Juche

Hessou Kohovi
Chairman,
Benin-Korea Amicable Association,
Benin National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea,
African Regional Committee for Solidarity with Korean People

Worshipping a great man remains unchanged even after his demise. So is the case of President Kim Il Sung. It is because, though almost 28 years have elapsed since his demise, the 110^th birth anniversary of the President is to be celebrated distinctively on national and international scales.

Sudden demise of the President in 1994 gave a shock to the international community and some people were anxious about destiny of his people.

It is true that the DPRK people covered the worst journey in their history after demise of the President. Offensives made by imperialist allied force aimed at “putting an end to socialism on the globe” and the disastrous natural calamities like flood, draught and tidal waves threatened destiny of socialist Korea.

Nevertheless, the DPRK people created a miracle. They defended socialism and accelerated the building of a powerful and prosperous country in the end of the 20^th century and thus opened up a great prospect of a new century.

How can we explain this riddle?

Socialist Korea could achieve remarkable victory during the last 28 years, which is attributable to President Kim Il Sung’s Juche idea that gives prominence to independence of the popular masses, makes them know the future of human society and respects human being.

After the President’s demise, the DPRK people held higher the slogan Let us arm ourselves firmly with the revolutionary ideas of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung! Holding this slogan invariably, the DPRK people were not moved by the imperialists’ military threats, political and diplomatic offensives and economic sanctions but braved through all difficulties.

Though he passed away, the President remained as a spiritual mainstay of the DPRK people.

The President boundlessly loved his comrades and people throughout his life. He always found himself among them who revered him and were united around him in one mind and will. Western people say that such single-hearted unity is “more powerful than an atomic bomb”.

This became clearer after the President’s demise. One could read a slogan The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us in every city, village and working site and the (then) Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the President lies in state became a “palace of the sun”, “the supreme temple of Juche”. The President is always with the DPRK people. Many people visit in succession the palace and his statues erected on Mansu Hill and in other regions to pay tribute to him and renew their determinations—we will remain loyal to the ideas and cause of the President, defend socialist Korea at the cost of our lives and make socialist Korea more powerful and prosperous.

Socialist Korea adorned last 28 years with victory thanks to exploits and experiences achieved by President Kim Il Sung, General Kim Jong Il and Comrade Kim Jong Un.

President Kim Il Sung laid solid foundations for the accomplishment of the DPRK’s cause of socialism. The Workers’ Party of Korea and the people, the People’s Army and the independent national economy enabled the DPRK to surmount all sorts of manifold difficulties.

The DPRK people could brave the difficulties on the basis of valuable experiences gained by the President in the struggle for national independence, in the building of a new society, in the war against foreign aggressors and in the socialist revolution and construction. Powerful armed forces, the greatest exploit the President performed, served as a fundamental key that enables socialist Korea to emerge victorious in the struggle against imperialist allied forces.

Socialist Korea frustrated the “theory of socialist Korea’s collapse” that had been established by the imperialists. That socialist Korea launched its artificial satellite on its own in August 1998 was a manifestation of its potentialities and a big advance in the military field.

That the President successfully settled the issue of the successor in his lifetime was one of his important exploits. General Kim Jong Il was identical to the ideas, qualifications and moral virtues of the President. Soon after the President’s demise, General Kim Jong Il declared not to expect any change from him. He carried forward the President’s ideas and exploits with loyalty. True to Kim Jong Il’s intention, Comrade Kim Jong Un admirably carries forward noble ideals of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il. Comrade Kim Jong Un made the DPRK people brave grave trials and advance towards the bright future.

The DPRK people will win victory in the future, too, on the strength of the immortal spirit of President Kim Il Sung.