the Juche philosophy. In other words, the basic ideal that runs the
idea, theory and method of Juche, the components of
Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, is the people first doctrine. The Juche Idea
is the original philosophical thought that centres on the popular masses
and, the Juche-centred theory of revolution and leadership,
methodology is also people centred. KIM JONG UN formulated the concept
of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism to include the theory, ideology and
methodology of the Juche Idea into an integrated philosophy, that is
suited to the challenges of the 21st century.
I
was taken to The Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang and shown
around the hall devoted to The Juche Idea and ideological revolution.
One factor in ensuring the continued success of Socialist Korea, has
been the role of which three revolutions, have played in constructing
socialism in the DPRK. The ideological revolution is the element which
has been emphasized, because it is the popular masses who are the
masters of nature, social relations and wealth.Only a people with an
active socialist conciousness can purposefully and creatively build
socialism. It was fascinating to see the ideological achievements of
President KIM IL SUNG and of Chairman KIM JONG IL on display in the
exhibition hall. I encountered during my visit to the Exhibition On The
Juche Idea, a large of Korean working people looking around the
displays on the theoretical - ideological activities of Marshal KIM JONG
UN. I was very impressed with the exhibits on the KIM JONG UN's works
and activities, which demonstrate KIM JONG UN's outstanding leadership
abilities. The global influence of The Juche Idea can seen in the
exhibits on display. There is not a country or a region of the world,
where Kimilisungism-Kimjongilisim is not studied, it has become a trend
among progressive people to study and disseminate The Juche Idea. The
works of KIM IL SUNG, of KIM JONG IL and KIM JONG UN have now been
translated into many languages and produced by various publishing
houses around the world, and I was able to see these materials on The
Juche Idea on display, including Britain.
Going
up to Mount Myohyang, always make for a pleasant day out in the Korean
countryside. At Mount Myohyang, there is The International Friendship
Exhibition. The International Friendship Exhibition is a typically
Korean-style six stored structure, with a total floor space of 28,000
square metres. The exhibition contains more than 80,000 gifts to the
DPRK's Supreme Leaders from every country on the planet. The President,
The Chairman and The Marshal had all the gifts presented to them, given
over to the International Friendship Exhibition instead, so that the
working people can appreciate the tokens of esteem. There has now been
included a section devoted to gifts to Marshal KIM JONG UN, from
different personalities in a variety walks of life. There were gifts to
KIM JONG UN, from Dennis Rodman, NBA Basket Ball Star, from the
Mongolian President Tsakhigin Elbegdori, from various organisations in
Russia and China, amongst many others. It was with a feeling immense of
satisfaction that I presented a gift of a Doulton ceramic figure of
King Henry V to the respected Marshal KIM JONG UN, at ceremony with
high ranking officials of KASS and the WPK present. I said to the DPRK
officials at the ceremony, that gift in question, symbolizes KIM JONG
UN's steadfast leadership, courage, heroism and devotion to
revolutionary principle.
President
KIM IL SUNG and Chairman KIM JONG IL paid deep attention to the role
played by art and literature in the struggle to achieve the independence
of the working people and in completing the socialist cause. Art and
literature have a profound effect upon the ideological consciousness of
the popular masses, that is why a socialist society must have a
socialist art and culture. I had the chance to visit The Korean Art
Gallery on Kim IL Sung Square for the first time and sample the
treasures of traditional and contemporary Korean art. In the Gallery,
there are 22 display rooms and and it has a floor space of 11,000
square. Entering the gallery, one is taken through a journey of Korean
history, from the eras of Kojoson, Koryo to the Li dynasty, where one
can view the industriousness and creativity of the Korean people. The
final sentiment of the Korean Art Gallery, is devoted to Korean modern
art. I was struck with wonder, that the artistic representations in this
section of the gallery, as they were genuine masterpieces inspired by
Juche-orientated socialist realism. I recall seeing a painting of the
Korean Peoples Army soldiers risking their own lives to put out a fire
at a historical site with revolutionary slogan bearing trees.
It
has been seventy years since Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial
rule and Korea was divided into two parts by outside forces,
principally by the United States of America. Both President KIM IL SUNG
and Chairman KIM JONG IL, put forward historic proposals to solve the
issue of Korea's division, such as the Democratic Confederal Republic of
Koryo, the Ten Point Programme for Great National Unity and the
Five-Point Policy For Reunification. I arrived in Pyongyang, when the
15th anniversary of the North-South Summit Meeting and Declaration of
June 15th, 2000, was commemorated. Chairman KIM JONG IL made it a
precept that the reunification of Korea can only be achieved by the
Korean People themselves, in the north, in the south and overseas.
I
made my way down to Panmunjon,which is a village situated between
Kaesong and Seoul, and about four hours' drive from Pyongyang. Panmunjon
was chosen as the place where armistice negotiations were held at the
first time in June 1951 at the US side. Negotiations began at Panmunjon
because the US imperialists realized that they could defeat the Korean
Peoples Army and the Korean People by military means, during the
Fatherland Liberation War (the Korean War) 1950-1953. Persevered in the
north half of the DMZ, are the buildings where the armistice talks were
conducted and the document of surrender by the US side. As I approached
the actual area of the Central Military Demarcation Line, I could see
farmers working away normally in the fields of the Panmunjon
Cooperative Farm, which is located just within the Demilitarized zone.
Entering the Joint Security Zone, I noticed how strangely peacefully it
was there, at the site of the most intense military stand-off in the
world today. When I got inside the building of the military armistice
commission, the room was divided into two, north and south Korea by
microphone cables on the main negotiating table. It came to my attention
that the UK National Flag, the Union Jack, along with other aggressor
partners of the US, was displayed in the wall of the southern half of
the main building and seeing this, produced feelings of shame for the
role that British imperialism played during the Korean War. On this
visit to Panmunjon, I could not see the yankee occupation forces and
their south Korean puppets anywhere at all on the southern side of the
DMZ, as if they were hiding out of guilt for their crimes against the
Korean Nation. Viewing Panmunjon was an abject lesson in the tragedy of
Korea's division caused by the imperialist powers.
The
highpoint of my June 2015 visit to the DPRK, must have been my tour
around the newly-renovated Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum,
which is located in the Pothonggang District of Pyongyang. I went to
this museum back in the summer of 2009 and when I saw the museum this
time around, it was completely unrecognisable, it had been improved
vastly, both in terms of quality and quantity. The reconstructed
Fatherland Liberation War Museum was opened in time for the 60
anniversary of the victory of the Korean People over the US imperialist
aggressors. Covering an area of 93,000 meters, the Victorious Fatherland
Liberation War Museum, it comprehensively shows the periods of the
anti-Japanese struggle and the Fatherland Liberation War (1950-53) to
the anti-imperialist, anti-US confrontation and Songun Revolution.
Under the auspices of Marshal KIM JONG UN the museum was modernized in
July Juche 102 -2013, in order to hand to posterity the patriotic
exploits of Generalissimos KIM IL SUNG and KIM JONG IL, and of the
heroic feats of the Korean Peoples Army and of the Korean People. On
display there are over 300 revolutionary relics and 120,000 war
materials in their original state. Using the latest technology, the
museum was able to recreate in lifelike detail, the conditions of the
Fatherland Liberation War of the Korean People. The museum contained an
accurate reproduction of the environment of the battle of Height 1211
and saw that the museum's famous Panorama of the liberation of Taejon,
had been made more spectacular. In the outside pavilions, I was shown
the evidence of the crimes of the US in the form of captured weaponry by
the KPA and taken aboard the apprehended American spy armed ship,
Pueblo, which is a constant reminder of the aggressive nature of
imperialism. The young female Korean People Army Officer, made for an
excellent guide, as she explained the meaning of the exhibits in the
museum of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War, with lots of
enthusiasm.
Being
in the DPRK, I took the opportunity of calling upon our friends and
comrades in The Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front of south
Korea, who have a mission in Pyongyang. The ANDF has over the decades,
been on the front-line in the struggle for anti-imperialism, progressive
democracy in south Korea and for Korean reunification. As a
organisation, the ANDF has faced harsh persecution at the hands of the
military fascist regime in Seoul, with many its members paying the
ultimate price for the independent reunification of Korea, most notably
Kim Jong Tae. The ANDF's leading representative discussed in depth the
situation in south Korea with the Pak Gye Hee regime in power and the
fight for anti-imperialist democracy, the prospects for the independent
peaceful reunification of Korea and the global struggle against
imperialism. Having had a three hour discussion with the comrades at the
ANDF mission, gave me renewed inspiration to work in solidarity with
the Korean People's just cause.
I have
been endeavouring to study and disseminate the Juche Idea, for many
years, since having been first acquainted with the reality of the DPRK. I
was able to have an indepth exchange of views and discussions with
prominent academics from the Korean Association of Social Scientists on
such diverse subjects as the revolutionary activities of KIM JONG UN,
Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, the relationship between Marxism-Leninism and
Juche, the WPK's struggle against modern revisionism and the economy of
the DPRK.. I found that it was a significant honour to have been
awarded the KASS Graduation Certificate in Juche orientated social
sciences, I take this accolade as a recognition for all the work and
activity in which the Juche Idea Study Group collectively has been
engaged in spreading the Juche philosophy, far and wide, in Britain. My
meeting with representatives from the Korean Committee for Cultural
Relations With Foreign Countries, further cemented the ties of the
Korean Friendship Association (UK) with that DPRK organisation.
On
my last day in the DPRK, I was taken to a beach, near to the city of
Nampho. Swimming in the warm, tranquil waters of Korea's West Sea, was a
extremely relaxing and invigorating form of exercise. Near to the
beach, I spotted a wedding party from Nampho, who were having their
reception photographs snapped at the seaside. The Korean People lead
healthy and harmonious lives due to the care of the benevolent socialist
system in the DPRK. Later on the during day trip to the Nampho area, I
was treated to a classic Korean barbecue, consisting of Sea Shells as
the main course. The delegation's driver very expertly doused the shells
with petrol and they set alight into an enormous blaze, in a matter of
seconds. I joked that the DPRK was conducting a shell barbecue test
successfully, to beat the imperialists, which received alot of laughters
from my Korean friends. The barbecue outside the Nampho Seaworkers'
Club proven to be a very memorable afternoon, which was made merrier
with the club's waitresses in attendance, and with plenty of Pyongyang
Soju and Paektusan Bilberry Wine to drink.
I
would like to express my thanks to the KASS Section Head, Kim Ho Su, to
my guides Li Wang Ho and Mr.Kim, and to my driver Mr.Yu, for making my
June 2015 visit to the DPRK, both an enjoyable and productive one. I
want add my gratitude to the First Secretary of the DPRK Embassy in
London, Yu Kwang Song, and to the Study Group's Chairman Dermot Hudson,
for making my DPRK trip possible at such short notice.
Visiting
and experiencing the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea brings home
the actuality of the application of the Juche Idea and of Songun
Politics, a thousand times, better than studying Socialist Korea from a
distance. I know that travelling to the DPRK through third countries
can be very challenging and expensive, but the more Juche Idea adherents
and friends of Korea, go out to the Land of Juche, the better, as it
strengthens our ideological bonds with our Korean comrades. Indeed
anybody, you who calls themselves, a socialist, an anti-imperialist, a
peace campaigner and a trade unionist, must show their solidarity with
the Korean People and with the DPRK. We must as friends of the DPRK
smash the wall of lies and poison put about by imperialism's media
machine about Peoples Korea and promote the truth about on that brave
socialist country in the East.
In
June 2015, I was privileged to have seen, that the DPRK was becoming a
thriving socialist nation, where material and ideological conditions
were rapidly improving, in time for the 70th anniversary of the Glorious
Workers' Party of Korea. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
stands in the international community, as a beacon of human liberation
and dignity, the country where human rights are fully realised and
practised. The Korean Party and People reject advice and dictates from
certain quarters to "open up" and abandon socialism, instead the working
people of Korea are militantly advancing under the Juche banner of
President KIM IL SUNG and of Chairman KIM JONG IL. Noting is impossible
for the courageous and revolutionary Korean People, who are winning
victory after victory on the road of Songun, Independence and Socialism,
under the leadership of the Respected Marshal KIM JONG UN!
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