One of the most consistently demonised countries in the world is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK ) or People’s Korea . The propaganda against the DPRK is on an industrial scale ,almost 24/7. The wall of misinformation and lies around the DPRK incorporates the most blatant McCarthyite anti-communism with orientalist racism .DPRKphobia and anti-DPRK hate are racism for middle class liberals.
The anti-DPRK propaganda machine encompasses the tabloids , internet ,social media and so-called special ‘independent ‘ websites such as “NKNews “ (which in reality is run by the CIA and the south Korean National Intelligence Service ) . Recently some media outlets carried a story about ‘public executions’ in the DPRK that were so public that no one ever saw them or heard of them. The reports quoted Amnesty International who in turn quoted third hand reports from south Korean puppet sources. It has been known for a long time that Amnesty International is directed by the CIA and is a tool of US and Western foreign policy . Curiously Amnesty International advocate the ‘legalisation of sex work ‘ ! Were they getting money from Epstein as well ?A question I would like to pose to this meeting is why are trade unions affiliated to Amnesty and why do some lefties support it ?
The Western imperialist mainstream media likes to portray the DPRK as a poor and backward country full of “starving “people run by a “totalitarian dictatorship “ . However this is not the reality of the country I have seen with my own eyes by visiting 20 times , the first time being in 1992. Tonight I will talk about my last two visits to the DPRK in April 2024 and October 2025.
In April 2024 I visited the DPRK after a gap of 5 years and was actually the first British citizen to visit the DPRK since 2020 .
I arrived at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on the afternoon of the 11th of April and was met by my guide Mr O Su Jin of the Korean Association of Social Scientists . We travelled by coach to the excellent Pyongyang Koryo Hotel . Sometimes it seemed hard to believe that I was really back in the DPRK , it seemed like everything was in a dream.
During the visit I witnessed that the situation in the DPRK is calm and stable .The DPRK had closed its borders for 4 years but survived ,a truly amazing feat when you consider that some countries would only last weeks or even days with their borders closed . However the DPRK is based firmly on self-reliance and the independent national economy .
Despite the sanctions imposed by the US and its lackeys on the UN Security Council and the COVID 19 pandemic the DPRK is carrying out massive construction work ,it is going through another great Chollima upsurge( Chollima was a flying horse of legend in Korea and gave its name to the mass movement for increased productivity in the DPRK in the late 1950s) .A new street, Hwasong Street which is the size of a small city has appeared in Pyongyang.On the day of our arrival our coach to the hotel passed through and later in the visit we drove through Hwasong Street both during the day and at night . Hwasong Street looks very modern and of good quality .It would cost billions to build in a Western country but the DPRK gives homes to people free of charge . Whilst we were staying in the DPRK the second stage of Hwasong Street was opened on the evening of the 16th of April in the presence of the supreme leader of the DPRK , respected Marshal KIM JONG UN . Also a new street is under construction in the Sopho district and was visible when we were going back to Pyongyang Airport on the 18th of April .
In fact, construction was going on all over Pyongyang . Opposite the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel there was a new block of flats under construction and several other blocks of flats under construction were visible in the near distance as well as in other parts of Pyongyang . I think that I can truly say that although it was my 19th visit to the DPRK I had never previously seen construction work on such a scale before . What is significant is that all this is being achieved without the so-called ‘aid ‘ of imperialism or the south Korean puppets . During the emergency situation that arose in the spring of 2022 when the south Korean puppets deliberately spread Covid 19 into the DPRK , the DPRK rejected ‘aid’ from the south Korean puppets , the UN and the US . The daily newspaper of the Workers Party of Korea later described the ‘aid’ of imperialism as a ‘poisoned candy ‘. The rapid development of People’s Korea by relying on its own resources and labour is destroying the myth that outside assistance ,particularly from US and other imperialists, is somehow essential for a country ‘s development .
We visited the newly built Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm which was some 34 kilometres outside Pyongyang .It had only gone into operation in March this year .It was opened on the 15th of March in the presence of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN . The farm had been built on the site of the former Mirim Airbase of the Korean People’s Army . One myth about People’s Korea created by the mainstream media of the imperialists is that resources are diverted away from civilians to the military but the construction of the Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm shows that in fact this is simply not true. The farm has an area of 100 square hectares with 8 types of greenhouses . The farm has 1,800 workers. We were able to taste cucumbers produced by the farm .Significantly the Kangdong Greenhouse Vegetable Farm is not a co-operative farm but actually a state farm which means that it is owned by the whole people . The aim is to create a similar farm in each county or province of the DPRK .Vegetables from the farm were supplied free of charge to Pyongyang citizens . Also dwellings for the workers of the farm were given free of charge to the farm’s workers . It can be truly said that the DPRK is actually advancing towards the higher stage of socialism ,communism .
In recent years a false narrative about the DPRK has been created by some sections of the mainstream media and by so-called ‘academic experts ‘ on the DPRK who in reality know nothing at all about the DPRK . The false narrative is that the DPRK is adopting ‘ market reforms ‘ and abandoning Juche-based socialism , this aimed at confusing and disillusioning supporters of People’s Korea . The fact that the DPRK is developing a network of state owned farms to supply vegetables to the population shows that the DPRK is actually strengthening the planned economy and system of state ownership.
Although there have been massive changes in the DPRK since the last time I visited, what remained unchanged was the DPRK ‘s consistent anti-imperialism and adherence to socialist principles. Red flags were flying on street corners and there were many revolutionary slogans in large Korean characters . Postcards of anti-US posters could be found in the bookshop of the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel and Korean Stamp Museum. A friend of mine who had been with me in the DPRK in 2017 and 2018 remarked that he had been worried about what he might find in the DPRK after an absence of 6 years but was quite relieved as well as positive when he saw that there had been no ‘reform’ and ‘opening up ‘ in the DPRK and there was a complete absence of Western influence .
Prices in the hotel shop were the same as in 2019.Needless to say the NK News " 250 dollar banana" could not be found and my guide just laughed and said " ridiculous" when I told him the story .There were no homeless people and I saw no one begging.As to tales of " human rights violations " , the DPRK actually has a fairly minimal police presence compared to many other countries . The police only direct traffic. The situation seemed quite normal
In October I visited the DPRK for the 20th time to attend the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers Party of Korea Even before we landed in Pyongyang we got a flavour of the rapid development of People’s Korea namely Air Koryo (the national airline of the DPRK ) in flight catering has been upgraded and improved . The pretty stewardess handed out boxes which contained not only the famous Air Koryo burger but biscuits and other confectionery including chocolate bars . On the way from the airport we saw whole new streets that were not there in 2019 and 2024 . A block of flats near to the Koryo Hotel that was under construction in April 2024 had been completed ..
During our visit we visited the following ;the Korean Revolution Museum , the Museum of Party Foundation , the Pyongyang Central Zoo and Natural History Museum , the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers Party of Korea ,the Great Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum , Hwasong Street at night , the Taekwondo Hall , the Juche Idea Tower and KIM IL SUNG University . We were honoured guests at the National Meeting and Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance on the 9th of October , at the Military Parade on the 10th of October and the Public Procession and Torchlight Gala Take Place in DPRK on the Juche Idea on the theme of the immortal banner of building a just and peaceful world.
We attended the national meeting for the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK and the Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea" in the May Day stadium on Rungna Island . The May Day stadium is actually the biggest stadium in the world with a seating capacity of over 150,000 . It is not rotting and rusting as falsely asserted by the reptile bourgeois media but in good condition . First we heard the speech of respected comrade KIM JONG UN, the general secretary of the Workers Party of Korea . He rounded off his speech with the following words “ Availing myself of this opportunity, I will always cherish love for the people and not neglect my obligation of requital. I affirm my commitment to working harder to live up to their trust.
I will surely turn this country into a more affluent and beautiful land and into the best socialist paradise in the world, with belief in the people supporting our Party and by always becoming one in mind and body with them.”
At the end of the meeting there was a rousing rendition of the “Internationale “ by a military band and a choir . After the national meeting the mass game “ Long live the Workers Party of Korea “ was held . This was a dazzling array of colour , gymnastics and songs . The famous DPRK singer Kim Ok Ju sang many of the songs. In my opinion it surpassed other DPRK mass games such as “Airiang “ and “ Glorious Country “ .
The set piece of any big DPRK celebration is the military parade . It was my first time to attend a DPRK military parade at night , previously I had only attended parades during the daytime . This parade was not held under easy or ideal conditions but in the rain and wind . Other countries would not have been able to do this but People’s Korea was able to do this . The parade included the Korean People’s Army fighters who had fought for the liberation of Kursk and also new ICBMs . A friend from Italy said to me as the new ICBM rumbled past , “That is for Washington “. At the end of the parade respected comrade KIM JONG UN came and waved at the crowd , to my astonishment I found myself within 5 metres of him . I could not believe it .
No less impressive was the Public Procession and Torchlight Gala on the 11th of October on KIM IL SUNG square . The sky was lit up by lasers and later fireworks. The procession was led by a float which depicted the history of the Workers Party of Korea starting with the Down With Imperialism Union .I was delighted to see modern DPRK farm tractors in the procession .
We were among the first foreigners to visit the Central Cadres Training School of the Workers Party of Korea which is situated on the outskirts of Pyongyang . It is the size of a university . Displayed at the school are the portraits of Marx and Lenin . There is also a red flag displayed in every lecture room on the instructions of respected comrade KIM JONG UN who said that they must uphold the Red flag of communism . Seeing the portraits of Marx and Lenin made me deeply realise the falsity of the ultra leftist slanderers who asserted that the DPRK “had abandoned Marxism -Leninism “ and “communism “ . Revisionists and ultra leftists both criticise the DPRK from different ends of the spectrum but at the end of the day it is just finding excuses not to support the most demonised and most advanced and revolutionary socialist country , it is also doing the dirty work of the CIA for them .
Now the construction of the 4th stage of Hwasong (‘Mars Cannon’)Street is under way , I saw it with my own eyes . This rapid development is being carried out under conditions of intense sanctions by the imperialists as well as natural disasters and the DPRK’s border being closed for 4 years due to the global health crisis . This development is being achieved without outside help, ‘aid’ or foreign capital . It is a miracle of self-reliance, and shows what a socialist country can do when it relies on its own resources and believes in itself . The US led imperialists have tried to destabilise and crush the DPRK through massive sanctions but have failed.
We saw that Pyongyang was a blaze of light and colour at night . The imperialists are lying when they say that there is no electricity in the DPRK . Rather than “everyone starving “ , we saw no homeless or beggars on the streets and the guide for another delegation said that people not only get free housing but food only costs 0.3 dollars per month , just compare that to the UK !!! No comment “! . I can remember one of my guides in 2019 telling me how she got married so she and her husband applied for a new flat so they could start a family . Within a year they got a new flat , no mortgage , no deposits and no waiting years and years on the council housing list ! In the DPRK the family is valued and is recognised as the basic cell of society in the Constitution , this contrasts with the destruction of the family by consumerism and materialism in Western societies . In the DPRK motherhood is valued and working class women are not vilified or demonised for having children . Indeed extra benefits are given to families with many children.
It can be added that there is a wholesome moral atmosphere in the DPRK . There is no prostitution , no pornography and no sex industry .
That is the reality of People’s Korea , an advanced socialist society with free housing ,free health care and free education. We must redouble our efforts to defend People’s Korea with No Ifs or Buts . We urge you to join the Korean Friendship Association ,basic membership is free of charge . We have set up an Essex branch and hope to set up an East Anglia branch.
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