At present the imperialists and reactionaries are resorting to every conceivable scheme in attempting to stifle the uninterrupted advance being made by our country under the guidance of the Party and the leader and under the unwavering banner of socialism. The more desperate the enemy become in their moves, the higher we must hold the banner of socialism, so that we can frustrate their counterrevolutionary offensive with a revolutionary offensive.
Despite their frenzied attempts to wipe out socialism on this planet, it remains enshrined in the hearts of the world’s revolutionary-minded people and continues to advance in its orbit. Socialism is the ideal of mankind, and its eventual triumph is a law of historical development. Try as the imperialists and reactionaries might to stamp out socialism, they can never turn back the tide of history. Today the revolutionary people the world over are waging a courageous struggle to defend and advance the cause of socialism under the banner of the Pyongyang Declaration. The advance towards socialism is having a powerful impact in the capitalist countries, as well as in those countries where this cause has collapsed. There is not a shadow of doubt that because of the struggle of the revolutionary parties and people around the world, the manoeuvres of the imperialists and reactionaries will be doomed to frustration and socialism will continue to advance and will ac
Armed with a staunch faith in the victory of socialism, we should be optimistic about the current situation and resolutely defend the cause of socialism.
Socialism is our people’s lifeblood. Whether they survive or die, in other words, the option either to enjoy an independent and creative life as masters of the state and society or to suffer humiliation and contempt as slaves, in the long run hinges on their successful defence of socialism. As the song has it, the defence of socialism leads to victory, and its abandonment to death. Whatever difficulty or ordeal we may be facing, we should on no account abandon the building of socialism, the cause that we have chosen.
Defending and advancing the socialist cause demands that the Juche idea be fully applied in all fields of the revolution and construction.
The Juche idea is the ideological foundation of socialism and our sole guideline in the revolution and construction. Korean-style socialism that is centred on the people resolves itself into Juche-oriented socialism based on and embodying the Juche idea. Socialism, if it lacks an ideological foundation and a correct guideline, cannot rightly be claimed to be genuine socialism; such socialism may crumble under the crushing weight of the anti-socialist moves on the part of the imperialists and reactionaries. This is well evidenced by the lessons of those countries where socialism gave way to capitalism.
Our socialism is advancing victoriously, undeterred by the unmitigated, nefarious manoeuvres of the imperialists and reactionaries, because it is based on and guided by the Juche idea. Socialism is the lifeline of our people, while the Juche idea is the lifeline of our socialism.
We should resolutely defend the Juche idea against every manner of bourgeois, reactionary trend in ideology, continue to enrich it in scope and depth and thoroughly apply it in all fields of the revolution and construction.
The building of socialism is the process of applying the Juche idea, and a socialist, communist society is precisely a society modelled on this idea.
The great leader long ago authored the Juche idea and has applied it in full measure in all fields of the revolution and construction. He himself adheres to our own way both in promoting the revolution and construction and in his everyday life. An episode concerning the colour of his suit provides eloquent proof of how resolute is his Juche-based standpoint: Once some officials recommended cloth of a certain colour for his suit, explaining that the colour was in fashion, but he answered that fashion should follow him, and not the other way round.
We should accept the Juche idea as our inherent faith and fully apply it in all fields of the revolution and construction so that we can add lustre to Juche-oriented socialism, which is Korean-style socialism that is centred on the people.
In order to defend and glorify socialism, it is imperative further to consolidate the single-hearted unity of the leader, the Party and the masses.
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In safeguarding socialism at the present juncture, it is vitally important to frustrate all the abuse directed at socialism by the imperialists and bourgeois revivalists and to bring home to Party members and other working people the validity and superiority of the socialist cause.
The imperialists and bourgeois revivalists are firing a broadside at socialism by labelling it “totalitarian,” “barracks-like” and “administrative and commanding.” This is nothing but reactionary sophistry, untenable in the face of reason and devoid of any theoretical basis. What are these revivalists who revile socialism, doing now? Having disbanded the Communist Party by presidential decree, they are imposing by force all the measures they have adopted.
In the face of this vicious, slanderous “theory” any failure to expose its reactionary nature could cause certain people who lack ideological integrity to develop misgivings about socialism. We should bring to light the reactionary implications of the “theory” and equip Party members and other working people more closely with socialist ideology.
I intend to publish an article refuting the accusations that socialism is “totalitarian,” “barracks-like” and “administrative and commanding.” The theory and information sector should come up with a lot of writings that reveal the reactionary nature of the arguments against socialism and explain the truthfulness and superiority of the socialist idea and theory. Our Party has found solutions to all the theoretical and practical problems arising in the socialist revolution and the building of socialism, such as that of the t
It is also necessary to compile good writings on the shortcomings of the classical theories of the past, so that Party members and other working people can have a clear grasp of the originality and superiority of the socialist idea and theory evolved by our Party.
Marxism-Leninism is a revolutionary idea that emerged as a reflection of the exigencies of the revolutionary practice of the working class during the periods of pre-monopoly capitalism and imperialism. History has since advanced a long way and the times have changed. The present era is a new age of independence in which the masses of the people are the masters in creating history and their own destiny in an independent and creative way. The authors of Marxism were never engaged in the actual building of socialism, and the same was the case with Lenin. Because of the limitations of the contemporary conditions and practical experience, the socialist theory advanced by the founders of Marxism-Leninism never went, in quite a few cases, beyond the bounds of prediction and assumption.
The consideration of any shortcomings in Marxist-Leninist theory must not permit a nihilistic approach to or abuse of its founders. We should acknowledge the feats that Marx, Engels and Lenin performed on behalf of mankind, and maintain a high regard for them. The founding of Marxism-Leninism transformed socialist theory from a Utopian ideal to science, provided the working class with its own guiding idea, the first of its kind in history, and enabled it to wage a dynamic struggle against capital and for class emancipation, national liberation and socialism. Respect for the authors of Marxism-Leninism is, in fact, a moral obligation of a revolutionary to his seniors in the revolution.
The writings on the shortcomings of Marxist-Leninist theory should also mention the exploits of its authors. This is the only way to provide people with a correct understanding of it and puncture the accusations made against it by the reactionaries and bourgeois revivalists.
Producing well-balanced writing on the shortcomings of Marxist-Leninist theory requires a good knowledge of the originality and superiority of the Juche idea, the revolutionary idea of our Party. The Juche idea is a unique idea and the ideal revolutionary theory of communism, which was advanced by the great leader as a reflection of the demands of the era of independence, a new historical age. A creditable explanation of its originality and superiority will naturally lead to a revelation of the shortcomings of Marxism-Leninism. The workers in the theory and information sector should conduct a profound study of the Juche idea and grasp its originality and superiority, at the same time as delving into such classics as Das Kapital in order to gain a good command of Marxism-Leninism.
A lot of songs should be produced with high ideological value and artistic merit. Such songs inspire the people with confidence in socialism, and with great willpower and vigour. Don’t Advance, Night of Pyongyang is one such song. It can be a source of encouragement to the People’s Army soldiers and the people in the event of war. Still, whenever I listen to it, I feel a surge of strength. Human beings must learn to appreciate music. Life isolated from music is unthinkable. In times of war, not only songs but also broadcasts can be a source of encouragement for the soldiers and people. During the Second World War, the Soviet newsreader Levitan read the news from the Supreme Command, and by doing so he gave powerful encouragement to the Soviet army and people to win victory. He became famous for the effectiveness of his broadcasts, so much so that Hitler, in a fury, reportedly gave orders to start by killing Levitan after Moscow was occupied. Our present newsreaders are just as able. They, too, will play a major role in the event of war.
Recently, many songs with high ideological value and artistic merit have emerged from the musical art sector. Don’t Advance, Night of Pyongyang is a work of high ideological and artistic value. If Our Motherly Party Wishes is another example. Its words are admirable.
In future, this sector should compose many songs that are good enough to become national treasures. A song of this kind is nothing special. It is a song that appeals to the leader and the people. However, our art organizations, with the exception of the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble, are credited with few such songs. Performing art institutions should follow the example of the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble and produce a host of songs that will be treasured, on the theme of daily living. To this end, they should get into the habit of developing everyday happenings into amusing songs. On its own, a subjective desire to create something great will never produce a wonderful song. If they evolve an elaborate song that portrays people’s life and appeals to their tastes, it will be valued as a treasure. For this purpose, creative workers should gain firsthand experience of the reality by mixing with the people in and out of work, and obtain a profound understanding of their aspirations and demands.
Songs should be rendered well. Otherwise, however good they may be, they will fail to yield any rewards.
