ASSPUK , BGSJI and KFA UK on the passing away of comrade Kim Ki Nam

  ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF SONGUN POLITICS UK

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        London 8th of May  Juche 113(2024)

Today Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK(ASSPUK), the British Group for the Study of the  Juche Idea(BGSJI) and the Korean Friendship Association of the UK( KFA UK) issued a joint statement of condolence with regard to the passing away of comrade Kim Ki Nam , former secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea ;

We learnt that comrade Kim Ki Nam , former secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK ) and former vice-chairman of the WPK had passed away at the age of 94 after being ill since April 2022 .

Comrade Kim Ki Nam had been born into a working class family and became a seasoned revolutionary . He held many posts in the WPK including editing both "Rodong Sinmun"(daily newspaper of the WPK ) and "Kulloja " the theoretical organ of the WPK . Comrade Kim Ki Nam was involved with the Korean Association of Social Scientists .

Throughout his life comrade Kim Ki Nam was a loyal soldier of the supreme leadership of the DPRK and strenuously fought for the cause of Juche-based socialism . He was a great and tireless advocate of the great Juche idea . Comrade Kim Ki Nam was a true proletarian revolutionary who opposed revisionism and opportunism .

                                               

The Chairman of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea and Chairman of the Korean Friendship Association of the UK  Dr Dermot Hudson met comrade Kim Ki Nam several times.

We express our deep condolences to the DPRK , WPK and Korean people . Rest in Peace comrade Kim Ki Nam , you will never be forgotten !

ASSPUK

BGSJI

KFA UK 

Answer from comrade Alan Bolon KFA UK Organisation Secretary and head of KFA UK West of England to the 8th Joint Songun-Juche Idea study session and Q and A

QUESTION: Would you agree that one reason that development of ideology in the masses is so necessary is that in the development of socialism national production must focus its efforts on heavy industry (in particular iteration and improvement) and defence. 

This can cause a delay in the production of light industry and the output of consumer goods as they are not immediately urgent. Therefore the workers must understand the importance of the development of both defence and heavy industry, and how it relates to the ideology of the nation. To some degree they must make a sacrifice, and they must understand what it is for. 

Would you agree? Or is the initial holding back of light industry just a Trotskyist attack on socialist development in USSR, China, DPRK et al? 

Essentially, is ideological development necessary to help prepare the people for sacrifice? What are those sacrifices? And do they involve the focusing of production on heavy industry and defence? 

ANSWER: National production in the socialist system depends on the plan, and thus the plan depends on the current political and social situation and the economic level of development of certain country, and on the current needs. For the development of the country in all areas, not only economic ones, there is a need for a wise and reasonable division of the national income generated by the socialist economy between consumption and accumulation, i.e. funds for investment. What this division will be will always depend on current needs. The development of heavy industry, defense or other industries always takes more of the generated national income from the accumulation fund and less is allocated for consumption. If there is such a need, as in the DPRK in the current conditions where imperialist forces are growing stronger, the workers can devote its development of prosperity and wellbeing from consumption funds to meet investment and heavy industrial investments needs. In this sense, it is not an ideological development, but the development of class consciousness of workers ready for sacrifice and acceptance of a lower standard of living for a certain period, in order to direct funds to investments rather than consumption. The class consciousness of workers in the socialist state and the promotion of dedication to increasing the strength and strengthening of the national economy, including the defense industry, is influenced by propaganda and agitation activities conducted under the direction of the communist party.

Stopping the development of light industry is not a Trotskyist attack and in each of the countries mentioned it had different reasons. In the USSR, in reference to the guidelines for building the foundations of socialism, heavy industry first had priority in development, and this was also due to the war needs of World War II and the construction of the foundations of socialism after this war, in order to build a production base for the development of other industries. In the DPRK it was different, first the agrarian reform was carried out because it was the most important time requirement to eliminate the property of landowners, and then the emphasis was placed on the development of industry. So, it is objective conditions that dictate the direction, not dogma.

Answers from Dr Dermot Hudson to the 8th Joint Songun-Juche study session and Q and A

From Hannes KFA Germany

Is it possible to watch military parades in Korea as a visitor?

Answer-yes but only if you are an invited guest not a tourist .

I have watched military parades in the DPRK in 2012 , 2013 , 2015 , 2017 and 2018 .

My first time watching in person a DPRK military parade was in April 2012 . This was on April 15th for the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great leader comrade KIM IL SUNG . Previously I only watched videos of DPRK military parades such as the one held in April 1992 for the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) . This time was different. It was truly spectacular and awe inspiring . The level of discipline and enthusiasm was amazing . What was impressive to me was the ICBMs . . Our guide Professor Ri , a teacher from KIM IL SUNG University , said with pride ‘Our missiles can hit Alaska ! ‘, A delegation near us was not happy with this remark as they believed in ‘peaceful co-existence ‘ .

At each DPRK military parade we have seen respected Marshal KIM JONG UN . In April 2012 I remember him waving at the crowds.

Each DPRK military parade is different and has its own unique features . In 2013 during the parade for the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War helicopters flew through the streets into KIM IL SUNG square and then over the buildings . The parade for the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers Party of Korea , was led by the original tank 312 , which was the first KPA Tank to enter Seoul on the 3rd day of the Fatherland Liberation War when Seoul was liberated from south Korean puppet and US imperialist colonial rule.In 2018 ,planes flew across the square and with fireworks made the number "70 " , this was extremely creative . Then fighter bomber aircraft of the KPA roared across the sky trailing beautiful plumes of red , white and blue smoke , the colours of the national flag of the DPRK.


From KFA Valencia
How is communism and Juche Idea taught to school children since their earliest childhood? In a way that they understand it and in a friendly way to make them interested in it.

Ideological education is included in the school curriculum and even nurseries and kindergartens have ideological education .

Visual aids are sometimes used .Visits to revolutionary sites for schoolchildren are often organised

When I visited the Pyongyang School for Orphans in 2015 we saw an anti-US , anti-imperialist class education room which had pictures and diagrams illustrating the nature of US imperialism , Japanese militarism and the exploiting class .

The Korean Children's Union also assists in educating children about the Juche idea and communism.

From Alan Bolon KFA UK Organisation Secretary
What does the general education system in DPRK look like? From a small child to an adult, how is a DPRK citizen educated and what schools are there for education?

The DPRK has a 12 year compulsory education system .

Education starts with one year of preschool education which is followed by primary school , middle school and senior middle school . Some people go on to university . There are also some specialist schools for sports and music . Adults can learn at learning spaces at their workplaces and also enrol in part time courses at universities or through distance learning .

Typically a child in the DPRK would start in a creche or nursery when young and then get 1 year of pre-school education before starting primary school and then middle school . Those with good grades would go onto university .


In the DPRK each province or city has a Senior Middle School No 1 which serves as a model school for education .

The DPRK introduced universal free compulsory education in 1959 and then 9 year compulsory technical education in 1967 , then 11 year compulsory education in 1972 and finally 12 year compulsory education was introduced in 2012 .

Education in the DPRK at all levels is free of charge including university .Children and students are provided with free uniforms and school bags.

School education is backed up by extra curricular education at Schoolchildrens palaces such as the Mangyongdae Schoolchildrens . At these places children can learn arts , music , dance ,sports and even how to take a tractor apart.







Would you agree that one reason that development of ideology in the masses is so necessary is that in the development of socialism national production must focus its efforts on heavy industry (in particular iteration and improvement) and defence.

This can cause a delay in the production of light industry and the output of consumer goods as they are not immediately urgent. Therefore the workers must understand the importance of the development of both defence and heavy industry, and how it relates to the ideology of the nation. To some degree they must make a sacrifice, and they must understand what it is for.

Would you agree? Or is the initial holding back of light industry just a Trotskyist attack on socialist development in the USSR, China, DPRK et al?

Essentially, is ideological development necessary to help prepare the people for sacrifice? What are those sacrifices? And do they involve the focusing of production on heavy industry and defence?

Firstly , I would clarify that in the DPRK the policy of developing heavy industry simultaneously with light industry and agriculture was laid down in the 1950s so the DPRK was different to the USSR where stress was primarily put on heavy industry .

However, that is not to deny that the DPRK sees the building of socialism as involving a hard struggle. Moreover , the DPRK is always prepared for the possibility of war breaking out which would involve sacrifice .

In the DPRK ideological work is stressed because it is recognised that ideological work is essential for building socialism . As comrade KIM JONG IL said in his work “Giving Priority to Ideological Work Is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism “ that “The most serious lesson of the collapse of socialism in several countries is that the corruption of socialism begins with ideological corruption, and that a break-down on the ideological front results in the crumbling of all socialism’s fronts and ends in the total ruin of socialism.”

Moreover he stressed that “"Ideological consciousness plays the decisive role in human activity. Because it reflects man’s demands and interests, ideological consciousness governs all his activities and serves as the prime mover which propels him to struggle to transform the world".

It is for the above reasons that the DPRK prioritises ideology .

Inauguration Ceremony of Russian President Takes Place in Moscow

Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- An inauguration ceremony of the Russian president took place in Kremlin, Moscow on May 7.

The guard of honor with the flag of the Russian Federation, the presidential flag, the written Constitution of the Russian Federation and the Russian presidential badge entered St. Andrew Hall of the grand Kremlin palace.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was sworn in according to Article 82 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in the presence of members of the Federation Council, deputies to the State Duma and judges of the Constitutional Court.

The president of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation declared that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was inaugurated as president of the Russian Federation.

Putin made a speech at the inauguration ceremony.

Diplomatic envoys of different countries in Moscow were present at the inauguration ceremony.

That day Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a personal letter to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on the occasion of the presidential inauguration ceremony.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated Putin once again on his inauguration as the president of the Russian Federation and wished him great successes in his responsible work for Russia and its people.

His personal letter was conveyed through the Russian embassy in Pyongyang. -0-

www.kcna.kp (Juche113.5.8.)

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Bier of Kim Ki Nam

Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the bier of Kim Ki Nam, former secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK who is winner of the Order of Kim Il Sung and Order of Kim Jong Il and Labor Hero, at 02:00 of May 8 to express deep condolences over his death.

Accompanying him were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the Central Committee of the WPK.

Amid the playing of dirge, the hall was wrapped in sorrow over the loss of a veteran of our Party and the revolution, a prestigious theoretician and a prominent political activist who made great contributions to firmly defending and glorifying the revolutionary ideology and cause of Juche.

A wreath in the name of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was laid before the bier of the deceased.

Kim Jong Un paid silent tribute to Kim Ki Nam who made contributions to the sacred struggle for the development of the WPK, modeling the revolutionary ranks on the monolithic ideology and the victorious advance of the socialist cause with his paramount view on life, Party principle, high political and theoretical qualifications and spirit of devoted service to the country and its people.

He looked round the bier of Kim Ki Nam with bitter grief over the loss of a veteran revolutionary who, as a competent official in the Party's ideological field, had remained boundlessly loyal to the cause of the WPK and devoted himself to consolidating the single-minded unity across the Party and society centred on the Party Central Committee in every way and to the Party's ideological building and strengthening of its leadership ability till the last moment of his life.

He expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and consoled them. -0-

www.kcna.kp (Juche113.5.8.)

Kim Ki Nam Dies

Pyongyang, May 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Ki Nam, former secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, died at the age of 94 at 10:00 of May 7, Juche 113 (2024) while being treated in sickbed for decrepitude and multiple organ dysfunction since April 2022.

An obituary of his death was announced on May 7 in the joint name of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the Cabinet of the DPRK.

The obituary said that Kim Ki Nam was a veteran of the WPK and the revolution and a prominent political activist who devoted his all to the sacred struggle for defending and strengthening the ideological purity of our revolution and firmly guaranteeing the steady victory of the socialist cause politically.

Born into a stevedore's family in the late 1920s, he spent his childhood in hardships. After Korea's liberation he was trained into a reserve backbone of a new Korea under the deep trust of President Kim Il Sung and was engrossed in study abroad from the period of democratic construction to the days of the war.

When the fierce war was in full swing to defend the country from the invasion by the imperialist allied forces, he was engaged in educational work at Kim Il Sung University. He devoted himself to training competent talents who would contribute to the sacred cause of building a powerful socialist country on the debris of war as desired by the President.

He worked at the Central Committee of the WPK from May 1956 thanks to the great political trust of the President. For over 60 years he devoted his all to consolidating the ideological and theoretical foundation of the Party and victoriously advancing the Juche revolution.

In the 1960s when the work of establishing the monolithic ideological system in the whole Party and defending the Party Central Committee politically and ideologically from the moves of all counter-revolutionary trends that emerged in the international communist movement became an urgent requirement, he made a great contribution to the Party's cause with high degree of political insight, theoretical level and mature writing.

In the 1970s, he made positive contributions to the Party's ideological building and strengthening of its leadership ability while working as a leading official in charge of editing and publishing the political and theoretical magazine Kulloja and the newspaper Rodong Sinmun, organs of the WPK Central Committee.

He displayed his transparent outlook on the leader, party principle and high political and theoretical qualifications while consecutively holding an important post of the information and publicity field of the Party in the period of succession to the leadership of the WPK. He also performed distinguished feats in demonstrating in every way the prestige and militant might of the WPK, remaining loyal to the ideas and leadership of Chairman Kim Jong Il in the van.

He played a distinguished role in thoroughly establishing the monolithic leadership system of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and steadily enhancing the political and ideological might of Korean-style socialism at a crucial period of historic turn in carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche.

He devoted himself to backing the victorious journey of building a powerful socialist country by maintaining the powerful offensive and fresh development in the new era in all spheres of the Party's ideological work always with sincere attitude and high sense of responsibility before the revolution and people.

Kim Ki Nam was awarded Order of Kim Il Sung and Order of Kim Jong Il, the highest order of the DPRK, watches bearing the august names of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and high-ranking party and state commendations, including the title of Labor Hero, for his feats for the Party, the revolution, the country and the people.

Though he passed away, his feats for the Party, the revolution, the country and the people will always go down in the whole historic course of accomplishing the great cause of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, the obituary said.

That day the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the Cabinet of the DPRK announced that the deceased Kim Ki Nam will be accorded a state funeral and formed the state funeral committee with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un as its chairman and Kim Tok Hun and other 99 persons as its members.

The state funeral committee said that the bier of Kim Ki Nam is placed at the Sojang Club of Pothonggang District in Pyongyang and that the mourners to the deceased will be received from 09:00 to 20:00 of May 8 and the coffin of the deceased will be carried out at 09:00 of May 9. -0-

www.kcna.kp (Juche113.5.8.)

Report of 8th Joint Songun-Juche Study Session and Q and A 06.05.2024 .

The 8th Joint Songun-Juche Idea Study Session and Q and A organised by the Korean Friendship Association of the UK(KFA UK ), British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea  was held at 1830 hours BST  on the 6th of May . Participating were members of KFA UK and the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea from London , West of England , Oxfordshire and Scotland as well as guests from KFA Germany , KFA Andalusia (Spain ) , KFA Poland and the People’s Korea Initiative of Poland .

Questions were raised about the education system in the DPRK , the question of ideological education for children , the viewing of military parades in the DPRK and also the role of ideology in raising consciousness of the need for sacrifice .

Dr Dermot Hudson KFA UK Chairman and Chairman of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea said that invited guests can view military parades in the DPRK and outlined his experience in watching military parades in the DPRK in 2012, 2013 , 2015 , 2017 and 2018.

Dr Hudson also gave a summary of the nature of the education system in the DPRK and the kind of schools that exist as well as explaining how ideological education for small children is carried out .

Answering the question about the role of ideology in raising consciousness of the need for sacrifice  Alan Bolon , KFA UK Organisation Secretary and head of KFA UK West of England said “. In the DPRK it was different, first the agrarian reform was carried out because it was the most important time requirement to eliminate the property of landowners, and then the emphasis was placed on the development of industry. So it is objective conditions that dictate the direction, not dogma.”

Dr Hudson explained that the DPRK views ideological work as essential for accomplishing the cause of socialism .

A question was asked about the new song “Friendly Father “.

Dr Hudson read extracts from  “Juche Idea Answers to a Hundred Questions ‘ and ‘Songun Idea Questions and Answers ‘.

A music video of the song “Friendly Father “ was shown .

The session concluded at 2016 hours BST