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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Jan. 4/11, 1996
issue of Workers World newspaper
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North Korea has ushered in the New Year with a strong statement of resolve on continuing its socialist path.
A joint editorial appeared simultaneously in Rodong Sinmun, organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Army newspaper Joson Inmingun, and the youth organ Rodong Chongnyon. It called on the people to "fully display the spirit of socialist Korea under the Red Flag."
The editorial appears to be a direct answer to those in the U.S. foreign policy and military establishment who hope that difficult times will force socialist Korea to yield to their demands. Last summer, torrential rains in the northern part of the Korean peninsula washed away most of its grain crop, and a United Nations team has reported hunger in many areas. The U.S. government has been obstructing UN food relief by blocking needed funds.
But Korea has known and surmounted incredibly difficult times before. The Communists in the north astounded the world when they fought the powerful U.S. military to a standstill in the 1950-53 war.
"Now, when we are building socialism in the most difficult conditions, we must live and work in the spirit of the `arduous march' displayed on Mt. Paektu," says the editorial, referring to the Korean tradition of resistance, "which is the optimistic, indomitable revolutionary spirit of self-reliance."
The statement reiterates the Workers' Party's stand on reunifying Korea, but says, "We cannot remain an onlooker to the fact that the United States and the south Korean puppet clique have brought the situation to a hopeless phase, nor will we allow any provocation."
The statement also answers much speculation in the capitalist media about who is leading the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since the death of its great revolutionary leader and founder, Kim Il Sung, in the summer of 1994.
It reiterates that Kim Jong Il is "the publicly recognized leader of our Party and people, who has led the revolution and construction with the fatherly leader Comrade Kim Il Sung for 30-odd years, and is also our eternal Supreme Commander, who enjoys unquestionable trust from the whole Party, all the Army and the entire people."
Acknowledging the problems caused by the collapse of what was once a strong socialist bloc led by the USSR, the editorial concludes, "No matter how the world situation may change, our Party will steadfastly maintain the banner of socialism, the banner of independence against imperialism."
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