Kim Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, passed away on December 17, 2011. By his death, the world lost the most outstanding man.
He was the greatest of great men, both in name and in practice.
Kim Jong Il was, first of all, a great ideologist and theoretician.He enriched and developed in a comprehensive way the Juche idea and the Songun idea authored by Kim Il Sung, founding-father of socialist Korea and pioneer of the cause of independence of mankind. He published a great number of works covering all spheres of social life–political, economic, military and cultural–thus ceaselessly developing the Juche idea in depth. Now, the Juche idea shines more brightly as the banner of the cause of mankind for independence.
When the cause of socialism was undergoing trials after the collapse of socialism in several countries, he wrote such important works as Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable and Socialism Is a Science, proving that socialism is the invariable ideal of humanity.
In the late 1990s when the anti-socialist offensive of the imperialist allied forces was focused on socialist Korea, Kim Jong Il put forward Songun politics as the basic mode of socialist politics by developing in-depth the Songun idea that struck its root in the Juche idea.
This provided a powerful ideological and theoretical weapon with which the progressive peoples of the world could advance the socialist cause winning victory after victory under any circumstances and conditions.
Kim Jong Il was a master of leadership. He ushered in the heyday of prosperity unprecedented in the history of the Korean nation.
In the second half of the 1990s, when Korea faced manifold hardships caused by the extreme economic blockade and military stifling manoeuvres of the US-led imperialist allied forces and by consecutive natural disasters, he safeguarded socialism holding higher the banner of Songun, opening a new era of building a prosperous and powerful socialist country. Korea, thanks to his grand plan and his energetic leadership, could become a manufacturer and launcher of artificial earth satellite and a nuclear state.
He kindled the flames of an industrial revolution of the new century to ensure that miraculous successes were achieved in all sectors of Korea’s economy.
Kim Jong Il opened a radiant vista for Korea’s reunification. Grandiose June 15 reunification era, whose principle is By Our Nation Itself, was opened as the outcome of the adoption of the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration (June 2000) and October 4 Declaration (October 2007). It is a steadfast aspiration of the entire Korean nation to implement these declarations to the letter and achieve the independent reunification of their country by their concerted efforts, whatever the situation.
Kim Jong Il pressed ahead with the cause of global independence holding aloft the banner of anti-imperialist independence. He saw to it that the Pyongyang Declaration Let Us Defend and Advance the Cause of Socialism was made public in April 1992 to make it possible to bring about a fresh upswing in the world socialist movement, and he gave an active encouragement and support to the struggle of the peoples in different countries aspiring after socialism and independence. His energetic foreign activities conducted on the principles of independence, peace and friendship made a great contribution to building a new, independent world and defending peace and stability of the world.
Kim Jong Il was the benevolent father of people. Regarding politics as an undertaking to bring love for people into full bloom in its purpose, Kim Jong Il devoted his all for people’s happiness. He spared nothing if it was for people’s lives and health, and had many structures built for them. He cherished people’s happiness as his biggest wish, and worked hard for its realization.
He made a continuous forced march for on-site guidance for his people to lead an affluent life with nothing to envy in the world. His on-site guidance was a forced march of legendary superintensity that continued, rain or shine. He passed away on the train on his way for on-site guidance by a sudden attack of illness caused by mental and physical exertions.
History has never witnessed such a great man, who sacrificed himself heart and soul only for the people.
Vishwanath, director-general of the International Institute of the Juche Idea, pointed out that leader Kim Jong Il was a man sent by heaven for the service of humanity, and that such a great man might be born only once in some centuries.
Kim Jong Il will live for all eternity in the hearts of the Korean people and the progressive peoples of the world.