New Lights upon Main Force of Revolution

At present the building of a great, prosperous and powerful nation is going full-steam ahead in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Koreans are firmly defending the people-centred socialist system and accelerating the building of a prosperous nation even under the imperialists' vicious manoeuvres to isolate and stifle it. The secret lies in Songun politics, the Songun revolutionary leadership that puts up the Korean People's Army as the main force and the pillar of revolution and actively promotes the socialist construction as a whole by relying on the army.

One of the main issues arising in developing the revolutionary movement for realization of the people's independence is the one on the main force of revolution. Success in the socialist construction is decided by which class or social group is set up as the main force and how its role is enhanced. Preceding theories clarified that the working class is the most progressive and revolutionary class that assumes the mission of liquidating the domination by capital and all kinds of systems of exploitation and building socialism and communism, and defined the working class as the leading class and the main force of revolution. As the socialist revolution emerged victorious and the socialist construction was carried on in many countries around the world, they were recognized as an immutable revolutionary formula.

Many years have passed since the formation of the theories, and there has been a great change in social environment, class relations and the position of the working class. In the latter half of the 20th century rapid progress was made in science and technology. Entering the IT era, labour required more advanced technology and intelligence, and the livelihood of workers changed. The percentage of the intellectuals in the working class increased and the number of workers engaged in technical, intellectual and mental occupations grew more rapidly than that of the blue-collar workers. Meanwhile, the capitalist ideology and culture had denaturalizing effect on the class consciousness of the workers and their revolutionization. This meant that the present working class can never be regarded as the same as the one in the era of industrial capitalism and proletarian revolution. Such a changed environment of the times and actual conditions demanded those countries and nations that were building socialism to treat the matter of the main force of revolution in a creative way, independent of the preceding theories.

The leader Kim Jong Il, based on the deep analysis of the developing times and different socio-class relations, published the work The Songun-based Revolutionary Line Is a Great Revolutionary Line of Our Era and an Ever-victorious Banner of Our Revolution on January 29, 2003 and other works to claim that the Korean People's Army is the hardcore and main force of the revolution.

The idea of setting up the KPA as the main force of revolution stems from the new standpoint of an army's position and role in the revolution and construction. As the development of the revolutionary movement is the process of strengthening the driving force of the revolution and enhancing its role, the success in the socialist construction depends on how the role of the popular masses, its driving force, is enhanced. The popular masses consist of various classes, strata and social groups. Which class, stratum or social group becomes the main force of the revolution is decided by the position it holds and role it plays in the revolution and constriction, its revolutionary spirit, sense of organization and fighting capacity. As the situation of the time changes, society develops, and the revolution goes ahead in depth, the role of classes, strata and social groups in the revolution and construction changes. This proves that the viewpoint to the main force of the revolution should not be immutable in any era, society and revolution, and that it cannot be defined only from the viewpoint of class relations.

Setting up the KPA as the main force of the revolution is an indispensable demand arising from its position and role in the present socialist construction, and from its revolutionary character and fighting capacity. The KPA is defending the Party and revolution, the country and people with arms in direct confrontation with the imperialist powers, and is the most revolutionary, militant and powerful revolutionary group of all classes, strata and social groups. Of course, it is not that all armies participating in the revolution or all armies of socialist states have the traits and qualities of a revolutionary army, and that it can automatically become the main force of the revolution. Even an army of the working class will be able to become revolutionary armed forces and play an important role in the revolution only when it is awakened and organized under the leadership of a revolutionary party.

The KPA has grown up into revolutionary armed forces, well equipped politically and ideologically, militarily and technically under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. Since he began the Songun revolutionary leadership by inspecting the KPA Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division on August 25, 1960, a new turn has been brought about in the politico-ideological traits and fighting spirit of the KPA, and its fighting capacity and might have further strengthened than ever before. The People's Army has developed into the army of strong ideology and faith that is boundlessly loyal to the Workers' Party of Korea and revolution, and is always taking the lead not only in the national defence, but also in making a breakthrough in the building of a prosperous nation. It has also created the revolutionary soldier culture to make the whole society vibrant and optimistic. The revolutionary fighting spirit created by the KPA has become the model of society. The experience shows that Songun political mode is a powerful one that beats back any formidable enemy, overcomes any hardships and firmly ensures victorious advance of the revolutionary cause.

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