editorial

Between the late 1980s and the early 1990s, the world witnessed the tragic event of socialism collapsing in one country after another.

Taking advantage of this, the imperialists and anti-socialist elements clamoured about the “end” of socialism.

However, though decades have passed since then, Korean socialism has advanced without the slightest vacillation or hesitation, and socialism has constituted the far-reaching strategy of the Korean revolution.

This is unthinkable without the immortal ideological and theoretical exploits of Chairman Kim Jong Il who formulated socialism as a science.

On November 1 1994, the Chairman published the work “Socialism Is a Science”.

In the work he wrote that the collapse of socialism in several countries did not mean the failure of socialism as a science but the failure of opportunism which degenerated socialism.

First of all, he clarified that socialism is the ideal and revolutionary banner of the masses struggling for independence and that the independence of the masses is realized by socialism and communism.

Analysing the socialist ideal and the historical development of the socialist movement in a comprehensive way, he noted that societies based on collectivism, socialist and communist societies, are the most advanced ones that accord with man’s independent nature, since it is the mode of existence of man to form a social community and work in it and man’s demand for independence can be successfully realized only through collectivism.

And he noted that the scientific accuracy and truth of the Juche-oriented theory of socialism were proved by the practical experience of the Korean revolution.

In the work he also clarified that Korean socialism is based on the Juche-oriented viewpoint and attitude towards man.

He said that the Juche idea created by President Kim Il Sung elucidated the essence of man and the essential qualities of man and, on that basis, the position and role of man in the world for the first time in history, and that man-centred socialism is the most scientific society in which everything serves man and all problems are solved by enhancing his creative role.

He also explained that socialism is based on the Juche-oriented viewpoint and attitude towards the masses.

Since everything in society is created by the masses, it is the Juche-oriented view and stand maintained by Korean socialism that the masses should be masters of everything in society. This was the Chairman’s irrefutable logic.

Analysing the arbitrary practices of the imperialists who were violently interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and trampling upon other nations’ sovereignty while trying to justify these acts under the excuse of “defence of human rights”, he referred to the importance of firmly safeguarding the independence of countries and nations in defending and realizing the independence of the masses.

In the work, he gave scientific answers to all problems arising in socialist construction, including the questions of the essence and the value of man’s life, the need for the masses to fulfil their responsibility and role as masters of everything in society and the necessity to build the socialist ruling party into a motherly party.

His immortal ideological and theoretical achievements are now further shining with the remarkable successes which are achieved in accomplishing the socialist cause of the country.

The Korean people further exert themselves to accomplish the cause of the masses for independence, the cause of socialism, out of firmer faith in socialism.