Red Salute to Kim Il Sung!

John McLeod speaking

By New Worker correspondent

FRIENDS of Korea met at the John Buckle Centre in London last Saturday to celebrate the birth of great leader Kim Il Sung with a panel of speakers who have all visited Democratic Korea over the years.

Kim Il Sung advanced and developed Marxist philosophy throughout his long and active life – a theme taken up by the panel, which included Michael Chant of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), NCP leader Andy Brooks, John McLeod of the Socialist Labour Party and John Rainsborough from the UK Korean Friendship Association.

Born on 15^th April 1912, Kim Il Sung dedicated his life to the emancipation of the Korean people, which he did until his last breath in 1994.

Kim Il Sung developed and advanced Marxist-Leninist theory and led the struggle against Japanese colonialism and US aggression. He was a fighter, a thinker and a leader, Kim Il Sung was an outstanding communist of the 20^th century whose name will forever be remembered as the founder of the modern Korean communist movement that began amongst the patriotic youth of Korea when he was a student in the 1920s.

 Kim Il Sung founded the communist movement that liberated the country from Japanese colonialism, defeated the might of US-led imperialism in the Korean War and led the drive to build the modern, socialist republic that exists today in the north of the divided peninsula.

Kim Il Sung was a great commander in war and a great leader in peace. In the north of Korea, so brutally partitioned by imperialism, he built a modern communist movement dedicated to serving the working people of Korea and he led the people in the mass struggle to build a new life after they had won their freedom in 1945.

The Workers’ Party of Korea, with Kim Il Sung at the helm, led the battle for land reform, education and socialist construction in the 1950s and 60s and then pushed forward on the engineering, technical and scientific fronts to raise living standards and the quality of life for the millions of workers and peasants who had fought for a better tomorrow.

In western Europe communists understood the economic case for scientific socialism but ignored the philosophical aspects of the teachings of Marx and Engels. Though the role of mass action was clearly understood, the role of the individual was often ignored. Though the achievements of the Soviet Union led by Lenin and Stalin were studied, they were often not properly understood.

Kim Il Sung not only grasped Marxism-Leninism but he applied it to the concrete conditions of the Korean people. He knew that once the masses realised their own strength they would become unstoppable. He knew that serving the people was the be-all and end-all for the Korean communists and for the Workers’ Party of Korea that he launched in 1945. He developed Korean style socialism and the Juché idea – which elevates the philosophical principles of Marxism-Leninism as well as its economic theories – and focuses on the development of each individual worker, who can only be truly free as part of the collective will of the masses.

In the western world Juché is simply described as “self-reliance” but it is much more than that. Kim Il Sung said that working people could only become genuinely emancipated if they stood on their own feet. But the Juché idea doesn’t negate proletarian internationalism. The Soviet Union, People’s China and the people’s democracies of eastern Europe all closed ranks behind Democratic Korea during the Korean war.

The Korean people responded with their trade and assistance whenever they could, while Korean experts and advisers helped the Vietnamese, the Arabs and the Africans struggling to break the chains of colonialism and they continue to do so today. And Kim Il Sung’s successors, dear leader Kim Jong Il and leader Kim Jong Un are following his footsteps to build a modern socialist republic, where every individual worker is master of his or her own life.

The Friends of Korea committee consists of the New Communist Party of Britain, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (ML), Socialist Labour Party, European Regional Society for the Study of the Juché Idea and the UK Korean Friendship Association. The committee organises friendship meetings throughout the year in London, which are publicised by the supporting movements and on the Friends of Korea blog.

Down with US war-games in Korea!

by New Worker correspondent
 

ANDY BROOKS joined other friends of the Korean revolution demonstrating outside the American embassy in London last week to protest against the latest US provocations on the Korean peninsula.

The NCP leader, along with other comrades and friends, picketed the US embassy in Grosvenor Square to call for an immediate halt to the "Foal Eagle" and "Key Resolve" exercises of the US imperialists in occupied south Korea and the hostile policy against the DPR Korea including the "human rights" racket.

outside the US embassy

The banner of the UK Korean Friendship Association (KFA), which organised the event, was draped over the hedge facing the US embassy while the demonstrators waved the Democratic Korean flags and gave loud-speaker addresses throughout the 90-minute afternoon protest action.

KFA members and supporters of the Juché Idea Study Group took turns with the microphone to denounce the south Korean puppets and their US imperialist overlords for launching the war-games that simulate the seizure of the nuclear facilities of the DPRK and a “regime change” invasion of the DPRK. They were followed by academics and other friends of Korea including Andy Brooks and other NCP members.

The 90-minute afternoon picket closed with rousing chants of  "US out of Korea", "Korea is One", "Yankee Go Home", "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea" and  "Long Live Kim Jong Un" by the demonstrators undeterred by recent hysterical media attacks on the KFA in the bourgeois press. 

The UK Korean Friendship Association (KFA) regularly organises solidarity meetings and protest pickets in London throughout the year. The KFA also works side by side with the Friends of Korea committee which also holds regular events in London.

A Shining Star of Korea

By New Worker correspondent

Andy Brooks,Hyong Hak Bong and Dermot Hudson

LAST weekend Koreans marked the 72^nd anniversary of dear leader Kim Jong Il, who steered the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea through the difficult times that followed the death of great leader Kim Il Sung in 1994. Democratic Korean leader Kim Jong Un headed the solemn tribute at the mausoleum dedicated to the two great leaders of the Workers Party of Korea in Pyongyang while other ceremonies were taking place throughout the country.

 Kim Jong Il devoted his entire life to serving the Korean people.in the cause of building a human-centred society, a cause which is espoused by the democratic and anti-imperialist forces the world over.

Following Kim Il Sung’s footsteps, Kim Jong Il led the Workers Party of Korea into the 21^st century to build a strong and prosperous democratic republic. Kim Jong Il was a leading Marxist thinker who made an important contribution to the modern communist theory as well as an astute statesman who led the Korean people through thick and thin to overcome natural disasters, the imperialist blockade and diplomatic isolation.

While ensuring the DPRK’s defence against the threats and provocations of US imperialism and its lackeys, Kim Jong Il worked tirelessly to ease tension on the Korean peninsula to pave the way towards the peaceful reunification of Korea.

In Democratic Korea Kim Jong Il’s birthday has long been known as the Day of the Shining Star. This year it is being celebrated at a time when the Korean people are racing ahead at a new fast speed of socialist construction, upholding the slogan put forward by the new young leader, Kim Jong Un:  "Let us raise a fierce wind of making a fresh leap forward on all fronts of building a thriving country filled with confidence in victory!"

Across the world overseas Koreans, progressives and communists held their own events in honour of Kim Jong Il, who was born on 16^th February 1942 and died at his post on 17^th December 2011.

British and Korean women get together

And in London comrades gathered at the DPRK’s London embassy to join the Korean people to honour the achievements of Kim Jong Il by laying floral tributes in front of the portraits of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and meeting all the other friends of the Korean revolution.

 Andy Brooks, the chair of the Friends of Korea committee that had helped organise the reception, welcomed everyone to the event that had brought together so many of those actively involved in solidarity with Democratic Korea in London and the south-east.

In his opening the New Communist Party leader said Kim Jong Il had made an immense contribution to the arts as well as the theory and practice of the world communist movement. This was followed by a speech by DPRK Ambassador Hyong Hak Bong on the life and times of Kim Jong Il.

Dermot Hudson from the Korean Friendship Association talked about the meaning of Juché and Songun politics, then Michael Chant, the secretary of Friends of Korea and leader of the RCPB (ML) and Kath Cremer from the CPGB (ML) both spoke about the central role of the Korean revolution in the national liberation and world communist movement.

Finally Andy Brooks proposed a toast to the memory of the dear Korean leader to close the formal part of the proceedings and open the informal discussion that always flows between friends old and new at the bar and buffet.

Celebrating the achievements of Democratic Korea

 By New Worker correspondent

Shaun Pickford and Dermot Hudson

FRIENDS of the Korean revolution met to celebrate the 72^nd anniversary of the birth of dear leader Kim Jong Il at London’s Marchmont Centre on Saturday 2nd February to hear a first-hand report from top DPRK diplomats about the current situation on the Korean peninsula and contributions from Korean solidarity workers who included New Communist Party leader Andy Brooks.

Shaun Pickford welcomed Thae Yong Ho from the DPRK embassy in London who recalled Kim Jong Il’s life in the service of the working people of Democratic Korea.  Comrade Thae also talked about the DPRK’s current peace proposals which were also raised in the interview given by Ambassador Hyon Hak Bong on Sky News last week. Comrade Thae said that the US war-games in south Korea were not defensive but aggressive. US imperialism has concentrated its nuclear submarine forces in the region and the Americans have repeatedly tried to blackmail and threaten the DPRK .

Comrade Thae said that the stories in the bourgeois media about the events surrounding the execution of the counter-revolutionary traitor in the DPRK were false. The US imperialists and their pawns were using the “human rights issue” as a second means of attacking and putting pressure on the DPRK while the British ruling class were attacking  the DPRK and Korean-style socialism because they want people to believe that there is no alternative  to capitalism. But there is and Democratic Korea upholds genuine socialism with free education and medical treatment for all, full employment and pensions, and full equality to all its citizens.

This was taken up by Dermot Hudson of the UK Korean Friendship Association who followed with contribution on the Juché and Songun politics that had transformed the DPR Korea into a modern socialist republic, while Alexander Meads spoke about the achievements of Kim Jong Il from his earliest days to his last at the helm of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Dr Hugh Goodacre spoke about Kim Jong Il’s proclamation of the programme for modelling the whole society on the Juché idea 40 years ago. This was a demand of the times and completely essential to prevent the rise of a new bureaucracy and the restoration of capitalism. The Juché idea is turning everyone into revolutionaries to build socialism – a magnificent achievement, an example for the working and oppressed people of the world.

But there are always dangers as NCP leader Andy Brooks stressed in a condemnation of the loathsome Jang Song Thaek, a leading Workers’ Party official who was shot in December after he was unmasked as a traitor who had embezzled vast amounts of money to live the high life abroad and reward his followers who were helping him plan a coup.

But: “The Korean people have closed ranks around Kim Jong Un and the Workers’ Party of Korea. They have taken firm and decisive measures to deal with Jang and smash his group to safeguard the people’s government and ensure that the country continues to build a modern socialist republic dedicated to the welfare of all working people.”

The DPRK diplomats took up many of these points during the question-and-answer session and during the informal discussion that followed.

The meeting was organised by the UK Korean Friendship Association (KFA) and the British Juché Idea Study Group, which regularly organises solidarity meetings and protest pickets in London throughout the year. The KFA also works side by side with the NCP, RCPB (ML), Socialist Labour Party (SLP) and the European Regional Society for the Study of the Juché Idea on the Friends of Korea committee, which also holds regular events in London.

Forward into the New Year!

 

Michael Chant at the piano while Hyong Hak Bong speaks

By New Worker correspondent

The turn of the year was heralded in communist style when friends and comrades gathered to welcome the New Year at the London centre of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (ML). NCP leader Andy Brooks and other London comrades met friends old and new at the annual social organised by the London Region of the RCPB (ML) at the John Buckle Centre in south London last weekend  that included diplomats from the DPR Korea embassy and many active in solidarity work,  the cultural front and anti-fascist struggle.

Progressive musicians provided the entertainment throughout the evening while the militant role of the RCPB (ML) throughout its life was highlighted by two RCPB (ML) leaders during the formal part of the proceedings.  Chris Coleman unveiled a plaque of John Buckle during his tribute to their leader whose life was tragically cut short in a terrible air crash in Madrid in 1983 while on his way to attend an international communist conference in Colombia.

Chris spoke passionately about John Buckle’s commitment to the communist cause and his prominent role in the defeat by mass action of the bourgeosie's attempt to develop a mainstream fascist party, the National Front, to attack the workers' and progressive movement. This was taken up by Michael Chant in a keynote address outlining the RCPB (ML)’s  continuing work to build the resistance to the ruling class offensive and its austerity programme and fight for a working class agenda and an anti-war government.

An essential part of that struggle is proletarian internationalism and this was raised by London’s  DPR Korean ambassador  who thanked everyone for their efforts to build friendship and solidarity with Democratic Korea. Hyong Hak Bong spoke about the resolute response of the Workers Party of Korea to root out the treacherous clique that had been unmasked and dealt with in December and the way forward that Kim Jong Un outlined in his New Year address to the people of the DPRK this year.

Eventually everyone said their goodbyes and made their way home as the evening ended in the spirit of confidence and optimism that always grows whenever comrades meet. 

• Party Socials Inaugurate the Work for 2014

DPRK defends socialism

OUR BOURGEOIS leaders have, predictably, been wailing over the fate of Jang Song Thaek, the leader of a counter-revolutionary faction inside the Workers Party of Korea, who was condemned to death last week for plotting to overthrow the government of the DPR Korea.

These people, who rejoiced when Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by a kangaroo court comprised entirely of his enemies; these people who gloated when Muammar Gaddafi was lynched by a Nato-funded mob, now talk about the “extreme brutality” of the north Korean government for executing a self-confessed traitor who wanted supreme power for himself and the destruction of the DPRK’s socialist system.

Despicable human scum Jang who was worse than a dog, as the Pyongyang’s Daily Worker put it, was shot last week after being found guilty of treason, economic sabotage and gross corruption.

Jang was the leading member of the Workers Party of Korea in charge of economic relations with China, including the establishment of special economic zones on the border between the two countries. He used his position to embezzle vast amounts of money to live the high life abroad and reward his followers who were helping him plan a coup.

At his trial Jang admitted that he had set up a secret slush fund from money siphoned off from public works to reward his cronies and finance his own decadent capitalist lifestyle. In 2009 Jang took at least €4.6 million from his secret coffers to spend on gambling, womanising and drugs while supposedly having medical treatment in a foreign country.

But Jang’s motives went far beyond simply lining his own pockets to fund a corrupt and degenerate life-style.

The Jang group deliberately sabotaged economic planning in the DPRK to aggravate problems and foster discontent amongst the masses and the armed forces — discontent Jang’s clique then intended to exploit to win support for his plan to seize power on a “reformist” platform that they believed would then soon win international recognition.

This was acknowledged by Lord Alton of Liverpool, the Catholic Liberal-Democrat peer who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea. The former Liberal MP, known mainly for his campaigns against abortion rights, said Jang Song Thaek had been viewed as a “real hope for reform”. He told the BBC: “I saw him at a distance at an official gathering after he’d been rehabilitated in 2006 and from the people I spoke to who knew him he represented for many the real hope for reform in North Korea.

“Jang Song Thaek’s execution, I think, is a bloody and vivid and brutal reminder of the inherent and cruel nature of a regime that has always modelled itself on Stalin’s USSR and the gulags which housed some 300,000 people.”

Well Stalin and the Bolsheviks taught us many things and one of them was that the class struggle intensifies as society advances towards socialism. The other was that the greatest danger to the communists and the revolutionary movement was not from those openly opposed to socialism but from the hidden enemies who worm their way into the party’s trust, who pose as defenders of the working class and supporters of the socialist system while secretly working to reverse it and restore capitalism.

We also know what this leads to. Mikhail Gorbachov destroyed the Soviet Union from within and then boasted that his life’s work was done, while the counter-revolutions in the people’s democracies were all led by social-democrats and hidden enemies masquerading as communists within the ruling parties of eastern Europe.

The destitution of the working class that followed is a “vivid and brutal reminder of the cruel nature” of capitalism that has forced millions of Poles to come to Britain for work and millions of others to emigrate to western Europe from the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe.

The Korean people have closed ranks around Kim Jong Un and the Workers Party of Korea. They have taken firm and decisive measures to deal with Jang and smash his group to safeguard the people’s government and ensure that the country continues to build a modern socialist republic dedicated to the welfare of all working people.

New Worker editorial
19th December 2013

Marking the passing of Kim Jong Il

 By New Worker correspondent

Michael Chant, Andy Brooks and Hyong Hak Bong speaking

 FRIENDS of Democratic Korea returned to the John Buckle Centre in south London last weekend to mark the 2^nd anniversary of the passing of dear leader Kim Jong Il and show their solidarity following the purge of the hidden traitor Jang Song Thaek.

The event, at the south London headquarters of the RCPB (ML), was chaired by New Communist Party leader Andy Brooks and it opened with a powerful baritone rendition of the Song of General Kim Jong Il by one of the DPRK London diplomats accompanied by the violinist Leslie Larkum. This was followed by Changing Sorrow Into Strength, a short film about Koreans’ grief at the loss of their leader. But the highlight of the evening was the opening by the DPRK ambassador, Hyong Hak Bong, on the life of Kim Jong Il and the crimes and punishment of Jang and his counter-revolutionary faction.

All these points were taken up during discussion by other members of the committee including Michael Chant of the RCPB (ML)), Dermot Hudson of the UK Korean Friendship Association and John McLeod from the Socialist Labour Party (SLP).

Michael, who is the FoK secretary, then moved a solidarity message that was endorsed by acclaim to end the formal part of the meeting, which closed with drinks and a buffet of Korean food.

The Co-ordinating Committee of Friends of Korea consists of the European Regional Society for the Study of the Juché Idea, UK Korean Friendship Association, New Communist Party of Britain, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) and the Socialist Labour Party and it holds meetings in London throughout the year.