Tuesday 16 October 2012

The Outstanding Achievements of the DPRK



by Workers Weekly correspondent

“Celebrating the Outstanding Achievements of the DPRK” was the title of a friendship and solidarity meeting held on Saturday, October 13th. It was organised at the John Buckle Centre by the Friends of Korea (FoK), and marked the 67th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which fell on October 10th. The FoK has the aim of combating the disinformation peddled by those who wish the DPRK ill, and accuse it of all the crimes that imperialism is itself responsible for. To this end it seeks to unite all friends of Korea in Britain in taking a stand in favour of the DPRK, and to encourage all to investigate the truth about the DPRK, its achievements and social system, and to defend the right of the DPRK to its independence and sovereignty and the right of its people to chart their own destiny.
            In the DPRK today, the people fully benefit from universal free medical care, guaranteed under the Socialist Constitution and the Public Health Law. The system of taxation was abolished 38 years ago, with the national economy on a firm footing being the source of the state income.
            Of note recently has been the care of the rising generation. This is not only evident in the guaranteed right to education, but the organisation of children into the Korean Children’s Union representing the hope and future of the DPRK. In the DPRK there is universal 11-year compulsory education. There are also a huge number of large and small colleges.
            The government of the DPRK is a genuine people’s government with local organ’s of power, as well as the Supreme People’s Assembly.
            The Korean people receive such social benefits as free housing, and to constantly improve the people’s living standards is the central aim of the organisation of the economy. As an example, spectacular new tower blocks of flats have been erected in the past year in Changjon Street in Pyongyang, changing this area of the capital beyond recognition, including public service amenities and parks, in addition to modern dwellings.
            At the meeting, Michael Chant, as Secretary of the FoK, welcomed all the participants who filled the hall. He especially welcomed Mun Myongsin as guest from the Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in London. The meeting opened with the showing of a film on Kim Jong Il and the significance of his Songun politics, following which a talk was given by Dr Hugh Goodacre on the history of the Workers’ Party of Korea. A period of discussion followed, and extracts from messages to the meeting from Andy Brooks, Chair of FoK, and Dermot Hudson, Vice-chair, were read out.
            In conclusion, it was pointed out the importance of the DPRK’s finding a place in the hearts of working people in Britain, in the spirit of friendship and proletarian internationalism.





Solidarity messages                                                                 




To the Supreme Leader of the Korean People,
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un



October 13, 2012 (Juche 101)

Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un

This friendship and solidarity meeting convened to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea conveys to you its warmest greetings. The meeting also marks the important 15th anniversary of the election of Comrade Kim Jong Il as the General Secretary of the Party and on this occasion we also pay tribute to Comrade Kim Jong Il as Eternal General Secretary of the WPK.

The Workers’ Party of Korea is imbued with a humanity and concern for the whole of society. It serves to unite the people around the cause of independence and socialism, in contrast to the aggression and brutality of imperialism which stands for war and outright reaction.

The progressive forces in Britain are duty bound to combat the disinformation of the enemies of the DPRK. We are fighting together against the imperialist forces that would turn back the world to medievalism in pursuit of their neo-liberal agenda. But the common cause of the people is that of the defence of independence and sovereignty of peoples and nations, and our common conviction is that humanity will achieve a world where the people are the masters of their own destiny.

May we wish you on this occasion good health and long life, and assure you that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you in our common cause of building a new world, the world of peace, independence and socialism.

 Co-ordinating Committee of Friends of Korea
 c/o 170 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LA.





Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un
First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
First Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission
Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army

9th October 2012

Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un,

The New Communist Party joins with millions of Koreans and working people all over the world celebrating the 15th anniversary of the election of Comrade Kim Jong Il  to the general-secretaryship of the Workers Party of Korea and the 67th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party of Korea.
            Over the decades the Workers Party of Korea has faced hardship and war to lead the Korean people to victory. In recent years the Workers Party of Korea has won great victories too. Natural disasters have been overcome. Diplomatic isolation has been broken and the intrigues of US imperialism and their south Korea puppets have been exposed.
            The Korean revolution is an inspiration to all communists and freedom-fighters throughout the world. The Korean people, determined to preserve their independence and socialist system, have closed ranks around the Workers Party of Korea and the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the face of new threats from American imperialism.
            The achievements of Democratic Korea today are based on the sacrifices of generations of Koreans in the past and the tireless work of the leadership of the Workers Party of Korea that follows in the footsteps of your country’s great revolutionary leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
            We have no doubt that the Korean masses, who are building socialism in the north and struggling for freedom and re-unification in the south, will be victorious in the struggles to come. And we are confident that with you at the helm the Korean people will achieve the end of partition and the re-unification of the Korean peninsula.

Wishing you good health, a long life and success in your work,

Yours fraternally,

Andy Brooks
General Secretary





           

Solidarity with Korea in London

Andy Brooks speaking
  By New Worker correspondent
FRIENDS of Democratic Korea met at the Marchmont Centre in central London on Saturday 6th October to hear a report-back from a recent visit to the DPR Korea and to discuss the development of Kimilsungism and the Juché idea.
 The meeting, called by the Juché Idea Study Group of England and the Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK, heard a report from Dermot Hudson who visited Democratic Korea in September and took part in a discussion on Juché opened by Sean Pickford. Dr Hugh Goodacre gave a concise history of the Korean communist movement and the Workers Party of Korea and NCP leader Andy Brooks called for support for the new campaign set up to demand the release of Ro Su Hui, the south Korean patriot who faces 10 years in gaol for visiting the DPRK.