Self-reliance—Korean People’s Option from http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/

Self-reliance—Korean People’s Option from http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/

The Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held late in December last year called on all the Korean people to launch an offensive for a frontal breakthrough by dint of self-reliance.

Some people think that the DPRK chose self-reliance because of the economic sanctions imposed by the hostile forces. Is it true?

Early in the 20th century, the Korean people were reduced to the colonial slavery due to the military occupation of Japan.

It was because of not only their poor national power but also the feudal rulers’ extreme sycophancy to the great powers.

Far from making efforts to build up the national power by themselves, the feudal rulers tried to maintain their lives with the backing of outside forces.

Even those who alleged themselves to fight for Korea’s independence toured foreign countries for a petition campaign to solicit help from outside forces.

In the early period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle, some people had a mind to build a hand grenade factory with the assistance from a neighbouring country. No doubt all their attempts ended in smoke.

With a far-reaching plan to win back the lost country by the Korean people themselves, President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) founded the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army and launched an armed struggle.

He advanced a line for the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters to arm themselves by wresting weapons from the enemies and inspired them to make the powerful Yongil bombs by their own efforts.

He led them to solve foods, clothes and other problems by themselves, though they had neither state backing nor support of a regular army. He achieved the cause of Korea’s liberation through the all-people resistance.

The same was the case when the Korean people launched the rehabilitation campaign after the three-year-long Korean war (1950-1953).

At that time, the great-power chauvinists did not give the DPRK the machinery they had already promised, attaching to the international aid such a political string that it should enter the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance).

With a determination to solve all problems by themselves the Korean people manufactured large water pump, lorry, tractor, excavator and electric locomotive.

They also built a powerful independent national economy by founding the machine-building, chemical and fibre industries by their own efforts.

Any great powers could not dare force the DPRK to follow their intention as the latter achieved its prosperity without dependence on them.

History clearly proved a lesson that only self-reliance can defend the sovereignty of a nation and lead the country to ensure its sustained development.

The Juche idea, the guiding ideology of the Korean people, demands self-reliance.

The Juche idea teaches that man is the master of his destiny and he has the strength to carve out his own destiny.

Guided by this idea, the Korean people find the starting-point of everything, including the selection of social system and the course for development, to meet their interests and the specific conditions of their country.

Between the late 1980s and the early 1990s when socialism collapsed in the East European countries one after another, the DPRK could safeguard the banner of socialism as they adhered to steadfast independent stand.

The Juche idea requires holding fast to the principle of self-reliance in the economic construction.

A dependent economy cannot be said to be a self-supporting economy. A nation that is dependent on other countries economically cannot argue with them against their unreasonable demands running counter to the interests of its people.

An economy based on its own raw materials, fuel, materials and equipment can be said to be an independent economy.

The Korean people developed CNC technology by themselves and produced iron, fertilizers and fibres in reliance on their own raw materials and thus proved that they can surely develop their economy by dint of self-reliance.

The reality of the DPRK which has achieved self-reliant defence clearly proves the validity and vitality of the Juche idea.

The DPRK possessed inexhaustible military capabilities for guaranteeing its security by itself.

The whole world acknowledges this fact.

Proceeding from the lessons and experience of history and demands of the Juche idea, the DPRK is making advance, invariably holding aloft the banner of self-reliance.