opinion

It has been 33 years since the historic Pyongyang Declaration “Let Us Defend and Advance the Cause of Socialism” was made public.

In April 1992, the leaders and representatives of the communist and workers’ parties of different countries and other political parties aspiring after socialism, who visited the DPRK to participate in the celebrations of the 80th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung, adopted the Pyongyang Declaration reflecting their firm will to defend and advance the socialist cause.

The publication of the Pyongyang Declaration was really of great significance for the progressive mankind who witnessed the tragic collapse of socialism in different countries between the late 1980s and the early 1990s.

The declaration swept the whole planet with great attraction.

It was adopted with signatures of 70 political parties at that time. The number of the signatories then increased to more than 140 six months later, some 170 one year later and over 280 20 years later. The number is now over 320.

The great event, which brought about a fresh turn in the history of the socialist movement, clearly proved that advancing along the road of socialism for realizing the independence of the masses of the people is a trend of the times nothing can check.

Socialism sets it as its noble object and mission to fight to realize the intrinsic requirement and ideal of mankind who is desirous of living and developing independently against exploitation of man by man and all sorts of domination and subordination.

Socialism, which was pioneered and advanced victoriously for the first time in the early part of the last century, wiped out the old society which had lasted for thousands of years, put forward the masses as the masters of state and society and of their own destiny, and provided them with a new independent and creative life. It brought about economic and scientific and technical progress, which is impossible in capitalist society even in hundreds of years, and laid a solid foundation for more rapid development in the future. This shows that socialism has incomparably great advantage over capitalism.

In particular, Korean-style socialism is advancing victoriously and dynamically on the great strength of spirit and unity of the people.

The frustration of socialism and the revival of capitalism in some countries in the past are merely partial and temporary phenomena in view of the main trend of historical development. There may be twists and turns in the course of the advance of socialism, but the direction of historical development can never change unless the ideal of mankind changes.

It is an irresistible trend of the times to aspire after socialism.

It is by no means fortuitous that even in capitalist countries there are rising voices calling for introducing things socialist, saying that genuine progress and prosperity of mankind and the future of countries and nations hinge on socialism.

It is the centuries-old desire of mankind to live and develop happily all together as the masters of their own destiny in a society free from all sorts of exploitation and oppression and in a peaceful world free from domination and subordination and from aggression and war.

The socialist cause is the way to realize it.

Socialism is the ideal and desire of mankind.