KASS – The Situation in Korea Peninsula
The Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un said that at the present stage in which the DPRK was successfully put on the position of world-level politico-ideological and military power, it is the strategic line of the Workers’ Party of Korea to concentrate all efforts of the whole party and country on the socialist economic construction.
Socialist Construction in the DPRK
On the basis of the great victory of the line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of a nuclear force, the people in the DPRK dynamically carry out the economic construction under the unfurled banner of self-reliance.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un declared the great victory of the line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of a nuclear force at the 3rd Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and put forward a new strategic line of concentrating all efforts on socialist economic construction.
He declared that the historic tasks under the strategic line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of a nuclear force set forth at the March 2013 Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Party were successfully carried out.
It was declared that the sub-critical nuclear test, underground nuclear test, making nuclear weapons smaller and lighter, and the development of the super-large nuclear weapon and delivery means have been carried out in order, and thus the work for mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets has been reliably realized. An important measure to discontinue nuclear tests and inter-continental ballistic rocket test-fires was adopted.
The northern nuclear test ground was dismantled to transparently guarantee the discontinuance of nuclear tests in the presence of international journalists on May 24, 2018. The DPRK’s proactive and peace-loving efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region were once again clearly proved by the transparent dismantlement of the northern nuclear test ground.
The victory of the WPK’s line was won, thus acquiring the powerful treasured sword for defending peace and providing a firm guarantee under which the Korean people can enjoy the most dignified and happiest life generation after generation. They are now able to accelerate economic construction with firm resolution.
We are now able to contribute to the building of a world free from nuclear weapons in conformity with the common aspiration and desire of mankind, on the basis that the DPRK’s might was put onto the level wanted by it and it became possible to reliably guarantee the security of the state and the safety of the people.
The DPRK could perfectly accomplish the historic cause of building the state nuclear force in a short span of less than five years and could fairly become the centre of the international landscape thanks to the Supreme Leader’s indomitable fighting spirit, veteran and experienced leadership, and the might of the harmonious whole of the Party and people.
In economic construction, the prospect for demonstrating the might of the independent national economy is opened up and the overall economy of the country has stepped onto the developing track.
A strategic line to concentrate all efforts on socialist economic construction on the basis of the great victory of the line of simultaneously developing the two fronts was put forward.
The immediate goal of the struggle for realizing the new strategic line is to activate the overall national economy and markedly put it into stride, and the long-term goal is to build an independent and modern socialist, knowledge-based economy.
In order to carry out the strategic line, the overall Party and state affairs should be oriented toward socialist economic construction, and all the human, material and technical potentials of the country should be mobilized.
All fields and units should thoroughly rely on science and technology, steadily improve the self-development spirit, and effect a production surge and leap under the unfurled slogan of self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
The Supreme Leader put forward the line of bringing about a revolutionary turn in science and education in order to achieve the higher goal of socialist construction by thoroughly carrying out the new strategic line.
We should uphold the strategic slogan: “Let us make a leap forward by dint of science and guarantee the future by dint of education!”
In order to dynamically push forward the building of sci-tech power and talent power, strategic concentration should be given to planning and guiding the development of science and technology. The nationwide network for dissemination of science and technology should be extended, and the operation of the centre of science and technology should be radically improved.
In order to bring about a great revolutionary turn in education, teacher ranks should be strengthened and priority should be given to improving the quality and responsibility of teachers.
State investment in science and education should be definitely increased, and the social climate of prioritizing science and technology should prevail throughout society.
Situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the Region
A fresh climate of détente and peace is being created on the Korean Peninsula and in the region thanks to the DPRK’s proactive actions and efforts, and dramatic changes are being made in the international political landscape.
Inter-Korean Relations
Thanks to the outstanding political knowledge, ardent love for his nation, and broad-minded decisions of the Supreme Leader, north-south summit meetings and talks were held and a new era of peace and reunification was unfolded, putting an end to the history of division and confrontation.
The Supreme Leader put forward a magnanimous and generous proposal to bring about a radical turn in north-south relations in the New Year Address 2018 and saw to it to send a high-level delegation, a delegation of the DPRK National Olympic Committee, a cheering group, and an art troupe to the 23rd Winter Olympic Games. This dramatically changed north-south relations, which had been frozen with distrust and confrontation for a decade, within a short period of less than four months.
He chose Panmunjom, the symbol of political and military confrontation between north and south, as the place for the north-south summit and boldly went to the “House of Peace” in the south side portion on April 27, 2018, thus making a turning point in north-south relations and for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
Thanks to the firm intention, outstanding political knowledge, boundless warm love for the nation, and broad-minded decision of the Supreme Leader, who intends to build a highly dignified and prosperous powerful reunified Korea by dint of the unified efforts of the whole nation true to the great leaders’ instructions for national reunification, the 3rd North-South Summit was arranged and the Panmunjom Declaration on Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula was declared.
The Panmunjom Declaration is a solemn signal flare fired by the north and the south at the starting line of writing a new history and a historic milestone for reconnecting the broken vein of the nation and opening a new era of independent national reunification.
The Panmunjom Declaration has the ideal of “By Our Nation Itself,” the principle of independence as the main core, and the most realistic and reasonable program common to the nation that conforms with the will and desire of the whole nation and the aspiration of the international community for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.
It is a program for independent national reunification in the new era, Kim Jong Un’s era, which inherited the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration.
It is a historic declaration which declared before the world that the north and south will unfold a new history of national unity and a new era of common prosperity by joint efforts of the north and south.
It is a great declaration that removed the danger of war, eased military tension on the Korean Peninsula, and brought a new spring of peace and security desired by the whole nation.
It is an important declaration that made a new breach for peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in northeast Asia and the world, and brought great changes in the international political arena.
On May 26, 29 days after the April 27 declaration, the north-south summit was held again at the historic place Panmunjom, marking another historic milestone that opened up a new chapter in the development of inter-Korean relations.
At the talks, there was an in-depth exchange of views on matters to be resolved to quickly implement the Panmunjom Declaration, realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, achieve regional peace, stability and prosperity, and ensure the successful holding of the DPRK–US summit.
The Supreme Leader clarified his will to improve DPRK–US relations and cooperate for the establishment of a permanent and solid peace regime.
According to the agreement at the historic 4th north-south summit, north-south high-level talks were held at the “House of Peace” in the south side portion on June 1, 2018.
At the talks, the principled stands toward the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration were reconfirmed, and it was agreed to set up a north-south joint liaison office in the Kaesong area and to deliberate on the meaningful commemoration of the 18th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration.
They also arranged the date and place of north-south general-level military talks, sports talks, Red Cross talks, section meetings for the connection and modernization of railways and roads along the eastern and western coasts of Korea, and working-level talks for the performance of the DPRK art troupe in south Korea. They also arranged to regularly hold north-south high-level talks.
DPRK–China Relations
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un promoted the DPRK–China friendship, continued for centuries, in accordance with the demand of the new era through his two visits to China.
The officials of the Chinese Party and state and the people warmly welcomed the Supreme Leader, who visited China regarding the DPRK–China friendship as a noble responsibility to be valued generation after generation.
The Supreme Leader had a historic and meaningful meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping and exchanged profound opinions on important issues including the development of the DPRK–China friendship and the issue of settling the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
He clarified the fixed determination of the Party and government of the DPRK to carry forward the precious tradition of DPRK–China friendship and put it on a new high stage as required by the developing era. He stressed the need to meet often with Chinese comrades including Xi Jinping to further deepen friendship and strengthen strategic communication and cooperation so as to consolidate unity and cooperation between the two countries.
Xi Jinping stressed that it is the strategic option and unshakable will of the Chinese Party and government to attach importance to, carry forward, and develop the Sino–DPRK friendship.
The Supreme Leader’s visit to China is a historic event of great significance in clustering the century-old tradition of DPRK–China friendship and finely developing relations between the two countries generation after generation.
The common will to firmly consolidate the socialist systems of the two countries and provide happiness and a future to their peoples was clarified.
Thanks to the energetic diplomatic activities of the Supreme Leader, the value of the DPRK–China friendship was once again proved and the friendship was elevated to a new higher stage required by the new era.
DPRK–US Relations
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un made a strategic decision to put an end to the awkward relations between the DPRK and the US and met the US Secretary of State during his visit to the DPRK, taking broad-minded measures for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the world.
He said that the coming DPRK–US summit would be a historic meeting for the excellent first step toward promoting positive developments on the Korean Peninsula and building a good future.
The Supreme Leader expressed his firm will for the historic DPRK–US summit and mentioned positive cooperation between the north and south for establishing a permanent and solid footing for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The first historic DPRK–US summit meeting was held on Sentosa Island, Singapore, on June 12, 2018, thanks to the broad-minded determination and firm intention of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to put an end to extreme hostilities between the DPRK and the US and write a new history of world peace and security.
At the summit, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and President Trump conducted a comprehensive, in-depth and sincere exchange of opinions on issues related to the establishment of new DPRK–US relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
A joint statement of the Singapore Summit was adopted.
In the joint statement, Chairman Kim Jong Un and President Trump stated that the DPRK and the US commit to establishing new DPRK–US relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity; that the DPRK and the US will join efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula; that reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to working toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; and that the DPRK and the US commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.
Acknowledging that the DPRK–US summit was an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tension and hostility, Chairman Kim Jong Un and President Trump committed to fully and expeditiously implement the stipulations of the joint statement and to hold follow-on negotiations at the earliest possible date.
They also committed to cooperate for the development of new DPRK–US relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the world.
DPRK–Russia Relations
The Supreme Leader met the Russian Foreign Minister during his visit to Pyongyang on May 31, 2018, who conveyed President Putin’s personal letter.
Talks were held between DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, during which both sides exchanged views on the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and discussed bolstering bilateral political and economic ties.
Highly appraising the DPRK’s proactive actions for improving inter-Korean and DPRK–US relations, Russia expressed full support for the DPRK’s resolutions and denuclearization efforts.
Both sides agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, activate cooperation in various fields, and promote the continuous development of DPRK–Russia relations in conformity with the interests of both countries and the new era.