2025 was a very significant year which saw the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese imperialist rule and the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers Party of Korea , the guiding force and organiser of people-centred socialist construction . In the DPRK last year we saw the in depth expansion of the 20x 10 regional development policy .
The Korean Friendship Association itself saw its 25th anniversary in November last year which was marked by the KFA International meeting in Granada (the place where KFA was founded back in 2000) on the theme of “DPRK Beacon of Hope for the World and Mankind”. The meeting was very successful drawing international participation both in person and online .
This coming year will see the 25th anniversary of the foundation of KFA UK in March . It will also see the 9th Congress of the Workers Party of Korea and the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Down With Imperialism Union, the forerunner of today’s Workers Party of Korea in October .
KFA UK was able to participate one way or another in the different celebrations last year . KFA UK members travelled to Pyongyang for the 80th anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea in October . I also attended the KFA International meeting in Spain . KFA UK hosted the European wide online seminar for the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation under the title of” President KIM IL SUNG and self-reliance “ which attracted wide participation even outside of the borders of Europe . KFA UK also participated in the online seminar for the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the WPK organised by international KFA in October under the title of “80 Years Of The Glorious WPK Building The Future Of The Country “.
Without exaggeration or self-praise we can say that notwithstanding certain challenges and difficulties , that 2025 was a good year for KFA UK and a year of growth . I thank all KFA UK officials ,activists and members for their support and assistance . We could not have achieved good results without you.
2025 saw our first meeting in Scotland since 2019 . We also participated in two book fairs . I was able to speak at a packed meeting on the sideline of the Merseyside Marxist Bookfair We held several real life meetings in London as well as many online events such as many meetings on different DPRK anniversaries as well the monthly reading sessions and the monthly film nights .We picketed the US embassy in June to mark the Month of Solidarity with the Korean people . We also picketed the hated British Brainwashing Corporation in December .
We have good co-operation with other national KFA branches in Germany and Spain as well as KFA International .and other organisations .
We have seen the launch of two new KFA UK regional branches in Essex and Shropshire
We have also had good co-operation with the Polish language section of Radio Belarus . I myself gave an interview to the Indian newspaper East Post and also had articles in “Covert Action Magazine “ .
We have published “People’s Korea Today “ our monthly magazine every month . It has won praise .
We have also produced KFA UK Merchandise for the first time in 3 years.
We regard to social media I will talk about Facebook and Youtube a bit later .What I can report is that we are present just about every social media ;Facebook , Twitter , VK.com , Telegram ,Tumblr and Whatsapp . On Twitter we have 10,793 followers , 896 subscribers on Telegram , 104 likes on VK.com and 333 followers on tumblr.KFA UK Scotland and KFA UK Staffordshire have established their own Telegram channels.
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KFA UK has faced very serious challenges. Only 12 days age our Facebook page ,which had 2000 followers was deleted and wiped out completely without warning or been given the right to appeal , at the same time my own Facebook profile was taken down for an hour and only restored when I sent a picture of my passport. This was the second time our Facebook page was deleted by Facebook , the last time was in March 2023 . The Facebook page contained pictures and videos from the DPRK . It is an obvious to me that those who control Facebook do not want people to see real pictures and footage from the DPRK and instead only want people to see what the mainstream media says .
We also had a Youtube channel and the google account associated with it deleted last year on the grounds that we had broken US sanctions policy . We lost many documents that were saved on that gmail account including materials from the last KFA UK AGM.
We also were blocked from our own online library on archive.org which meant we could not upload new editions of “People’s Korea Today “ or new books .
There was also an incident around our participation in the Wrexham Socialist Bookfair . Basically our stall received hostility from 3 individuals . Later an extremely hostile article appeared on the website Wrexham.com and the leader of the local council said the KFA UK should be banned from Wrexham ! We wrote to both Wrexham.com and the leader of the local council but they did not get us the courtesy of reply.
I would like to move towards a situation in which we have better attended real life events and the participation is coming from our own registered members rather than members and supporters of certain parties .
That said , I am sure that this coming year 2026 will be a great year for KFA UK even better than last year. Interest in and support for the DPRK are increasing .In today’s world of upheaval and confusion People’s Korea is standing proud as a fortress of socialism , a nuclear fortress of socialism . People who previously supported Cuba or Venezuela are now interested in and attracted to People’s Korea !
We must further invigorate our work and plan it well. During the coming year we must organise more meetings and more pickets .
.Let ‘s us defend People’s Korea with No If or Buts
Forward with KFA UK !
Long live People’s Korea !Long Live the Korean Friendship Association !
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