The most memorable episodes of my September 2018 journey to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea was to have seen both the Military and Civilian Parade on The Kim IL Sung Square, and the Mass Games "Glorious Country". Everybody on the delegation was told to assemble for the parade on the early morning of September 9th, we were all very excited. At 10.00 am, the parade began with a military match pass with the leading columns dressed in the uniforms of the Korean Peoples Revolutionary Army and from the Fatherland Liberation War, showing the continuity of the Juche Cause from the times of the Anti-Japanese National Liberation Struggle (1925-1945) and of the Korean War (1950-53). Also marching on the Kim IL Sung Square were the Frontline KPA Corps, Naval and Air Units of the Korean Peoples Army, Special Operation Forces followed up by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards and the Young Red Guards. The mechanized forces of the KPA such as Tanks, Anti-Aircraft Launchers and Short-Range Missiles appeared immediately after the infantry units. Then the civilian part of the manifestation got into full swing, with vividly colourful displays mounted upon floats chronicling the seventy years of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The columns of Industrial Workers, Farmers, Intellectuals, Scientists, Medical Personnel, Children Union Members, Sportspeople, each contingent holding slogan-boards and other decorations. Approximately one million Pyongyang Citizens marched through the Kim IL Sung Square on September 9th, this sea of humanity was a clear testament of the single-minded unity of the people around the Party and the Leader for the accomplishing the ultimate victory of the Juche Cause. What was slightly different from other recent parades, is that fact there was a huge amount of International dignitaries from various countries on the reviewing platform, which indicated the growing global prestige of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
Towards the conclusion of the Military Parade and Public Procession to mark the 70th birthday of the DPRK, a rush of exhilaration engulfed the assembled crowds as Chairman Kim Jong Un approached the edge of the reviewing stand and waved at everyone in the stands and on the square. I along with the rest of the Juche Idea Study Group delegation was enormously fortunate to have been in a relatively short distance from where Marshal Kim Jong Un acknowledged the cheers of the masses. To have the DPRK Supreme Leader Chairman Kim Jong Un so close up in my line of vision, was indeed a once in a lifetime experience. Chairman Kim Jong Un maintains deep bonds with the people and is always among them, putting the interests of the Korean people at the foremost of his activities. It can be said that the Dear Respected Marshal Kim Jong Un has a great personality which is very charismatic and on the international stage the name of the DPRK Leader Kim Jong Un is now known far and wide.
Everybody on the delegation was thrilled to have received an invitation to the Mass Games specially created for the 70th DPRK anniversary which is entitled "The Glorious Country". This was the first time that a mass games has held on such a large scale since the Arirang Performance. When the mass games "The Glorious Country" began in the May Day Stadium, the spectators were taken onto a wondrous universe of miracles. The May Day Stadium, located on the Runga Islet, has a total floor space of 207,275 square meters and 150,000 seats with 80 exits. Throughout "The Glorious Country" was reflected the seven decades of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in pictures, rhythmic movements and songs. The performance displayed a graphic illustration of the era of nation-building after 1945, the outstanding victory of the Korean people in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War 1950-53) and when the Chollima Movement was underway to reconstruct the New Korea along socialist lines. Riding over depictions of rough mountains and wild waves, the scene was set of the epic and heroic journey of the Songun Revolutionary Leadership overcoming all obstacles amid the playing of the song "We Will Never Forget". The games stepped up into conveying vividly the paradisiacal nature of the people-centred socialist system of Korea. It was especially emotional to have seen the desire of the Korean people for national reunification displayed on the foreground of the stadium with the emphasis on the April 27th Panmunjoin Declaration. When the slogan "For Global Independence" was shown I was so exhilarated to have noticed such a meaningful motto for the followers of the Juche Idea, during the International Section of "The Glorious Country". The performance "The Glorious Country" was an extravaganza for the eyes and ears of everybody who was present in The May Day Stadium on September 9th. It is liberated humanity could have a put on such a mass games as "The Glorious Country", as this is only possible in the DPRK. The mass games consist of thousands of participants who use picture cards to form gigantic visual displays, "Arirang" was actually noted by the World Guinness Book of Records as the largest mass gymnastics and artistic performance in the World. Coming out of the stadium I had the possibility to have encountered various strata of Korean people, including workers, students, Young Red Guards and Korean Peoples Army soldiers, a delegation member even saw one of the sons of Joe Dresnot among the crowds.
I felt duty bound to have paid my tributes to the architects of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, President Kim IL Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong IL at the Kumsusan Palace of The Sun. Seeing for the second time the Great Leaders laying in state at The Palace of The Sun was even more poignantly emotive for me. I realised while visiting the Palace of The Sun, that President Kim IL Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong IL devoted everything for the welfare of the Korean people and opened up the era of human emancipation. Kim Jong Un had the Palace of the Sun in 2012 expanded and beautified as befitting the Temple of the Bright Red Suns. It was extremely sad to have viewed the train carriage where the Great Chairman Kim Jong IL had passed away on while conducting on the spot on the guidance on December 17th, 2011, Kim Jong IL travelled 334,000 kilometres by train within the DPRK providing Leadership to different sectors.
Visiting the Korean Revolution Museum on the Mansu Hill was a necessary component of my visit to the DPRK. The Korean Revolution Museum was founded in 1948 and the building housing the museum was erected in 1972. In 2017, the Korean Revolution Museum was renovated and the exhibits have been given a lifelike appearance. In total, the Korean Revolution Museum has a total floor space of 60,000 square meters and has 29,000 revolutionary relics and materials, illustrating the course of the Korean Revolution throughout the decades. There are halls dedicated to the Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Struggle through to the period of building A Powerful Socialist Country, as halls devoted to the heroes and heroines of the Korean Revolution. Our delegation was guided around one of the museum's halls specializing in the era of the building a new country between the years 1945 to 1948. This hall contained alot of graphic reconstructions and original archive materials dating from the late 1940s, when the tasks of realizing the New, Democratic Korea was paramount for the Korean people. We discovered from the museum guide, that land was distributed to the toiling farmers, free of charge by the newly-established Peoples Power. I found it very significant to have viewed the materials dealing with the founding of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea as the 70th anniversary of its formation was approaching and to have seen the preserved speech made by Kim IL Sung at the foundation of the Republic. Going through the hall I did achieve a better understanding of all the struggles involved with the establishment of the DPRK by the Korean revolutionaries and of the vast social reforms carried out after the August 1945 Liberation. Listening to the museum guide's explanation of the different exhibits, I had a distinct impression that the DPRK was still maintaining a very vigorous anti-imperialist stand and upholding socialist principles, even though relations were improving with South Korea and the USA.
In keeping with the new strategic line of concentrating all efforts on the economic construction of the DPRK put forward by the 3rd Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, our delegation was given access to both the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory and the Ryuwon Footwear Enterprise. The Ryuwon Footwear Factory is located on the outskirts of Pyongyang and was modernized in 2017. I came across the state of the art manufacturing process in the Ryuwon Footwear Factory and the products in question were Trainers and Sports' Shoes, which were of a world-class commercial standard. While in the second industrial establishment which I saw, The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory specialised in the production of varied kinds of facial and body creams and lotions, some of them made out of the famous Korean speciality, Insam. From what I witnessed at the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory, was all the products manufactured there, could achieve a foothold in the Western Marketplace due to the high quality of the DPRK made cosmetics. Despite the sanctions imposed on the DPRK by the imperialist powers over the so-called "nuclear issue" and the efforts to sabotage the DPRK economy by reactionary forces, I was informed that the Ryuwon Footwear Factory had already hit its yearly plan in August, as have over a thousand other factories and industrial units in Socialist Korea. Essentially, the DPRK has been able to construct throughout the decades, an independent economy based upon self-reliance and self-development.
With working in industrial production, I had the sense of the sort of environment that workers employed in factories and offices inhabit, whether that atmosphere is of a positive or negative one. The workers at the factories which I visited appeared to engage in their productive activities, and the buildings housing the industrial enterprises were spotlessly clean and well-maintained. In fact, the factories in the DPRK had nothing of the Dickensian grimness associated with British workshops, the DPRK industrial facilities are places of hope and optimism, while their British counterparts resemble a sort of Bastille. One amenity which I have had an impact on me during the tour of the Ryuwon Footwear Factory was the Digital Educational Room. In this room, were a whole line of desks with computers and the workers of the factory received encouragement to use this Information Technology in the pursuit of their intellectual and cultural development. I felt that this was a great advance of Korean style socialism, that barrier between physical and mental labour was being breached and that the workers were able to gain a university style education at the same time as working on the shop floor, actually, nobody is left behind in the DPRK. There are also other kinds of welfare facilities in the factories we visited such as swimming pools and sports courts, and plus every worker gets a ration of beer every week. A form of industrial democracy was evolved in the DPRK in the shape of the Taean Work System. Under the Taean System, all problems are to be solved by enlisting the workers of enterprises into management level decision making. In effect, the management of factories in the DPRK is divided between the Party Committee, the Trade Union Committee, Workers' Representatives and Economic Executives and Specialists. So the workers of the DPRK have the meaningful sense of being the masters of production.
Education is regarded as the main concern for the Party and Government of the DPRK. To have an educated population is to be blessed with a people who are confident and liberated. The delegations were taken on a tour of the Pyongyang Teachers' Training College. The Teachers' Training College was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment when I visited it. In January 2018, the DPRK Supreme Leader Marshal Kim Jong Un gave field guidance to the Pyongyang Teachers' Training College and urged the staff and the students to transform this educational institution into a model one for the entire country. Being guided around the Pyongyang Teacher's Training College I observed such facilities as the primary school teaching practice room, the natural experimental teaching room, the children's intellectual developing technology dissemination room and multi-functional rooms for practical training. The Teacher's Training College had attached to it, a gymnasium, where basketball, volleyball, table tennis and other sports can be played. A very interesting innovation was the virtual teaching platform where students from the college can experience the psychological responses of elementary school pupils and learn the skills to control their behaviour and handle any potential situation. One or two members of the visiting delegations had the chance to interact with the virtual pupils from an animated classroom projected on to a large screen on the wall. In another classroom, the trainee teachers were conducting an English language lesson using audiovisual materials and the standard of their spoken and written English was extremely proficient. An extraordinary aspect, of touring this educational establishment was seeing the virtual stimulation room. In the virtual stimulation room, various kinds of different environments can be created using Dimensional technology, recreating the effects of being on Mount Paektu, driving in the centre of Pyongyang or surrounded by Dinosaurs or being at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. A member of the delegation who had been privately tutored commented that the DPRK public educational system was far superior to the public (private) schools in the UK.
A treat for myself and the rest of the delegation was to be taken aboard a trolley bus on the third day of the DPRK visit. The trolley bus took us from the vicinity of the Pyongyang Railway Station up to the Arch of Triumph. What was special about this particular trolley bus is that it was the first of its kind manufactured in the DPRK, in 1961. The bus in question had received the on-guidance from President Kim IL Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong IL on many occasions. I had the chance to view the boulevards of Pyongyang and of the preparations for the mass games while having a charming journey on this vintage trolley bus. Later on, the delegation was taken to the Pyongyang Metro, where we came across the new red and cream coloured Metro Trains, produced by the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Combine in 2015. The carriages of the latest made Pyongyang Metro Trains were very brightly lit, they had comfortable sitting and, even provide onboard entertainment and information via TV screens for the passengers.
Every time I have had the privilege of being in the DPRK, I make it my goal to pay a courtesy call at the Pyongyang Mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front of south Korea. On this occasion, I was able to have met and conversed with whom I regard being close comrades and friends at the AINDF Mission. At the mission, I discussed with the AINDF the increasing prospects for peace and reunification upon the Korean reunification. A week and a half after my departure from the DPRK, the truly historic Fifth Inter-Korean summit meeting between Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In occurred. The independent, peaceful reunification of Korea, which has been aspired to by generations of the Korean people for over 70 years, is becoming realised due to the proactive policy on this issue by Chairman Kim Jong Un. The UK Korean Friendship Association has lent a voice in building the solidarity movement with the just cause of the Korean people. I am sure that the AINDF will achieve its goals of anti-imperialist independence in the near future.
Driving through Changjon, Mirae and Rymongong Streets in the delegation's mini-bus one is struck by the architectural magnificence of Pyongyang. Pyongyang at night was bathed in the red glow of the flame on top of the Tower of the Juche Idea and from the Light Display coming off the Ryugyong Hotel (the World' Tallest Hotel). What always strikes me about such streets as Mirae and Changjon, it not only their unique architecture but the social backgrounds of these places. Residing in the central areas of Pyongyang like Changjon Street are rank-and-file workers, intellectuals and officials and their families. All housing is free of charge in the DPRK and is allocated upon the needs of the families and community, not for profit. I find the fact that a social housing complex such as Changjon Street can exist in the centre of Pyongyang, where all the Governmental and Adminstirive Offices are quartered, extremely remarkable, whereas in the capital cities of most countries this would be inconceivable. The DPRK is a society based upon the precepts of collectivism, where there are no social divisions. In the DPRK wealth and power is held firmly in the hands of the popular masses and where everything serves the people. Every visitor to Pyongyang and to other places will search in vain for any signs of social destitution such as unemployment, homelessness and poverty. In the countries of the Global South, most of the population is surviving on less than a dollar for a day and do not have access to clean drinking water. The gap between the rich and poor in Britain is rising, decent homes are expensive, culture is declining and there has been an inordinate rise of the lumpen-proletariat in British cities.
I had the treat of ascending up to the Revolving Observatory Restaurant, right at the very top of the Koryo Hotel. The Revolving Restaurant offers the most panoramic views of Pyongyang, made even more enchanting in the evening. I remember having a bowl of Spaghetti, which had been prepared by the staff of the Revolving Restaurant. I can truly say it was one of the most delicious things that I have eaten in recent years, so full of flavour. The Japanese Wrestler and Politician, Antonio Inoki and his entourage were in the Koryo Hotel Revolving Restaurant at the same time as myself and some of the delegation was there. Staying at the Koyro Hotel for seven days was a very pleasant experience and made it even more enjoyable was the really obliging hotel staff, particularly the waiters and waitresses at the third-floor restaurant. Whenever I am in the DPRK, I always try to sample such Korean food classics as Kimchi, Pyongyang Cold Noodles (Naengmyeon), Songphyon (Rice Cakes) followed up by alcoholic drinks like Soju, Taedonggang Beer and Paketusan Blueberry Wine. I brought back home with a bottle of the awarding winning Kaesong Insam Liquor, which I shall only drink on special occasions. I know that Doctor Dermot is a big fan of the Kochang Sauce.
On a tour of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, the Juche Study delegations chanced on having an impromptu meeting with Pak In Jo, who was part of the Korean Peoples Army Naval crew which had seized the USS Pueblo on January 23rd, 1968. The Pueblo was a US surveillance ship which conducted acts of espionage off the coast of Wonsan and was captured by the KPA naval units in 1968. Walking around the grounds of the Fatherland Liberation War Museum, I mentioned to the KPA female guide and the visiting delegations, that Lucas Cunha was a Facebook Celebrity, this comment received alot of laughter. Seriously speaking, Lucas Rubio and Lenan Cunha from the Brailizan Juche Idea Study Group have strenuously promoted the DPRK on various social media platforms in recent times. During the periods when International Juche Seminars are held is it always good to get acquainted with old and new friends like Ogami Kenichi and Alex Velits. One of the members of our delegation, Alexsander Meads had his birthday celebrated while he was in the DPRK on September 8th and the KASS organised a presentation for him at the official banquet to mark the Republic's Foundation Day. On a couple of occasions at Beijing Capital Airport and in the DPRK, I came across the really jolly and happy women's delegation from the Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents In Japan), these ladies were always smiling and singing. I said to the Chongryon women's group in very basic Korean "Yongguk Chuchesa", to which they all cheered loudly.
The guide for our DPRK tour was a rather tall and studious man, who wanted to be known as Comrade Li. Mr Li tried his best to keep the organisation of the trip running as smoothly as possible and to accommodate the wishes of the delegation. A young Korean lady guide accompanying the delegation from Brazil proves to be very friendly and helpful. Everybody in the delegation owes a debt of gratitude to all staff of the Korean Association of Social Scientists for making the September 2018 possible. KASS generously provides the opportunities for the researchers of the Juche Idea from various nations to travel and study within the DPRK, and to experience the application of the Great Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism in reality. A delegation member remarked that travel to the DPRK is extremely addictive, and this is true as there is nowhere else like Songun Korea in the world, which has a stable and unified society.
The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea has had its 70th anniversary in a blaze of glory, defiantly standing up to its enemies. Democratic Korea is the crowning red jewel of international socialism and independence. What I experienced during seven days of being in Peoples Korea in September 2018, has absolutely convinced me that the future belongs to the Democratic Peoples Republic Of Korea as it is led by Chairman KIM JONG UN!!
(Bibliography: Korean Central News Agency, "Kim IL Sung Encyclopedia" New Delhi, India, 1992, "Pyongyang Guide Bookbook, 1999, "Let's Learn Korean", Pyongyang, DPRK 1989
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