April 19, 1991
I would like to welcome you, the delegation from Mainichi Shimbun, to our country.
I will answer your questions in a summary for the sake of convenience.
First, on the matter of normalizing state relations between Korea and Japan.
Korea and Japan are both situated in Asia and they are geographically near neighbours. Since they are neighbours, they should have been close to each other, but they have been near yet distant. This state of affairs is abnormal.
The question of repairing the unfortunate past between Korea and Japan and normalizing the relations between the two should have been settled immediately after the end of the Second World War. To our regret, however, the Japanese ruling authorities have pursued an unfriendly policy towards our Republic, contrary to the will of the Japanese people who wish to repent of their past and take the right path.
Unjust government that goes against the trend of the times towards independence cannot last long; it is inevitable that history makes progress. As the voice of the broad sections of the population in Japan desiring normal Korea-Japan relations grew louder, far-sig
Having noted the positive change in the Japanese policy towards Korea, we have made an active response in order to normalize relations between the two countries.
It is a mistake to relate the matter of normalizing state relations between Korea and Japan to “cross recognition”. The so-called “cross recognition” proposed by the imperialists has emanated from their wrong thinking that ignores the sovereignty of our country and attempts to decide matters affecting the destiny of our nation through a bargain among great powers. It is aimed at the permanent division of Korea by legalizing “two Koreas”. We do not recognize even the words “cross recognition”.
The normalization of state relations between Korea and Japan is an undertaking to create a new history of friendly relations between the two countries on the principles of equality and mutual benefit so as to meet the requirements of the present age.
The joint declaration that was published last year after the negotiations between the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Socialist Party reflects the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to improve Korea-Japan relations as well as the principles for realizing this desire. The prospects of better Korea-Japan relations depend on the attitude the governments of the two countries adopt and on how they work. The two governments must naturally take a firm independent stand and work towards meeting the common aspiration and desire of the two peoples; they must prevent Korea-Japan relations from being swayed by the interference of any foreign forces or under their influence.
Now I will speak about the building of socialism in our country.
In building socialism we have consistently adhered to the correct line of building man-centred socialism by implementing the Juche idea, without copying any ready-made formulas.
The Juche idea is a scientific doctrine of socialism which indicates the way to realize the complete independence of the masses of the people through the transformation of nature, society and man himself to meet their desires by relying on the inexhaustible creativity of the masses, the makers of history. Building man-centred socialism by implementing the Juche idea means constructing a genuine society for the people in which the masses enjoy an independent and creative life in all spheres as masters of the state and society.
Success in socialist construction depends on how the masses are prepared as the driving force of the revolution and how they play their role as such. Therefore, in the whole course of building socialism we have concentrated our main efforts on strengthening the driving force and enhancing its role. Above all else, we have attained the politico-ideological unity of the whole society by strengthening the Party, the hard core of the masses of the people, organizationally and ideologically and firmly uniting all the people around the Party.
We have implemented our own line of building socialism by enlisting the inexhaustible creativity of the people and thus built an independent socialist country that is independent in politics, self-sufficient in the economy and self-reliant in national defence.
A self-sufficient national economy is the material basis of independent socialism. By consistently maintaining the line of building an independent national economy in socialist construction, we have built a comprehensive, self-sufficient economy which, on the basis of powerful heavy industry, develops light industry, agriculture and all other sectors equally.
The independent national economy which our people have built in the spirit of self-reliance and fortitude guarantees an independent material and cultural life for the masses of the people. Today our people have no worries about food, clothing and housing and are leading an equitable and stable life. There is no unemployment in our country and everyone has a steady job and leads a creative working life in conformity with their aptitudes and abilities. Thanks to the system of free and compulsory education and free medical care, all our people have a full opportunity to learn and enjoy good health and a long life. We can say that our people, though not rich, lead a happy and worthwhile socialist life in its material and cultural aspects.
Our people take great pride and self-confidence in having built, by their own efforts, socialism which meets their desires; they have an intense attac
We will steadily raise the ideological and cultural levels of the people and strengthen the material and technical foundations of socialism by stepping up the ideological, technical and cultural revolutions under the banner of the Juche idea, and thus carry the cause of socialism to completion.
Next, on the question of our country’s reunification.
Korean reunification is an internal affair of our nation, yet at the same time it is closely connected with international relations. An analysis of the events that led to the division of our country and the reason why our country has not yet been reunified shows that foreign forces are mainly responsible for this state of affairs. If Japan had not occupied Korea and had not brought it under her colonial rule, the question of division or reunification would not have arisen. If the world powers had not dealt with the Korean question on the basis of the conflict between East and West after the end of the Second World War, our country would not have been divided. Our country has not been reunified for the nearly half a century that has passed since its division primarily because the United States has continued its occupation of south Korea and obstructed reunification.
Settling the question of Korean reunification is a vital demand of our people for realizing their national desire; it is also a matter of great importance in ensuring peace and security in Asia.
Our consistent policy on settling the question of national reunification is to reunify the country by forming a federacy based on one nation, one state, two systems and two governments and on the t
In order to reunify our country we will continue to develop dialogue between north and south and make patient efforts to remove any obstacles to reunification.
The United States and other countries which are responsible for the situation in Korea must cooperate actively to realize her reunification as soon as possible.
The current situation shows more clearly that the US policy towards Korea is not only anachronistic but even runs counter to the interests of its own people. The United States must free itself from its outdated conception of blind hostility towards our Republic, give up its anachronistic policy towards Korea and fulfil its responsibilities in the matter of Korean reunification. This will open up a bright future for improving the relations between Korea and the United States.
We expect that the United Nations, whose mission it is to safeguard peace and justice in the international arena, will pay close attention to the matter of Korea’s reunification and render a due contribution to its settlement. As for the matter of Korea’s entry into the United Nations, our principled stand is to enter it under a single nomenclature after reunification is realized through a federacy and, if Korea is to enter the UN before her reunification, the north and the south should enter it with a single seat. To enter the UN separately before the reunification of the country would be, in the long run, to oppose her reunification and to attempt to finalize the division of the country. If either side enters the UN separately, it will bear historical responsibility for the continued division.
In conclusion, on the question of peace and security in Asia.
Asia, which was invaded and plundered by imperialists in the past, has now entered a new stage of development.
Asia must naturally become the Asia of the Asian people and the people of Asia must fulfil their responsibility and play their role as masters in building a new Asia. The Asian people must no longer tolerate the arbitrariness and interference of the imperialists in the settlement of Asian affairs and maintain a firm independent stand. In order to build an independent and prosperous new Asia, the Asian people must cooperate closely in spite of differences in ideology, system and religious belief.
In order to guarantee peace and security in Asia, it is imperative to abolish military bases of aggression in the Asian region, get foreign troops out of this area and fight against aggression and war. At present the United States is keeping in south Korea not only its troops but also a great number of nuclear weapons. This is a grave t
The Government of our Republic will, as in the past, so in the future, work hard to make the Korean peninsula a nuclear-free, peace zone and safeguard peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the rest of Asia.
I hope that Mainichi Shimbun will play a positive role in the development of relations between the DPRK and Japan, and I wish you success in your work.
