Kim Il Sung's Exploits for Nation-building

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea holds Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) as its eternal President for his great and ever-lasting exploits for nation-building.

President Kim Il Sung provided a steadfast guideline of nation-building by advancing a unique idea and theory of founding a state.

He developed the idea and theory with the working people at the centre. On the basis of the Juche idea, whose essence is that the masses of the people are the masters and motive force of the revolution and construction, he put forward an idea of building a people-centred, independent country which realizes the independence of the people, and specified the means, ways and concrete tasks for building such a state, which elucidated all the theoretical and practical problems arising in state building and in its activities, ranging from the essence and mission of state power and the fundamentals and principles of building a socialist state to the functions and role of power organs, the mode of their activities and their working systems and methods. They give scientific and in-depth solutions to all the problems type of a state to be built for the good of the people and the ways to build and develop it.
Kim Il Sung established a new type of government for the working class, a people's government, and developed it into a powerful weapon for carrying out the cause of socialism.

Without regard to the established theories and the experience of other countries, he, from the stand of independence, carved out a road of building a people's government which would champion and realize the interests of people from all walks of life, including workers, peasants and intellectuals. What is of particular importance in his leadership to set up a people's government is that he established a people's revolutionary government at the guerrilla base during the anti-Japanese armed struggle to liberate Korea from the military occupation of Japan (1905-1945). Based on its historical roots, he advanced a line of nation-building suited to the country's situation and established the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea in February 1946 right after Korea's liberation, a democratic people's power to perform the pressing task of the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal democratic revolution. In February 1947 he developed it into the People's Committee of North Korea as required by its task to carry out a socialist revolution. On the basis of such a people's power, he founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the first people's country in its 5000-year-long history, on September 9, 1948. During the Korean war (1950-1953) unleashed by the United States to swallow the DPRK in its cradle, he further strengthened the guidance system of the people's power to suit the wartime conditions and enhanced its role of organizer and mobilizer, thus enabling it to make great contributions to winning victory in the war.

After the war Kim Il Sung saw to it that the people's power was consolidated and its functions and role were steadily enhanced in keeping with the requirements of the socialist revolution and construction. He laid down a definition that the people's government represents the independent rights of the masses of the people, organizes their creative activities and reliably defends them as the master responsible for their living, and ensured that a new system of state organs was set up by embodying the requirements of the developing socialist society and their activities were steadily improved.

Kim Il Sung turned the DPRK into an invincible socialist power based on solid political, military and economic foundations.

Having authored the Juche idea and set it as the guiding ideology of the DPRK, he made sure that the political and ideological unity and cohesion among the working masses was cemented on the basis of the idea so as to make it an unbreakable socio-political foundation of the people's government. He administered benevolent politics and all-embracing politics to closely unite the masses of the people around the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government, and devoted his all to ensuring that such people-oriented policies of the Party and the state as the free medical care and free education were applied more effectively for the benefit of the people. This resulted in forming the most durable harmonious whole between the leader, the Party and the masses, a single-hearted unity of the whole society more powerful than an atomic bomb.

Putting it forward as a matter vital to the destiny of the country and the nation to consistently increase the defence capabilities, he directed great efforts to building up the army and the defence industry.

Today the Korean People's Army is fully prepared politico-ideologically and in the military and technical aspects and equipped with both powerful offensive and defensive means, and the country has a mighty war deterrent. This is inconceivable apart from great efforts of the President directed to building up the defence capabilities all his life through his Songun-based revolutionary leadership.
He advanced the line of building an independent national economy and made energetic efforts for its implementation, rejecting the appeasement and pressure from big powers, As it is based on the sound independent economy provided by him, the DPRK has strictly adhered to the line of independence in politics and self-reliance in national defence, ensuring a material guarantee for the prosperity of the country and the nation with credit.

The reliable political, military and economic foundations bulk by him serve as the fundamental guarantee which enables the DPRK to make steady, dynamic advance along the ever-victorious road not only today but in the future.

President Kim Il Sung's exploits for nation-building are being carried forward brilliantly under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission.

These exploits will shine forever together with the prosperous socialist Korea.

21^st Century and the Juche Idea:

The first decade of the 21^st century has passed. Leaving behind the decade of the new millennium, which mankind greeted with mixed feelings of expectation and fear and of hope and frustration, they are now living in the second decade.

The current situation testifies more forcefully to the truthfulness of the Juche idea that was widely recognized in the previous century as the guiding idea of the era of independence.

Propelling the 21^st Century along the Road of Anti-Imperialist Independence:

Increasing in the international arena at present is the number of countries and nations which are opposed to the high-handedness and arbitrariness of the imperialists and bold in facing them on their own terms. Some of them are those, which were out of sight as they were in the sphere of imperialist influence. Some others could not have their say as they were weak. There are also countries which, in spite of the tenacious sanctions and blockade of the imperialists, stand confronted with the imperialists, maintaining their national self-respect as ever.

Their anti-imperialist struggle is characterized by steadfastness with which they do not yield to the imperialists' intimidation and blackmail, and also by stubbornness and sustaining power with which they try to execute to the last their will with regard to independence.

Since the dawn of the new century the United States has openly pursued "power politics", vaunting its might and authority, but history is advancing against the will of the imperialists.

All facts reaffirm the validity of the Juche idea which elucidates the truth that no force can make the masses of the people waive their right to independence and countries and nations forsake their aspiration for independence.

Another notable trend is that many countries are frustrating the imperialists' moves for world domination by dint of unity. The former are confronting the latter's schemes for building a unipolar world with the strategy of building a multipolar world, and the predatory globalization with regional integration.

This fact highlights the truthfulness of the Juche idea which calls for achieving global independence by developing international relations on the principles of independence, equality and mutual benefit.

President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), author of the Juche idea and founding father of socialist Korea drew up a blueprint for global independence in several of his works. They specify the features and characteristics of the independent world, as well as concrete ways for building it. Witnessing developments of today, peoples of the world admire the President for his farsightedness.

Accelerating Creation and Construction in the Present Era of Knowledge-based Economy:

Today human resources, talented people in particular, are in pressing demand. In other words, talented people with a high creative ability are required everywhere. Prevalent is the view that talented people solve everything.

Preparing people to be competent beings for harnessing nature has been an important task in any era, and it has been no more urgent than in the present era of knowledge-based economy.

This eloquently proves the validity of the viewpoint and attitude propounded by the Juche idea that demands approaching the transformation and development of the world with the activities of man, who transforms the world, at the centre.

The rapidly developing cutting-edge science and technology are prompting countries and nations to boost mutual ties and exchanges. The imperialists are availing themselves of this trend to clamour about globalization in a bid to obliterate the characteristic features of other countries and nations and check their independent development.

A nation is a stable social community formed and evolved through historical stages. There exists no border in science, but people live with a nation as a unit of social life. Each country and nation should preserve its Juche character and national identity however rapidly science develops and the world changes. They should thoroughly maintain the Juche-oriented stand of keeping their feet firmly planted on their land, even when promoting international exchanges and cooperation.

The Juche idea illuminates the path to be taken by each country and nation in achieving maximum development, genuine prosperity and comprehensive efflorescence.

Providing Correct Solutions to the Grave Challenges Facing Mankind:

Mankind is confronted with serious disasters and crises: widespread environmental degradation, widening gap between rich and poor, corrupt lifestyles, persistent human trafficking and violation of human rights. Some people say that mankind is experiencing the worst crises and maladies never seen before in human history.

The scourges of these disasters and crises are the decadent ideologies and values that run against people's desire for independence. They include the rabid individualism seeking only for immediate interests and personal profits, and the view of value that prices human being like a commodity and commercializes everything human.

With all these degenerate ideologies and values persisting to foster disregard and hatred for human beings, mankind cannot live an independent and dignified life. To apply the Juche idea, an ideal that respects and loves human being, to the letter is the only way out of the present critical situation.

The Juche idea also provides a solution to the acute national and tribal disputes rampant around the globe.

According to this idea, all nations are equal and independent. One who champions the independence of one's nation should respect that of another nation. If one adheres to the principles of the Juche idea, national egoism of coveting others' territory and resources will wane, suppression of one another's ideas and religion and the ensuing national and tribal disputes will be checked, and the imperialists will fail in their attempt to drive a wedge between nations and fish in troubled waters.
An idea that serves as the guiding light for the future of mankind is bound to win a high accolade of the world's people. In the 20th century a strong wind of advocating the Juche idea swept the globe, and it shows no sign of abating in the 21^st century. An increasing number of people feel sympathy with the idea, and are striving to apply it in their countries.

The torchlight of the Juche idea will shine over the world in this hope-filled century, too.

People's Country:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is both in name and reality a country of the people.

In this country all lines and policies are adopted mirroring thoughts and demands of the people and implemented in their interests.

The will and wish of the people integrated in a system is just the ideas, lines and policies this was a constant view of President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994). founding father of socialist Korea.

Kim Il Sung, even before founding the DPRK (September 9, 1948), mapped out policies representing the will and desire of the people, and carried them out. He had the agrarian reform (March 1946) enforced to meet the centuries-old desire of the peasants for their own land, and the Law on Sex Equality (July 1946) proclaimed to satisfy the desire of women to lead a life worthy of human being, free from all sorts of humiliation and social status deprived of all rights. The Labour Law stipulating eight-hour workday, prohibition of child labour and others and the Law on Nationalization of Major Industries were promulgated in June and August 1946, respectively, as reflecting the demands of the working people.

All these people-oriented and democratic reforms provided a basis for founding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which stated in its political programme that its government is a genuine people's government which represents and champions the interests of workers, peasants and all the other working people.

For over 60 years since then socialist Korea has constantly carried on its programme. The Korean war (1950-1953) caused by the aggression of the United States had destroyed everything in the country.

At that time Kim Il Sung put forward the basic line of socialist economic construction of giving priority to the development of heavy industry and simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture, so as to carry out postwar rehabilitation successfully, lay the foundations of an independent national economy and stabilize and improve the people's living. He ceaselessly visited rural areas, talking with peasants and acquainting himself with their vital needs for rapid rehabilitation and development of agricultural production and improvement of their deteriorated livelihood. Then he advanced the policy of agricultural cooperativization to carry out socialist transformation of the economic form of the rural economy prior to its technological reconstruction.

Large-scale land realignment and gravitational waterway construction projects were undertaken in the country, renovating the appearance of the countryside. They were all undertaken on the initiative of Kim Jong Il, who read the minds of farmers who had wished to do farming with machines on large, standardized fields free from worries of water. Now he is wisely leading the building of a great, prosperous and powerful socialist nation to effect the people's wish to live with nothing to envy in a prosperous country.

In the DPRK the masses of the people are fully provided with freedom and rights.
It guarantees its people by law all the conditions for their exercising of their rights and freedom, and encourages the broad sections of the masses to take active part in state administration and the exercise of state power as genuine masters of the country and government. Among deputies to the present 12th Supreme People's Assembly (parliament), workers, farmers and service personnel account for 37.9%, an eloquent proof of the high level of participation by the people in state politics and their administration of it. It is self-evident that the state power in the hands of the masses of the working people administers people-oriented politics that defends and realizes their interests.

Elections to the power organs are held in a festive atmosphere in this country. All the voters registered, except those who are outside the country, participate to vote in favour of the candidates, a thing inconceivable in Western countries. It is a typical example of a state power that has struck its roots deep into the life of the people and enjoys their absolute trust and support.

The DPRK fully guarantees its people happy material and cultural life.

It regards it as the supreme principle of its activity to safeguard the people's interests and as its fundamental aim to steadily improve the standard and quality of their living. Its government, taking responsibility for the people's living, substantially provides them with every opportunity to obtain food, clothing and housing. It has abolished all kinds of taxes nearly 40 years ago, so its people feel strange to the word "tax." It also provides people with dwelling houses free of charge, and enforces universal free medical service and 11-year compulsory education for the benefit of the people. It takes responsible care of the elderly without anyone to support them, physically disabled people and children. It ensures that war veterans and disabled soldiers and other people of merit enjoy social respect.

The DPRK is now giving spurs to developing light industry and agriculture in order to bring about radical changes in the improvement of the people's standard of living and the building of a thriving nation The February 8 Vinalon Complex situated in Hamhung, an industrial city in the eastern part of the country, recently underwent technological renovation to mass-produce vinalon cotton out of domestic raw materials. New production lines were perfected with gasification of coal abundant in the country, thus promising a boost in agricultural production. In every part of the country light-industry and foodstuff factories are being updated to turn out various kinds of consumer goods and foodstuffs in larger quantities. Cultural establishments, such as a restaurant specializing sturgeon, turtle and other famous foods under Okryu Restaurant specializing in national foods, Taedongmun Cinema, Pyongyang Grand Theatre and State Theatre in downtown Pyongyang, were newly built or renovated for the betterment of the people's life. The Mansudae Street was built in a unique style on the bank of the picturesque Pothong River, and the construction of 100 000 flats is now under way in Pyongyang.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a country of the people will get prosperous forever enjoying the absolute trust and support of its people.

Economic Development in Rapid Progress in the DPRK:

Fourteen years denotes the exponential speed of the economic development in the DPRK.

Socialist Industrialization:

The Korean war (1950-1953) the United States unleashed against the young DPRK (founded on September 9, 1948) devastated the latter's economy.
During the war the United States reduced all the cities and rural villages in the DPRK to ashes through indiscriminate bombing and bombardments. The damage was so devastating that the United States claimed the DPRK would never rise up again in 100 years.

However, the Korean people completed the postwar reconstruction in no more than three years, and entered the new stage of performing the age-long task of realizing socialist industrialization.

In December 1956 Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) visited the Kangson Steel Plant (the present Chollima Steel Complex), one of the largest steel-making bases of the country. He inspired the workers and technicians of the plant to a mass innovation drive emphasizing the importance of increased steel production:in the development of the country's economy. In response to his call, they literally wrought a miracle: they turned out 120 000 tons of steel by means of a blooming mill with the rated capacity of 60 000 tons. This led to the launch of the Chollima Movement (Chollima legendary winged horse running 400km a day reflecting the Korean people's revolutionary spirit to develop at high speed), which soon spread throughout the country. The Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex, a major iron-making base in the country produced 270 000 tons of pig iron by means of a blast furnace with the rated capacity of 190 000 tons. The Korean people began to mass-produce automobiles, tractors, bulldozers, machine tools of various types and electric locomotives by their own efforts and with their own technology.

Amidst these developments, the overall economy made rapid progress, and the country achieved socialist industrialization in a short period of 14 years (1957-1970). In this period the annual growth rate of industrial production reached 19.1%, the rate between 1957 and 1960 being 36.6%, an unprecedented rate in the history of global economic development.

Toward the Status of a Great, Prosperous and Powerful Nation:

At the end of the 20th century the Korean people had to experience worst trials.
The socialist countries in Eastern Europe collapsed between the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Availing themselves of these developments, the US-led imperialist forces stepped up their offensive against the DPRK. To make matters worse, unprecedented natural calamities hit the country for several consecutive years. The country's economy was plunged in a dire situation; Many factories and enterprises suspended their operations, and the shortage of food was threatening its people's very existence. Politicians in the West were so sure of the "collapse" of the DPRK that they even predicted the date.

At this juncture the DPRK raised the slogan of building a great, prosperous and powerful country. It manufactured by its own effort and with its own technology an artificial earth satellite Kwangmyongsong 1 and launched it successfully in August 1998. This was a solemn declaration of the beginning of the building of a great, prosperous and powerful country. Having heroically defended socialism firmly rallied behind their leader Kim Jong Il, its people rose as one in implementing his plan of building a thriving nation. By 2008 they completed more than 60 000 capital construction projects, including the large-sized Anbyon Youth Power Station. They boosted production in the overall industrial sectors, and renovated a large number of factories and enterprises with frontier technologies in keeping with the requirements of the new century. In addition, they transformed the crop land across the country into large standardized fields, and built the gravitational waterways of hundreds of kilometers, thus laying a solid foundation for developing agriculture.

In this situation, a detailed plan was drawn up to open the gates of a great, prosperous and powerful country by 2012, which marks the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung, founding father of socialist Korea. In December 2008 Kim Jong Il gave field guidance at the Chollima Steel Complex, so as to kindle the flames of a new revolutionary upsurge for carrying out the plan. The torch of a new revolutionary upswing akin to the Chollima Movement of 50 years ago was thus kindled in Kangson.

These flames soon spread over the whole country, bringing about one success of great significance after another: A new steel-making system using no coking coal and scrap iron has been completed in the field of metallurgical industry; the successful launch of artificial earth satellite Kwangmyongsong 2 highly demonstrated the inexhaustible strength of the country; vinalon fibre and chemical fertilizers made with the domestic raw and other materials and fuel are being produced in large quantities, and the self-supporting character of industry was further consolidated; arable land the size of which is equivalent to that of one county was obtained with the completion of the reclamation of the Taegyedo Tideland, demonstrating to the whole world that Korea does what it is determined to do; the country's economy is rapidly developing toward the comprehensive application of the CNC technology and automation to all the production lines; the construction of the large-sized Huichon Power Station is near completion and the building of 100 000 flats in Pyongyang is in full swing.

By 2012 the Korean people will surely achieve the goal they have set. By doing so, they will again work miracles. Korea which was claimed to be "collapsing," is dashing toward the status of a thriving nation.

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