Adnan Zia Khan
AMID the sanctions imposed by the hostile forces on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea gaining momentum, the country is reporting one successful event after another in its efforts to strengthen its defence capacity and build its-economy. What has made the small country so invincible? First of all, the people have been guided by great leaders. The territory, population and economic power are not all that determines the strength and weakness of a country. Korea was subjected to military occupation and colonial rule for 40 years by imperialist Japan; it had to fight a war (1950-1953) against the imperialist aggression. Since then it has had to experience all manner of trials and difficulties for decades owing to the constant threat of war and moves by the hostile forces to stifle it.
However, under the leadership of their successive leaders, the Korean people have built and defended socialism and built theirs into a country that no force dare attack. Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, who is carrying forward the cause of his predecessors, President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il, has come under the political limelight of the world as the most distinguished political leader of the modern era. Kim Jong Un is a matchless master of ideology and theory, an attractive politician possessed with a high level of people-oriented art of leadership, a versatile statesman, a man who implements without fail and on the highest level what he has planned to do, a brilliant commander possessed of unexcelled courage and mettle and resolute and adroit temperament, and the supreme defender of the prestige of his nation–this is part of the comment by mass media of the world. The history and reality of the DPRK testify to the fact that if the leader of a country is great, the country, though small, can become powerful. Second, the Korean people have achieved single-hearted unity with their leader. United single-heartedly around their Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, they are demonstrating the prestige of their country with unprecedented strength and miraculous events. The basis of the single-hearted unity of the leader, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and the masses, which serves as the source of viability of the Korean-style socialism, has been the affection of the people cherished by the leaders of the country. Socialism of the Korean style, which embodies the idea of “The people are my God” cherished by the President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il, is now being consolidated and developing thanks to the politics of loving the people administered by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.
The might of the single-hearted unity of the Korean people, who defend and support the ideology and leadership of their leader, symbolic of the sovereignty and prestige of their country and the safety and destiny of their nation, and turn out to accomplish his intentions with one mind, constitutes the motive force that assures the invincibility of the DPRK. Third, the Korean people regard socialism as valuable as their life itself. In the late 1990s socialism collapsed in several countries, but the DPRK defended and developed it. This is attributable to the fact that Korean-style socialism is people-centred. Carrying forward the cause of his predecessors, Kim Jong Un is always concerned with the wellbeing of his people.
Mingling with them, he listens carefully to what they have to say, and ensures that their thoughts and demands are reflected in the policies of the Party and State. And it is his iron rule to give top and absolute priority to people’s interests and convenience. It is quite natural that the Korean people regard socialism as valuable as their life itself. Fourth, the propellant of their advance is self-reliance. The history of the Korean revolution is the one pioneered and advanced on the strength of self-reliance. Propelled by the spirit of self-reliance, the Korean people achieved liberation of their country, emerged victorious in post-war reconstruction and realized socialist industrialization, thus building theirs into a socialist country equipped with solid foundations of an independent economy and strong self-defence capabilities.
In the face of extreme moves for sanctions by the hostile forces, this country is achieving remarkable successes one after another in economic construction and improving the people’s standard of living, this is a demonstration of its capabilities for self-development. By displaying the spirit of self-reliance, the Korean people are achieving innovative and miraculous successes in developing science and technology and building the economy, thus thwarting the enemy’s moves for sanctions. Western mass media including Reuters and Independent of Britain reported: Even though North Korea is under harsh sanctions, its economy is developing; particularly, the highest growth rate of its economy is striking world with admiration.
—The writer is freelance columnist.
