DPRK’s Socialist Constitution

The socialist constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was adopted on December 27, 1972.

The Korean people significantly celebrate this day as the Socialist Constitution Day every year.

The socialist constitution defines that the state is guided by the Juche idea and the Songun idea in its activities.

The Juche idea and the Songun idea authored by President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK and founding father of socialist Korea, and developed in depth by Chairman Kim Jong Il of the DPRK National Defence Commission are the ideological and theoretical banners for achieving the independence of the masses of the people. Advocating that man is the master of the world and of his own destiny and has the power to transform nature and society and shape his destiny, the Juche idea regards it as its fundamental principle to realize the independence of the masses of the people. The basic objective of the Songun idea which has taken its root in the Juche idea is to defend the independence of the masses from the challenge and threat of imperialists and dominationists. The embodiment of the Songun idea in reality is just Songun politics.

The constitution radically enhances the authority of the National Defence Commission in state mechanism in keeping with the actual reality of Korea in which Songun politics is being administered in an all-round way and with the requirements of the times. The constitution provides the Korean people with a firm legal guarantee for staunchly defending by force of arms the people-centred socialist system in any adversity and triumphantly advancing the cause of building a thriving socialist nation.

Based on the Juche idea and the Songun idea, the constitution stipulates that the DPRK’s is a people-centred social system under which the working people are the masters of everything and everything in society serves them. The state champions the interests of the working people who have been freed from exploitation and oppression and become the masters of the state and society, and respects and protects their rights.

The constitution stipulates: “The sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea resides in the workers, peasants, soldiers, working intellectuals and all other working people. The working people exercise State power through their representative organs–the Supreme People’s Assembly and local People’s Assemblies at all levels.”

10.9 per cent of the deputies elected to the 12^th Supreme People’s Assembly are workers, 10.1 per cent farmers, 16.9 per cent service personnel, 15.6 per cent women and 90.4 per cent academic degree or title holders, scientists, technicians and specialists. These figures clearly show on how high level the people take part in the state governance. The same holds true of the local power organs at all levels such as the provincial, city and county People’s Assemblies.

It is natural that the state power organs in the hands of the working people should carry on the genuine people-oriented legislation activities for defending and realizing the people’s interests.

The socialist constitution defines that the steady improvement of the people’s material and cultural life is regarded as the supreme principle of the state activities.

The DPRK is a tax-free country. In this country where the socio-economic sources of exploitation and poverty were completely eliminated and all kinds of taxes were abolished, the increasing material wealth of society are used entirely for the well-being of the working people, the masters of state power and means of production.

Actually, the DPRK defends and protects the independent demand and interests of the working masses and provides them with all living conditions ranging from food, clothing and housing, with a mission as the master responsible for the livelihoods of the people.
   All the members of society are equally provided with all rights as social beings, including political freedom and rights, free education and free medical care.

According to the socialist constitution, all citizens who have reached the age of 17 have the right to elect and to be elected, irrespective of sex, race, occupation, length of residence, property status, education, party affiliation, political views or religion. Besides, citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, the press, assembly, demonstration and association and the state provides democratic political parties and social organizations with conditions for free activity. Citizens have the freedom of religious beliefs. This right is granted by approving the construction of religious buildings and the holding of religious ceremonies.

The state provides educations to all students free of charge and grants stipend to students of universities and colleges. It also intensifies social education and provides the working people with all conditions for study. It brings up all children of preschool age in nurseries and kindergartens at state and public expenses. Along with this, it protects the people’s lives and promotes their health by consolidating and developing the system of universal free-medical care service, improving the section doctor system and implementing the policy of preventive medicine.

The state legally guarantees all the citizens’ right to work and relaxation. All able-bodied citizens choose occupations in accordance with their wishes and skills and the state provides them with stable jobs and working conditions. This right is ensured by the establishment of the working hours, the provision of holidays, paid leave, accommodation at health resorts and holiday homes at state expanse and by a growing network of cultural facilities.

The DPRK’s socialist constitution that has emerged as the constitution of the people-centred socialist country is a political charter that legally consolidates all victories and achievements the Korean people have made in the revolution and construction under the banner of the Juche idea and that defines various principles to be maintained in all the fields of state and social life, including politics, the economy, culture and national defence as well as the important tasks arising in socialist construction.

Enjoying the people’s absolute support for the past four decades as a law of the people themselves, the socialist constitution has given a powerful stimulus to the revolution and construction. 

International Kim Jong Il Prize Council Formed

Pyongyang, December 24 (KCNA) -- The International Kim Jong Il Prize Council was formed recently.

It is composed of prominent figures of political, social and academic circles of many countries.

The council is based in New Delhi.

It adopted a decision on enacting the prize and the rules of its presentation. 

KCNA Report on Kim Jong Un′s Leadership Feats in 2012

Pyongyang, December 22 (KCNA) -- The Korean Central News Agency Friday released a report on the landmark phase the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un brought about in the general advance in the new centenary of the Juche era by victoriously leading the drive of service personnel and people of the DPRK for building a thriving socialist nation with his outstanding and seasoned leadership this significant year.

According to it, Kim Jong Un has wisely led the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), consolidating its organizational and ideological foundation and the single-minded unity of the DPRK and reinforcing its will to defend itself. The tasks conceived and set forth by leader Kim Jong Il were carried out successfully, providing eternal foundations for the prosperity of the country.

The supreme temple of Juche was perfectly remodeled as the palace of the eternal sun and the work to let Kim Jong Il lie in state was conducted in a solemn atmosphere, it said, and went on:

The Kumsusan Memorial Palace where President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lie in state was renamed the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the Day of the Shining Star.

Their statues were erected on Mansu Hill and at Kim Il Sung Military University, Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, Ministry of State Security and the Mansudae Art Studio and in Kanggye City, etc.

Portraits of smiling Kim Jong Il were displayed, towers to his immortality erected in various parts of the country and the Day of the Shining Star, the greatest holiday of the nation, was instituted.

Kim Jong Un in his work "Let Us Hold Great Comrade Kim Jong Il in High Esteem as General Secretary of Our Party Forever and Successfully Accomplish the Revolutionary Cause of Juche" formulated the revolutionary idea of the WPK as Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and lucidly clarified the invincibility of the Juche revolution advancing under its banner.

The 4th Conference of the WPK held Kim Jong Il in high esteem as its eternal general secretary.

The 5th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly newly codified that the title of the chairman of the National Defence Commission shall go to Kim Jong Il only in recognition of his undying feats performed in the nation-building.

Kim Jong Il was awarded the titles of Generalissimo and Hero of the DPRK, Order of Kim Il Sung and Kim Il Sung Prize.

The DPRK newly instituted Order of Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Il Prize, Kim Jong Il Youth Honor Prize and Kim Jong Il Children Honor Prize as the supreme order and prize of the DPRK and top prizes for Korean youth and children.

The postgraduate course of Kim Il Sung Military University and University of People's Security were named after Kim Jong Il.

On April 15 (the Day of the Sun), 2012, Kim Jong Un in his congratulatory speech to all the service personnel and people of the country solemnly declared that a strategy of the new century of the Korean revolution and its final victory lie in advancing straight along the road of independence, Songun and socialism indicated by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

A national meeting, military parade, evening of fireworks and other important political events of the party and state took place in Pyongyang and colorful social and cultural events and sports festivals were held in Pyongyang and local areas to celebrate the centenary of birth of Kim Il Sung.

The Huichon Power Station, the Exhibition House of Arms and Equipment of the KPA, Tanchon Port, the second phase project for the reclamation of Kwaksan Tideland and other monumental edifices were completed one after another.

The world conference on the Juche idea, international meeting supporting for Korea's reunification, 28th April Spring Friendship Art Festival and other events took place in the DPRK and many other countries and regions to celebrate the 100th Day of the Sun.

The successful launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2 is the greatest gift presented by the WPK and the people to the 100th Day of the Sun and serves as a striking demonstration of the overall national power of Songun Korea.

The single-minded unity and the military capabilities, precious revolutionary legacies bequeathed by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, were further strengthened in every way this year.

On the morning of the New Year's Day Kim Jong Un displayed the traits of being great comrades-in-arms whereby the leader and soldiers advance arms in arms and shoulder to shoulder.

The celebrations of the 66th anniversary of the Korean Children's Union, War Victory Day, 65th anniversary of the revolutionary schools, 4th national meeting of mothers, etc. were held with splendor.

Fresh progress was made in building a thriving socialist nation.

Kim Jong Un made public works including "Let's Dynamically Struggle for a Final Victory, Holding Aloft the Banner of Songun" and "Let Us Effect Kim Jong Il's Patriotism and Step Up the Building of a Prosperous Country," giving perfect answers to the theoretical and practical problems arising in the building of a thriving nation at present.

Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un all affairs of the country were oriented to improving the people's living standard and building a highly civilized socialist power.

Thanks to the advance for great surge in the efforts to improve the people's living standard many technologically updated light industrial factories and modern stockbreeding, fish breeding and large-scale fruit production bases began to pay off.

A dynamic drive was waged to radically increase the grain production by implementing the party's policy for agricultural revolution and positive measures were taken by the state in this respect.

A new grand nature-harnessing project is now under way to turn Sepho Tableland covering tens of thousands of hectares into a large- scale stockbreeding base and socialist land of bliss.

The successful launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2 marked an important occasion in putting the country's space science and technology for peaceful purposes on a new stage and dynamically accelerating the overall science and technology and economic development.

The enforcement of the universal 12-year compulsory education system, the enterprising and enthusiastic performing activities of Moranbong Band replete with the spirit of revolutionary creation, hot wind of a sports power that swept the country showed once again to the world the proud appearance of the DPRK advancing toward a highly civilized socialist power.

Kim Jong Un gave the first field guidance of the year to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division of the Korean People's Army on the New Year's day, guided the flying training of the air and anti-air units and paid ceaseless visits to units of all services and arms including naval and strategic rocket forces. This has increased the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK in every way.

The atmosphere of achieving the national reconciliation and unity and the country's reunification has mounted as ever before and the DPRK's international prestige has remarkably risen.

The past one year's struggle waged by the DPRK under the leadership of Kim Jong Un helped the country demonstrate to the world the honor and dignity as the great Paektusan nation which shines with the sun, and cement the revolutionary ranks, the report concluded. 

Kim Jong Un Congratulates Those Who Demonstrated National Power of Great Paektusan Nation

Pyongyang, December 21 (KCNA) -- The dear respected Kim Jong Un made a speech at the banquet given for the scientists, technicians, workers and officials who contributed to the successful launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2.

In his speech he warmly congratulated them on having successfully launched the satellite, the first working one of the DPRK, and thus brilliantly carrying out the behests of leader Kim Jong Il and demonstrating the powerful might of the great Paektusan nation before the world.

He said: The successful launch of the satellite, an aggregate of latest science and technology, is a great event specially recorded in the 5 000-year-long history of the Korean nation which was provided by the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il and the Workers' Party of Korea's policy of attaching importance to science and technology and a great auspicious event of all people, a product of the painstaking efforts and heroic struggle of you present here.

He recalled that from long ago Kim Jong Il laid down strategic policies for developing carrier rockets and satellites true to the noble intention of President Kim Il Sung who set forth the great idea of conquering space and explored an untrodden path, laying a strong springboard from which to radically develop the nation's space science and technology. He went on:

Scientists and technicians wound up the scientific research for improving the reliability and precision of the carrier rocket and the satellite in a short span of time through persevering inquiry and painstaking efforts. They successfully launched off the satellite despite severe cold in winter without exerting any influence on neighboring countries and thus powerfully demonstrated our space science and technology at the ultra modern level before the whole world.

Satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2 which the scientists, technicians and workers successfully launched is a Juche satellite as everything including designing, manufacture, assembly, lift-off and monitoring devices after the blast-off was indigenously produced 100 percent.

The successful satellite launch is the greatest gift our people presented to Kim Jong Il and a shining review of the heroic struggle of the party and people this year.

The launch on which hinged the dignity of the nation was a grand declaration that demonstrated the DPRK's independent and legitimate right to use space for peaceful purposes before the world and a historic event that showed the over-all national power of Songun Korea.

You successfully launched the satellite, true to the behests of Kim Jong Il on the historic day when President Kim Il Sung conducted a test-fire of the first submachine gun manufactured in the country. So you are genuine soldiers and disciples of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and the most admirable heroes of the country. Our country is strong and the revolutionary cause of the party is steadily making victorious progress as we have such genuine patriots as you.

Our party and people will never forget the heroic feats you performed by bringing about the great auspicious event of today but brilliantly record them in the history of dignified Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il's Korea for all ages.

It is the fixed determination and will of our party to achieve the final victory of the revolution under the uplifted banner of Juche and build the strongest power, people's paradise looked up by the world on the 3 000-ri land.

Our party believes all present here as the most loyal comrades-in-arms and expects that you would continue to play a pioneer role in the general charge for building a thriving nation.

The present era is the age of science and technology and the age of knowledge-based economy and the national power is decided by the level of the development of science and technology. The position and prospect of the country and the nation hinge on it.

Our party pays deep attention to developing space science and technology which constitute the acme of ultramodern science and technology and regards the possession of satellites and carrier rockets as an important issue in building a great prosperous and powerful nation.

He called for cherishing the party's idea and intentions, further raising the hot wind of pushing back the frontiers of the latest science and technology to occupy space and thus glorifying our country as a space power admired by the world.

He continued: You should develop and launch a variety of more working satellites including communications satellite and carrier rockets of bigger capacity with the same spirit and stamina with which you successfully launched satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2.

He expressed belief that they would tower high over the world by waging a campaign of brains and a campaign of ability under the uplifted motto of looking at the world, keeping their feet planted on the ground and demonstrate the honor of the country and the resourcefulness of the nation before the world.

Only victory and glory are in store for the Korean people dynamically advancing amid blessings of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, he said, and went on:

No force on earth can block the advance of the powerful country unshakable in ideology and strong thanks to science and technology and the great people united close around the party.

Let us leap forward higher and faster on swift horses of science and technology for the prosperity of the great Paektusan nation and the happiness of the people.

 

Showcase for 5 000-Year History of the Korean Nation 

Pyongyang Folk Park was newly set up. Covering over 200 hectres and located at the foot of Mt. Taesong in the capital city of Pyongyang, the park is divided into several areas–those of general history education, historical relics exhibition, contemporary times, folklore village, folk games–where are displayed the cultural assets and relics created by Koreans in the different ages of their development, and contemporary creations in their real sizes or in miniature.

Long history, splendid culture and unique customs

The Korean nation has 5 000-year-long history, culture and beautiful traditions and customs unique to it.

This is clearly illustrated by the nine large mural paintings in the general history education area. The murals deal with the territories of the ancient states in their respective thriving periods, and their founding fathers, famous generals and persons, struggles against foreign invasion, scientific and cultural creative activities, and customs. Models of weapons, monuments and towers characteristic of various periods of the nation’s development are erected on both sides of the central road of the park.

The area for historical relics exhibition provides a clear glimpse of the primitive, ancient and middle ages. Displayed there are the replicas of the Komunmoru Site in Sangwon County and earliest type of man in Korea, and the sculptures of two-horn rhinoceros, flat-antler deer and mammoth, and straw-thatched huts, all representative of the early period of the Paleolithic era. Also exhibited there are dolmens and the miniature of pyramid-type mausoleum of King Tangun, the founding father of Ancient Joson and of the Korean nation. They illustrate that Ancient Joson (early 30^th century B.C.-108 B.C.) was a strong slave state.

On display in the section of middle age are many remains and relics including the mural paintings in tombs in the period of Koguryo (277 B.C.-A.D. 668) that were registered as world heritage. What draws particular attention is the mural paintings in the tomb of King Kogugwon. The mural depicting the king dealing with state affairs and that portraying a long procession are masterpieces which are typical murals in the middle age of Korea and of great significance in the world history of fine arts. This area also includes Sokgul Grotto in Kyongju, one of the three treasures in the East, the 66-metre-high pagoda in Kumgang Temple, Pigyokjinchonroe, the first delayed-fuse demolition bomb, turtle-shaped ship, the first iron-clad warship in the world, udometer and Chomsongdae observatory.

Covering scores of hectares, the folklore village area is more impressive. There visitors can see many structures which have been built on the principle of fidelity to the historical truth. Among them are a part of a fortified wall and government office building and Kyongdang school where warriors were trained in Koguryo period, a royal palace in the period of Palhae, a relics exhibition of Koryo period (918-1392) and a 99-bay house of aristocrats. The Korean Folk Museum is housed in the government office building of Koguryo period and the royal palace of Palhae so as to help visitors understand the traditions and beautiful manners and traits of the Korean nation in a short time. There are also houses representative of provinces in the period of the Feudal Joson Dynasty (1392-1910), where special dishes of provinces concerned are served.

Epitome of Modern Korea

Modern history occupies a particularly brilliant position in the 5 000-year-long history of the Korean nation.

Entering the area for the contemporary times visitors can see the magnificent Mt. Paektu regarded as the ancestral mountain in Korea. Mt. Paektu is the centre of the anti-Japanes war organized by Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), founding father of socialist Korea, to win back the lost country. In other words, contemporary times originated in the mountain. It is the mountain in which Kim Jong Il (1942-2011), who ushered in a new heyday of prosperity, was born. There visitors can see Jong Il Peak, named after him, and his native home.

This area is divided into two sections, one dedicated to monuments and the other to structures, where the monumental edifices built by the Korean people are exhibited.

The former section represents in an intensive way the modern history of Korea. The Arch of Triumph is a monument to the exploits Kim Il Sung performed to defeat the Japanese imperialists and achieve the liberation of Korea (August 1945). Also on display are the miniatures of the Party Founding Memorial Tower built to glorify the history of the Workers’ Party of Korea that leads the Korean people to victory and glory, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Memorial Tower built to eulogize the Korean people who defeated the United States which boasted of “being strongest” and defended their sovereignty, the Tower of the Juche Idea, which symbolizes the immortality of the idea, eternal guiding ideology in the era of independence, and the Three Charters for National Reunification Memorial Tower which inspires the visitors with confidence that the earnest desire of the Korean people for national reunification will surely be realized.

Exhibited in the latter section are monumental structures permeated with the creative wisdom of the Korean people. Among them are the Korean Revolution Museum, Grand People’s Study House, Okryu Restaurant, Chollima Statue, Pyongyang Grand Theatre, Ice Rink, Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, People’s Palace of Culture, 8-kilometre-long West Sea Barrage, 105-storeyed Ryugyong Hotel, and parachute-shaped May Day Stadium, all representative of the different stages of modern history of Korea. They were built in only dozens of years under the leadership of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

In a nutshell, Pyongyang Folk Park vividly showcases how the 5 000-year-long history of Korea has been created and glorified.