Throughout the lifetime of President Kim IL Sung focused attention on the strengthening of links between all the forces opposed to imperialism. The internal and external policies of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea are on occasion referred to as being somewhat "nationalistic" and "isolationist" by right-wing commentators and by some on the Left. Certain quarters in Western academia claim that the DPRK is an ethnocentric state opposed to any kind of internationalism. Looking at both historical and contemporary evidence is enough to refute such allegations. The whole thrust of the activity of both the Workers Party of Korea and the Korean Socialist State has been one of consistent internationalism, as put forward by the DPRK's Founding Father President Kim IL Sung.
President Kim IL Sung set forth policies that would unite all anti-imperialist nations, movements and parties, and cooperate for the shared objective of global independence. To make the world independent means eradicating all sorts of dominionism and colonialism and putting in place globally a situation where the sovereignty of all nations is fully ensured. President Kim IL Sung put forward the achievement of global independence, where the international community would be truly democratized. At times President Kim IL Sung energetically guided the external activities of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the struggle to gain the unity of the socialist and anti-imperialist forces. The bedrock of the DPRK's foreign policy formulated by President Kim IL Sung was one of Independence, Peace and Friendship. In its international relations, the DPRK still upholds these principles and develops state relations and cooperation with socialist, non-aligned and capitalist countries.
President Kim IL Sung's external activities aimed at building a new independent world, while defending the sovereignty of Socialist Korea and enhancing its international prestige. The external relations established by President Kim IL Sung created favourable conditions for building socialism in the DPRK. President Kim IL Sung visited various Asian, African and European countries covering tens of thousands of miles. Going across continents and oceans, President Kim IL Sung visited 42 countries in total, paying visits to such nations as the USSR, the People's Republic of China, Romania, the German Democratic Republic, Algeria and Mauritania. What is noteworthy is that the people of the countries visited accorded President Kim IL Sung cordial hospitality, respecting and revering Kim IL Sung as the champion of human independence. During his various visits, President Kim IL Sung stressed the need for unity and cohesion of the anti-imperialist forces and a united front of socialist countries. It can be recalled President Kim IL Sung met many different personalities like J.V. Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Zhou Enlai, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Enver Hoxha, Nicolae Ceausescu, Julius Nyerere, Josip Broz Tito, Moammar El Gaddafy among many others. Among some of the most notable visits made by President Kim IL Sung were the ones to Indonesia in April 1965, Algeria in May 1975, the People's Republic of China in September 1982 and the Soviet Union and the East European Socialist countries from May to June 1984. Even when President Kim IL Sung met with figures from nations which were hostile to Peoples Korea, these personalities received a very positive impression of Kim IL Sung. For instance, when former US President Jimmy Carter had just met President Kim IL Sung in June 1994, he described Kim IL Sung as being greater than George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln put together.
Irrespective of the distinctions between nations and cultures, President Kim IL Sung has been affectionate and kind towards every representative from different countries. President Kim IL Sung cultivated friendships with Yuri Novichenko, Luise Rinser, Kaoru Yasui, Carnero Checa, Zhang Weihua, and Otto Grotewohl among many other prominent progressive personalities. President Kim IL Sung got acquainted with Karuo Yasui (the first Director-General of the IIJI) and Carnero Checa (General Secretary of the Latin American Federation of Journalists) and inspired them to disseminate the Juche Idea. The German writer Luise Rinser was so impressed with the benevolence of President Kim IL Sung as a political leader building a paradise worthy of humanity in the land of Korea.
In his lifetime, President Kim IL Sung was awarded well over 70 orders and medals from various nations. These orders, medals and honorary titles are of the high appreciation of President Kim IL Sung's activities. Many nations awarded the highest decorations to President Kim IL Sung such as the "Order of Lenin", the "Collar of the Nile", and the "Jose Marti Order" among many others.
Gifts to President Kim IL Sung have come from 154 countries of the world and international organisations. The gifts have been presented to President Kim IL Sung by people of diverse nationalities, political views, religious beliefs, customs and languages and these gifts in question run into the tens of thousands, no two gifts are identical. All the gifts which have been presented to President Kim IL Sung are on display at the International Friendship Exhibition, which is located near Mount Myohyang in northwestern Korea. The number of gifts to President Kim IL Sung on display in the International Friendship Exhibition amounts to well over 65, 970 items, The most famous objects on display at the International Friendship Exhibition is the ivory craving "The President's Native Home at Mangyongdae" (given by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on April 15th, 1977), the "ZIS" Car (given by J.V.Stalin, October 1950), the book "The Great History of the Commune" (given by the French Communist Party on May 9th, 1975), and "Portrait of President Kim IL Sung Made by Fitting Together Arabic Letters (given by the Syrian Arab Republic on April 15th, 1977). The Juche Idea Study Group of Britain have had the privilege of presenting gifts to President Kim IL Sung. These gifts from the British Juche Idea Adherents include a figurine sculptured out of coal symbolizing the class struggle (presented in June 1994), and a portrait of "Oliver Cromwell, (July 2009), The Lord Protector" which can be seen by visitors to the International Friendship Exhibition.
The furthering of relations with all countries that respect the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been a consistent policy of Socialist Korea. Diplomatic relations were established between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom on December 12th, 2000 and a DPRK Embassy opened in London in 2003. In 1973 the Mansudae Art Troupe performed at Saddle Well's Theatre and the Displayed Children's Group toured the UK in 2015, giving an insight into the rich culture of the DPRK to British audiences. The Korean Friendship Association regularly promotes the history and culture of Peoples Korea and fights misinformation spread about the DPRK. In April 2018, the UK KFA had a successful DPRK poster exhibition in London as well as organising various affordable trips to Peoples Korea. The Workers' Party of Korea had very close interactions with Communist and Workers' Parties based in the UK, including the meeting of President Kim IL Sung with Eric Trevett, General Secretary of the New Communist Party on April 7th, 1990.
The traditions of internationalism begun by Kim IL Sung were continued by Kim Jong IL and Kim Jong Un. Chairman Kim Jong Un has raised the international prestige of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to new heights, and Socialist Korea is regarded by the world community as a dignified and independent nation. There is more and more interest and curiosity being shown in the social system and culture of the DPRK by many people in different countries as a beacon of hope. The DPRK Supreme Leader Respected Kim Jong Un has made so far 10 ten international visits so far, including to the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On September 17th, 2023, Chairman Kim Jong Un held a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far Eastern Region.
All the external activities of the Great Leader President Kim IL Sung were the embodiments of anti-imperialism and internationalism. As demonstrated in this presentation, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been guided by the principles of internationalism and Peoples Korea continues to be based on the core values of anti-imperialism and international solidarity. So in the year of the 30th anniversary of the demise of the Great Leader President Kim IL Sung, we appreciate the role of President Kim IL Sung, Chairman Kim Jong IL and Marshal Kim Jong Un as the leaders of the global anti-imperialist movement. The Great Leader President Kim IL Sung will always remain in the hearts and minds of the progressive peoples as the Shinning Red Sun of the World Revolution!
Active assistance and support to the national liberation struggles constituted an important part of the international activities of President Kim IL Sung. Having defeated Japanese and US imperialisms in one generation President Kim IL Sung opened up a new era of inspiration for the anti-imperialist independent forces in Asia, Africa and Latin America. President Kim IL Sung ensured that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea took the lead in extending support and encouragement to the peoples fighting for national and social liberation. The question of supporting the peoples waging an armed struggle to gain national independence was of utmost importance. From the mid-1950s to the 1980s, the fight for liberation raged fiercely in Palestine, Algeria, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua and other Latin American countries, the DPRK was providing all sorts of assistance. When Algeria freed itself from French colonial rule in September 1958, the DPRK was the first state to recognise Liberated Algeria. President Kim IL Sung not only gave both material and moral support to the nations and movements waging a liberation struggle but also met leaders of fighting organisations who visited Socialist Korea, among them those of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the Zimbabwe African National Union and the Sandinista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua. In 1973, the Korean People's Army provided pilots for the airforces of Egypt and Syria during the October 1973 war against Israel. Many students from Africa, Latin America and Asia were given tuition at the Kim IL Sung University and other educational institutions in the DPRK. The Party and State of Socialist Korea actively assisted the struggle for social and national freedom in the advanced capitalist countries, most notably supporting the resistance of the Black Panther Party against US imperialism. President Kim IL Sung spoke at the 1969 and 1983 World Journalist Anti-Imperialist conferences and stressed unity in the common cause of independence.
President Kim IL Sung attached great significance to cooperation with non-aligned countries from the beginning of the 1960s. The Non-aligned movement was described by President Kim IL Sung as a progressive movement fighting against all forms of domination and subjugation. The DPRK has always maintained the position of not joining any blocs or alliances, upholding the fundamental principle of Non-alignment. At the conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries held in Lima, Peru in August 1975 unanimously decided to admit the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea as a full member of the movement. President Kim IL Sung paid deep attention to the expansion of the relations of friendship and cooperation with the member states of the Non-aligned movement. From 1981 to 1985 alone, heads of state and governments of over 30 newly emerging nations visited the DPRK on more than 40 occasions. Between 1978 and 1984, the DPRK government concluded treaties and agreements with 11 countries such as Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Yemen, Zimbabwe, Libya and Angola. The DPRK's commitment to developing South-South cooperation in practical terms can be seen in projects like the Kim IL Sung Institute of Agricultural Science based in Kindia Province, Guinea (there is a similar institute in Tanzania). This institute which was established in January 1982 has 21 DPRK scientists and 30 Guinean engineers engaged in agrarian research activities. In fact, the DPRK has many engineers, scientists and medical personnel assigned to various projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Pyongyang, the DPRK's capital city has hosted many Non-aligned meetings including the "Symposium of Non-aligned and Developing Countries in Increasing Food Production".
President Kim IL Sung's determination to strengthen proletarian internationalism based on independence was expressed on many occasions. The unity of the International Communist and Workers' Movement was regarded as the highest priority of the Workers' Party of Korea. When the forces of Modern Revisionism and Left Opportunism were ripping apart the coherence of the World Communist Movement in the early to mid-1960s, President Kim IL Sung put forward policies to restore the unity of the Communist and Workers' Parties at the October 1966 conference of the WPK. Strenuous efforts were made by the Workers' Party of Korea to put the community of shared interests and ideals above differences within the International Communist Movement. The WPK and the DPRK developed relations of solidarity and cooperation with all the Socialist Countries and the Communist Parties. The important element was that regardless of tactical divergences, the Socialist Countries and the World Communist Movement should be united in the struggle against imperialism and for the defence of revolutionary principles. When the USSR and the Eastern European Socialist countries were collapsing, many commentators doubted whether the cause of socialism would continue. President Kim IL Sung was able to rally the International Revolutionary Movement with the inspiration of the WPK's determination to uphold and advance socialism. "Let Us Advance The Cause of Socialism" was adopted on 20th April 1992 by 69 Communist and Workers' Parties in Pyongyang, the DPRK. "The Pyongyang Declaration" has well over 300 signatories from various parties and movements. The New Communist Party, the Communist Party of Britain, the Socialist Labour Party, the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (M-L), the Communist Organisation of Britain, the Communist Party of Great Britain (M-L) and the Communist Party of Britain (M-L) have all signed "The Pyongyang Declaration". Another remarkable quality of President Kim IL Sung's leadership was that the delegations were received on visits to the DPRK from Socialist parties and movements of differentiating ideological tendencies and varying membership sizes, whether large or small by the Great Leader himself. Every delegation from the Communist and Workers' Parties and National Liberation Movements was always treated with fraternal respect and dignity by President Kim IL Sung.
President Kim IL Sung who authored the Juche Idea, fostered contacts with activists and scholars in the endeavour for the dissemination and study of the Juche philosophy on a global scale. The progressive people of the world found in the Juche Idea propounded by President Kim IL Sung the revolutionary theory that is a programmatic guideline in the struggle for social and national emancipation that is in accord with the prevailing conditions. The study of the works of President Kim IL Sung in a purposeful and organised manner has been an international trend since April 1969. Over the last few decades, the Juche Idea has been studied and promoted in diverse forms and ways in many countries around the world. President Kim IL Sung paid concern to the consolidation of the International Institute of the Juche Idea and its affiliated bodies. The adherents of the Juche Idea were met with a warm welcome by President Kim IL Sung whenever they visited the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
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