I visited the DPRK for the first time in the end of 1978 as a head of the delegation of the Socialist Party of Japan.

In March 1981 I visited the DPRK with Chairman Askada Ichio, and both of us issued a joint declaration on creating a nuclear-free, peace zone in the region of Northeast Asia.

I had an opportunity to meet President Kim Il Sung several times and receive his teachings for long hours during my two visits to the DPRK.

President Kim Il Sung talked several things about the socialist construction.

At that time, the speech delivered to the Party propaganda and agitation workers flashed into my mind.

“What are we doing? We are not engaged in any other country’s revolution, but solely in the Korean revolution.

…

To make revolution in Korea we must know Korean history and geography as well as the customs of the Korean people. Only then is it possible to educate our people in a way that suits them and to inspire in them an ardent love for their native place and their motherland.”

President Kim Il Sung is called “Our father” by his people as he enables the Korean people to become masters in achieving Korea’s independence and liberation and carrying out the socialist construction on the basis of the Juche idea and makes the beautiful morality of Korea, a land in the East, a public order.

I am deeply impressed when I see and hear President Kim Il Sung smoothly　builds, with prominent leadership and wise executive ability, original socialism　that cannot be found in other socialist countries.

This is a lesson also　for the Socialist Party of Japan including me.

I keenly feel that it will be a driving force favourable for us to study the Juche idea that endlessly pursues the position and role of man in nature and society and to make profound discussion about it.

I am very pleased that the meeting for the study of the Juche idea was successfully held in 1981 in Nagano Prefecture, my birthplace.

(This was　written in 1982 by Simodaira Shoichi, member of the House of Representatives affiliated with the Socialist Party of Japan.)