FIDEL CASTRO: EXIT OF A REVOLUTIONARY AND LIBERATION ICON

His death was announced on the Cuban national Television on Friday. He died at the age of 90 after several years of illness. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on Aug. 13, 1926 or 1927 in formerly eastern Cuban province of Oriente, to a plantation owner, Ángel Castro, who was of Spanish origin.

Young people of this generation may not exactly know Fidel Castro or what he represented, but the former Cuban Leader took the whole world by storm becoming at some point a symbol of liberation struggle or revolution everywhere in the world, especially in Africa and Latin America.

To the Cuban people, he was “Saviour” who gave hope to the citizens and provided the much needed social, military and economic protection throughout his reign as Cuban President. To many young people in the world, Castro was revolutionary extra-ordinaries whose fighting ability, speech making and unparalleled communication skills and ideas about statecraft made him an idol, mentor and inspirer to all Revolutionary forces around the world. To the Americans however, Castro was an arch- enemy, a cruel dictator, Protégé of the defunct Communist- Soviet Union and an enemy of the Cuban people who had no little respect for human rights and personal freedoms of his people. He was one leader Americans loved to hate.

Castro made a huge impact on the world stage. His exit leaves a big lesson for humanity particularly for political leaders around the world. He has left behind lessons in courage, adventure, resilience, determination and single- minded pursuit of political causes.

Castro, a trained Lawyer who seized power from the Cuban dictator, Batista after an insurrection from Mexico with his compatriot, Chu Guevera and younger brother, Raul Castro on January 8, 1959, was for about 50 years a pain in the neck of Americans and their successive 11 Presidents all of whom sought to remove him to no avail.

On coming to power in 1959, Castro joined the world communist movement and made Cuba a Latin American outpost of Communism in which status he became a leading ally of the former USSR. His closeness with the Soviets angered US which saw his proximity to the American territory as a threat to national security. This formed the basis for the 1959 invasion of Cuba by America by some frustrated Cuban exiles in America with active support of the American CIA at what became known as the Bay of Pigs operation.

Castro successfully repelled the American onslaught. After consolidating his power, he extended the frontiers of the raging Cold War into Latin America and approved the Soviets’ use of his territory to establish missile bases. The opposition of the US to the Soviet menace heightened tension and drew the humanity close to a Third World War which would have probably seen the massive use of nuclear weapons with all the attendant consequences.

He was mentor to the likes of Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Sub Commander Marcos of southern Mexico.

In Africa, Cuban troops fought in Angola in the protracted civil war and against South African mercenaries trying to topple the government in Luanda.

But it was not only troops that Cuba exported in support of revolutionary or liberation activities.  Cuba exported medical personnel to many developing countries in the same way her boxing champions became coaches and popularized the sport in many countries of the world.

Cuban doctors were the first to arrived the African continent to help African nations curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Fidel Castro’s persona including his traditional beards and dress code of military fatigue wear was adopted by many guerrilla/ liberation warriors as much as his fighting techniques.

In 1991 when communism fell in Eastern Europe and the Cold War came to an end, Cuba faced tremendous challenges as aid no longer came from Russia, the successor state to the defunct USSR. Undaunted, Castro maintained his stiff neck approach towards America. It was Raul who eventually restored diplomatic relations with America after 18 months of secret negotiations assisted by Pope Francis, paving way for the state visit in 2016 by President Barack Obama, the first US president to visit Cuba in about 88 years!

When challenged by disease in 2006, Castro handed over to his younger brother, Raul Castro now 85 as President and later retired from public life. He remained relevant behind the scene as his brother governed the island country of 11 million people.

As Cubans mourn their departed leader, they will remember him as the Architect of the modern Cuban society.  His exit should be a clarion call to maintain the tempo of spreading revolutionary ideas and liberation struggles premised on socialist- progressive philosophy.

As we mourn this revolutionary/liberation struggle icon, our resolve to spread progressive ideas across the earth both as a system of governance and as a way of life would never ever ceased.

Kim Jong Un Let Us Further Intensify the Work of the Women’s Union under the Banner of Modelling the Whole Society on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism

In this stirring period, when an all-people general offensive is being waged to carry out ahead of schedule the ambitious objectives for building a powerful socialist country advanced at the Seventh Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea and remarkable successes are being achieved one after another in the 200-day campaign of loyalty, the Sixth Congress of the Democratic Women’s Union of Korea is being held.

Kim Il Sung originated the Juche-oriented women’s movement and created its glorious traditions in the flames of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle. After the liberation of the country, he founded the women’s union before other working people’s organizations, indicated the road ahead of it in every period and at every stage of the revolution and construction, and wisely led it so that it could creditably perform its role as a transmission belt of and reliable assistant to the Party. He proclaimed the Law on Sex Equality, thus bringing about epoch-making changes in the status of women and training them to be a powerful force capable of turning one of the two wheels of the revolution.

Comrade Kim Jong Il energetically led the work of defending and honouring Comrade Kim Il Sung’s ideas of and exploits in the Juche-oriented women’s movement. He developed the women’s union into a revolutionary and militant organization faithfully supporting the Party’s leadership and, by administering politics of prioritizing and respecting women, led them to make an active contribution to the sacred struggle for achieving the victory of the socialist cause while leading a dignified and happy life.

The women’s union should strive hard for the modelling of the whole society on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism under the Party’s leadership, thereby rendering a positive contribution to accomplishing the socialist cause, the revolutionary cause of Juche. This is a noble mission it has assumed for the times and the revolution. It should carry forward the glorious tradition of the Juche-oriented women’s movement to perform its honourable mission and duty with credit.

The general task facing the women’s union is to model itself on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism.

The women’s union should constantly intensify the work of establishing the Party’s unified leadership system.

Women’s union organizations should conduct effective ideological education among their members and intensify guidance over their organizational life, with the main stress put on training them into Kimilsungists-Kimjongilists.

Women’s union organizations should intensify the organizational life of their members.

The women’s union should encourage its members to make a tangible contribution to building a powerful socialist country.

Women’s union organizations should ensure that their members are fully equipped with the Party’s idea and line of attaching importance to military affairs, remain alert and ready for action at all times, and become today’s “Namgang village women” in the all-out resistance for defending the socialist country against the imperialists’ aggression.

Women’s union members and other women should fully discharge their heavy responsibilities and role in educating the rising generations to be dependable pillars of Juche Korea.

Women’s union members and other women should play the role of pioneer in establishing socialist way of life and moral discipline throughout society.

Women’s union members and other women should turn their villages and streets into socialist fairyland.

It is important to establish moral discipline among women’s union members and other women.

The women’s union should struggle for the independent reunification of the country and global independence.

The women’s union should form its primary organizations according to the principle of its Rules and in conformity with the specific conditions of relevant units, and direct close concern to the guidance for their improved role, thus making all of them militant bodies strong in organization and discipline.

A well-regulated system of work and strict discipline should be established in the women’s union.

Party guidance over the work of the women’s union should be intensified.The fundamentals of Party guidance over its work are to ensure that its organizations conduct all their work and activities in line with the ideas and intentions of the Party.

It is needed to make the whole Party and society give full play to the trait of respecting and loving women and actively helping the women’s union in its work.

Memorandum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK

Five years have gone by since the DPRK, after having lost its great leader, engaged itself in an all-out confrontation with the U.S. imperialists to cope with their ever-worsening hostile moves and increasing nuclear threat against it. The people of the DPRK have turned out in the struggle to implement the behests of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il, overcoming the pain and sorrow of having lost him. The U.S. has employed all kinds of means and methods in vicious moves to check the advance of the DPRK and tried to seize the opportunity to stifle it. However, the anachronistic hostile policy and nuclear threat that the U.S. has enforced with unprecedented  recklessness  against  the  DPRK  have  only  provoked  its  just  and  righteous countermeasure for self-defence and ended up in total and complete failure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK hereby issues this memorandum to disclose the criminal acts of the U.S. which has pushed the DPRK towards strengthening of its nuclear forces by making ceaseless hostile moves against it after it suffered the greatest loss of the nation. 1.  Heinous  hostile  manoeuvres  against  the  DPRK  aimed  at  political  suffocation  and  system collapse Since the year 2012, soon after the passing away of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il, the U.S. began to openly pursue the objective to politically stifle the DPRK and overthrow its system by all means. Blatant remarks denying the DPRK's government, system and policy were made by high-level officials of  the  U.S.  and  even  Obama  himself  has  constantly  heaped  malicious  slander  and criticism on the DPRK in his public appearances.

The gravity of hostile manoeuvres of the U.S. against the DPRK lies in the fact that they have grown extremely reckless and dangerous as to target the supreme leadership of our revolution. The Obama administration dared to defame the supreme dignity of the DPRK as an extension of their malicious slander on it. This is the gravest of all sins which will never be forgiven for eternity. This fully reveals the true nature of the policy of "strategic patience" pursued by the Obama administration, which is none other than an aggressive and heinous "strategic suffocation" policy against the DPRK. By this time, the "human rights" racket which the U.S. has long made against the DPRK has grown so reckless as to attempt to put their wild ambition of overthrowing the DPRK's system into practice. The U.S. has gone so far as to breach the basic principles of international laws and ditch its dignity of a superpower by pleading with other countries to join their pressure racket against the DPRK through downgrading or severing ties with it. The U.S. political acts of hostility against the DPRK find graphic accounts in the following record of events; - On March 25, 2012, Obama clamoured about "isolation" of the DPRK while condemning its strengthening of nuclear deterrent. - In June 2012, the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues disclosed the provision of funds by the State Department to anti-DPRK media entities. - On August 16, 2012, Obama signed the "North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act". -  From March to June 2013,  the  U.S.  State  Department  released  "International  Narcotics Control  Strategy  Report",  "DPRK  Human  Rights  Report",  "International  Religious  Freedom Report" and "Trafficking in Persons Report" to intensify its condemnation against the DPRK on baseless or fabricated data and allegations. - On January 17, 2014, Obama signed the "Appreciation Act" for the 2014 fiscal year which allocated huge amount of funds for anti-DPRK "human rights" racket.

On February 26, 2014, the U.S. Secretary of State Kerry, in a press interview, labelled the DPRK as an "evil place" and said they should "hold it accountable". - On April 15, 2014, the U.S. State Department officially announced its provision of funds to anti-DPRK "human rights" groups. - From April 23 to 26, 2014, during his visit to Japan and south Korea, Obama criticized the DPRK as the "worst violator of human rights". - On September 23, 2014, the U.S. Secretary of State Kerry personally called a "High-Level Meeting  on  North  Korea  Human  Rights"  in  New  York  and  fanned  the  atmosphere  of pressurizing the DPRK. - On November 18, 2014, an anti-DPRK "human rights resolution" was coercively adopted at the meeting of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly at the instigation of the U.S. - On December 22, 2014, the U.S. pressed for a meeting of United Nations Security Council with the agenda item of the DPRK's "human rights situation". - On January 22, 2015, Obama made malicious remarks about the "collapse" of the DPRK in an interview. - From May 17 to 18, 2015, during his visit to south Korea, the U.S. Secretary of State Kerry provoked the supreme leadership of the DPRK by talking about "reckless disregard for human rights" and "the most egregious examples". - On December 10, 2015, the U.S. has put the "human rights situation" of the DPRK on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council abusing its presidency of the Council. - On February 18, 2016, Obama signed the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016" which included psychological warfare and  "human rights"  offensive against  the DPRK to disintegrate it from within. - On July 6, 2016, the U.S. State Department released a report, pursuant to the "North Korea Sanctions  and  Policy  Enhancement  Act  of  2016",  that  made  impudent  remarks  about  the supreme leadership of the DPRK while maliciously condemning the country.

- On September 20, 2016, Obama labelled the DPRK as a "wasteland" in his speech at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. - On October 12, 2016, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs made vehement criticism of the supreme leadership of the DPRK. - On October 28, 2016, during his visit to south Korea, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State condemned the policy of the DPRK government as "reckless and inhumane". The political acts of hostility committed by the U.S. against the DPRK since its great leader passed away was indeed the most vicious, frantic and despicable of all times. 2.  Intensification  of  the  extremely  dangerous  military  hostility  and  nuclear  threat  and blackmail During the last five years the U.S. revealed its intention to deliver a preemptive nuclear strike against the DPRK and intensified its military threats against us at a maximum pace. The U.S. consistently increased the scale and intensity of the aggressive joint military drills which it conducts on annual basis, creating extreme tension on the Korean peninsula and driving the  situation  into  a  brink  of  nuclear  war  and  seriously  endangered  peace  and  security  in  the region. To take an example of the Key Resolve joint military exercise, one of the typical joint military drills of the U.S. and the south Korean puppets, 2 100 U.S. troops participated in the exercise in the year 2012, but the U.S. steadily increased the number of troops to 3 500 in 2013, 5 200 in 2014 and 8 600 in 2015, and in 2016, 27 000 troops participated in the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16 joint military exercises. Beside the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises, the U.S. conducted over 40 provocative and aggressive military drills under various names on  annual basis including Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercise, Max Thunder joint air force exercise, Double Dragon joint landing exercise and multilateral RIMPAC naval exercise, joint naval strike exercise, joint special force exercise, joint live firing exercise and so on. The total number of troops the U.S. has committed to these exercises reached over 500 000.

Not  only  the  scale  of  these  war  drills  has  increased,  but  also  their  character,  purpose  and contents became more and more provocative and frantic every year. The U.S., obsessed with its ambition to invade the DPRK, has been deploying various kinds of modern military equipment and assets in and around the Korean peninsula and tried to threaten and blackmail it with nuclear weapons. Since the  year  2012,  the  U.S.  has  consistently  conducted  various  kinds  of  military  drills against the DPRK, deploying its naval forces in and around the Korean peninsula including the nuclear  carriers  USS  George  Washington,  USS  Nimitz,  USS  Ronald  Reagan,  USS  John  C. Stennis, the flagship of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet USS Blue Ridge, nuclear submarines USS Ohio, USS San Francisco, USS Bremerton, USS Columbus, USS Olympia, USS North Carolina, USS Mississippi,  Aegis  cruiser  USS  Shiloh,  Aegis  destroyers  USS  Michael  Murphy,  USS  Kidd, guided missile destroyer USS Spruance and so on. In  addition,  the  U.S.  moved  B-1B,  B-2,  B-52  nuclear  strategic  bombers  from  the  U.S. mainland to Guam and they flew to south Korea several times to conduct drills for landing and dropping  nuclear  bombs  with  the  purpose  of  getting  ready  for  a  surprise  nuclear  pre-emptive strike against the DPRK. Despite severe criticism and condemnation at home and abroad, the U.S. proceeded with the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) to south Korea in full-scale. The U.S. rapidly intensified its military provocations against the DPRK since the year 2012 and here are some of the examples; - From February 27 to April 30, 2012, the U.S. conducted the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises. These exercises were aimed at the mourning period in our country after the passing away of the great leader and conducted in accordance with its all-out war scenario OPLAN 5027 and OPLAN 5029 allegedly aimed to cope with "contingency" in the North. - On June 22, 2012, the U.S. conducted the largest-ever joint live firing exercise together with the south Korean puppet army at the south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), using the DPRK flag as target.

[6]  -  From  August  20  to  31,  2012,  the  U.S  conducted the Ulji  Freedom  Guardian  exercise  in accordance with its "actual war scenario" against the DPRK. The flagship of the U.S. Navy 7th fleet and over 30 000 troops participated in this exercise. - From March 1 to April 30, 2013, the U.S. conducted the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises.  The  nuclear carrier USS George Washington,  nuclear submarine  and  huge amount of forces and war machines were mobilized for these exercises and during the exercise B-52H nuclear strategic bomber and B-2 stealth bomber flew into the sky above south Korea and dropped dummy munitions and F-22 stealth fighters were deployed to the Osan Air Force base in south Korea. - From August 19 to 30, 2013, the U.S. conducted the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercise.  Over  30  000  U.S.  troops  participated  in  this  exercise  and  during  the  exercise  B-52 nuclear strategic bombers flew into the sky above south Korea several times. - On February 5, 2014, B-52 nuclear strategic bomber flew into the sky above the west sea of the Korean peninsula and carried out drills for air strike. - From February 24 to April 18, 2014, the U.S. conducted the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises. The purpose of these exercises were to take control of the DPRK nuclear facilities  and  to  occupy  Pyongyang.  The  U.S.  applied  the  "Protocol  for  US-ROK  combined forces  to  respond  to  localized  provocations  by  North  Korea"  and  the  "Tailored  Deterrent Strategy" to these exercises. - On August 6, 2014, three B-2 nuclear strategic bombers moved from the U.S. mainland to Anderson Air Force base in Guam. - From August 18 to 29, 2014, the U.S. conducted the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercise. Over 30 000 U.S. troops participated in this exercise and they carried out a drill for a surprise  pre-emptive  strike  against  the  DPRK  in  accordance  with  the  "Tailored  Deterrent Strategy". - From March 2 to April 24, 2015, the U.S. conducted the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises aimed at "removing the DPRK headquarters" and "occupying Pyongyang".

 [7]  - On January 10, 2016, a B-52 nuclear strategic bomber took off from the Air Force base in Guam and flew into the sky above the Military Demarcation Line. - From March 7 to April 30, 2016, the U.S. conducted the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16 joint  military  exercises  and  disclosed  its  plan  for  "decapitation  operation"  and  "high-density strike". - On  April 26,  2016, Obama, in  an interview, said "We don't want  them getting  close. We could, obviously, destroy North Korea with our arsenals." -  On  June  17,  2016,  a  B-52  bomber  fleet  exercised  dropping  of  nuclear  bombs  in  the  sky above south Korea. - On July 8, 2016, the U.S. announced together with the south Korean puppets their agreement to deploy THAAD in south Korea. - On August 6, 2016, for the first time in ten years, the U.S. stationed several B-1B nuclear bombers in Guam and three additional B-2 nuclear strategic bombers on August 9. - Around August 23, 2016, B-1B, B-52, B-2 nuclear strategic bombers took off at the same time from Guam and flew to the Korean peninsula. - On September 13, 2016, two B-1B U.S. nuclear strategic bombers flew into the sky above south Korea and again on the 21st, and this time, one of them landed at the Osan Air Force base in south Korea. As one can see through the above-mentioned facts, the reckless and dangerous provocations of the U.S. to seek military invasion and collapse of the DPRK were highly intensified and reached an extreme phase. 3. Inhumane sanctions aimed at economic suffocation The manoeuvres  of  the  U.S.  to  impose  sanctions  on  the  DPRK  are  ages  old  and  their viciousness is also widely known to the world. However, what the U.S. did in the last five years was indeed unprecedented in its pace and intensity. The U.S regarded economic sanctions as the main tool for implementing its hostile policy against the DPRK and employed every heinous and vicious means to suffocate the DPRK.

 [8]  The U.S. made an issue of the DPRK's legitimate right to peaceful development of outer space and  its  build-up  of  self-defensive  nuclear  deterrence  and  made  frantic  attempts  to  fabricate heinous "sanctions resolutions" by usurping the United Nations Security Council. All the "sanctions resolutions" fabricated at the UNSC by the U.S. and its followers against the DPRK pursue heinous goal to deprive the DPRK of its right to existence, subsistence and development by blocking the regular  economic  activities of the DPRK through all  despicable means and methods. Through the so-called UN "sanctions resolutions", the U.S. seeks to prevent the DPRK from its routine financial transactions with other countries; put all the channels linked to the DPRK under tight control; force the inspection of any vessel sailing to and from the DPRK and prohibit entry of such vessel into ports of other countries; have other countries deny permission to any aircraft of the DPRK to take off from, land in and overfly their territory. The U.S. went so far as to devise a provision for the "ban on export and import of luxury goods" and prevented import of sport apparatus which has nothing to do with development of arms and even included daily necessities and children's toys in the list of "banned goods". Pursuant to the anti-DPRK "sanctions resolutions" it has forged, the U.S. is running amuck to impose unilateral sanctions while forcing other countries to get on board. The following are the facts and figures about the abhorrent anti-DPRK sanctions maneuvers made by the U.S. for the last five years; - On June 18, 2012, Obama declared the extension of state emergency and economic sanctions targeting the DPRK pursuant to the "International Emergency Economic Powers Act". ㅡ On January 22, 2013, the U.S. made an issue of the DPRK's peaceful satellite launch and instigated the  UNSC to  adopt the  "sanctions resolution  2087". On January 24,  the  U.S. State Department  and  the  Treasury  Department  announced  unilateral  sanctions  on  the  basis  of  the "resolution". -  On  March  7,  2013,  the  U.S.  pushed  the  UNSC  to  adopt the  "sanctions  resolution  2094", while making an issue of the DPRK's third nuclear test which was a righteous measure for self-defence. The Treasury Department declared unilateral sanctions, pursuant to the "resolution".

[9]  - In September 2013 and November 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a warning to all  the  U.S.  financial  institutions  urging  them  to  maintain  the  financial  sanctions  against  the DPRK at the highest level. - From April 23 to 26, 2014 during his visit to Japan and south Korea, Obama talked about tougher "sanctions" and "pressure" against the DPRK. - On January 2, 2015, Obama issued an executive order to impose sanctions on the DPRK as regards  the  alleged  hacking  into  Sony  Pictures  Entertainment  and,  pursuant  to  the  order,  the Treasury Department enforced the sanctions. -  In  July,  September,  November  and  December  2015,  the  U.S.  State  Department  and  the Treasury  Department  designated  the  DPRK's  individuals  and  entities  to  be  subject  to  the additional sanctions. - On February 18, 2016, Obama signed the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016", a law on comprehensive sanctions and pressure targeting the DPRK. - On March 2, 2016, the U.S. instigated the UNSC to adopt the "sanctions resolution 2270" by taking  issue  with  the  DPRK's  H-bomb  test  and  peaceful  satellite  launch.  The  U.S.  State Department and the Treasury Department enforced sanctions pursuant to the "resolution" as well as unilateral sanctions. - On March 16, 2016, Obama issued an executive order to impose sanctions on the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the government of the DPRK. The Treasury Department designated the DPRK's individuals, entities and vessels to be subject to the unilateral sanctions. - On June 1, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the DPRK as a "jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern". - On July 6, 2016, the U.S. State Department bitterly condemned the DPRK in its report issued pursuant to  the  "North  Korea  Sanctions  and  Policy Enhancement  Act  of 2016",  and  the  U.S. Treasury Department announced unilateral sanctions as a follow-up. - On November 4, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a final rule under section 311 of the "Patriot Act" to further restrict the DPRK's access to the U.S. financial system.

 [10] The ongoing economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. are indeed the toughest of all times and they are vicious hostile acts seeking to suffocate the DPRK's overall economy, undermine the people's livelihood and ultimately isolate and stifle the DPRK. As shown by the facts above, during the last five years the U.S. has designated the DPRK as the primary target for attack and regime change in the implementation of their aggressive Asia-Pacific  domination  strategy  and  steadily  and  systematically  intensified  political,  military  and economic pressure on it. The desperate hostile policy of the U.S toward the DPRK gave  rise  to  the  self-defensive measures from the latter. In response to the U.S. hostile acts of having wantonly violated the DPRK's legitimate right to peaceful satellite launch and fabricated another "sanctions resolution" by instigating the UNSC, the  DPRK  conducted  the  third  nuclear  test  on  February12,  2013  as  part  of  practical countermeasures to safeguard the country's security and sovereignty. The H-bomb test conducted for the first time by the DPRK in January 2016 was also a self-defensive measure to firmly protect the country's sovereignty and the nation's right to existence and guarantee peace on the Korean peninsula and the regional security from the frantic attempts of the U.S. to put in place the harshest-ever political isolation, economic blockade and military pressure and even impose nuclear holocaust on the DPRK. Deeply unnerved by the DPRK's strengthened nuclear forces, the U.S. sought reckless military provocations, even touting about the "decapitation operation" and "high density strike". To cope with  these  nefarious  provocations  of  the  U.S.,  the  DPRK  demonstrated  mighty  nuclear  strike capabilities  of  Juche  Korea  through  the  disclosure  of  a  miniaturized  nuclear  warhead  and successful test fire of submarine launched ballistic missiles and surface to surface medium and long range strategic rocket "Hwasong-10". On September 9, 2016, the DPRK has made a successful nuclear warhead detonation as part of its substantive countermeasures against the threats and sanctions by the U.S. and other hostile forces who severely criticized the DPRK's exercise of right to self-defence and doggedly denied its strategic position.

 [11]  All the facts above clearly substantiate the truth that the root cause of escalated tension on the Korean peninsula lies with the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threats against the DPRK, not the latter's nuclear and missile tests. The DPRK has chosen the road of possessing nuclear weapons as a self-defensive measure to safeguard its state and system from the constant nuclear threat of the U.S. We are strengthening our  nuclear  forces  both  in  quality  and  quantity,  holding  fast  to  the  line  of  simultaneously developing the national economy and nuclear forces as our strategic line. The U.S. should face up to the new strategic position of the DPRK and take actual measures to show that they are willing to scrap its anachronistic hostile policy and nuclear threat against the DPRK. This and only this will be the first base of resolving all the issues.

Kim Jong Un Provides Field Guidance to Ryongaksan Soap Factory

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, provided field guidance to the newly built Ryongaksan Soap Factory.

Enjoying a panoramic view of the factory with a broad smile on his face, he said with great satisfaction that a large-scale modern factory was built in a matter of a few months though it seemed like yesterday when he was visiting the construction site. Another factory has sprung up to contribute to improving the standard of the people's living, he added.

He went round various places of the factory to learn in detail about the production processes, technical specifications of equipment and varieties and quality of products.

Appreciating the successful construction of the factory, he said he was pleased with everything there as the building area and production space have been built and equipment are rationally distributed on the basis of the scientific design of technological processes and the inside and outside of the factory have been arranged in an impeccable style.

He noted that all production processes have been put on an automated and unmanned basis at a high level and an excellent integrated production system established in line with the features of the factory producing all kinds of liquid soap and detergent.

He was pleased that the factory has not only modern injection moulding machines capable of easily producing various containers for liquid soap which look nice and convenient but sufficient cutting-edge equipment capable of analyzing and examining the quality and hygienic safety of products.

He said that it is gratifying to see varieties of products including shampoo, rinse, detergent for vessels and soap powder on high pile, though the factory started production not long before.

He set forth the tasks facing the factory including the issues of increasing varieties of liquid soap and detergent and their output year by year and thoroughly guaranteeing their quality and further improving their trademarks.

Noting that the factory was successfully built in such a manner as to match the natural scenery of Mt. Ryongak, he recalled that leader Kim Jong Il gave instructions to build a factory specializing in the production of liquid soap on several occasions in his lifetime and said with pleasure that one of his behests was fulfilled.

He said with a broad smile on his face that he was pleased to picture the people liking varieties of liquid soap and detergent produced by the factory, adding he was relieved of the pent-up fatigue.

The Ryongaksan Soap Factory is a factory to which the Party pays great attention and a factory directly related to improving the people's standard of living, he said, expressing expectation and conviction that its officials and employees would creditably fulfill their honorable duty.

He was accompanied by Hwang Pyong So, O Su Yong, An Jong Su, Kim Yong Su, So Hong Chan, Jo Yong Won and Ma Won Chun.

Kim Jong Un Inspects KPA Special Operation Battalion

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), inspected a special operation battalion under KPA Unit 525.

He personally organized the battalion and made sure that its barracks were successfully built.

Going round the bedroom, education room, mess hall, general training hall and swimming drill pool of the battalion, he guided hurdle-overcoming training, general striking drill, shooting training, minimum altitude dropping training, drill for dropping from helicopters with the help of rope and assault training at the general outdoor drill ground.

The combatants of the battalion having their basic mission to wipe out the human scum who have committed thrice-cursed high treasons, holding important posts at Chongwadae, the puppet government and the military, have fully displayed their capability to fulfill their duties independently and effectively.

He highly praised them for their successes in the drills, saying that all of them are one-match-for-a-hundred fighters with iron fists and they are crack shots as they hit all targets with pistols and automatic rifles.

Noting that the battalion is a combat unit to which the supreme commander attaches special importance and in which he reposes the deepest trust, he set forth the tasks facing the battalion.

Expressing expectation and conviction that the combatants of the battalion having an important mission to stab the enemy hearts with sharp daggers and break their backs would successfully carry out their honorable combat duty, he gave them a pair of binoculars and automatic rifle as gifts before having a photo session with them.

He was accompanied by KPA Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, KPA Vice Marshal Ri Myong Su, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, and Army Col. General Ri Yong Gil, first vice-chief of the General Staff and director of the General Operation Bureau of the KPA.

Kim Jong Un Inspects Islet Defence Detachment in Western Sector of Front

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, inspected the defence detachment on Mahap Islet in the western sector of the front.

Going round the headquarters of the detachment, barracks, education rooms and mess halls of various companies, he had warm talks with their service personnel and paid deep attention to their living.

Noting that the soldiers on forefront like those of the detachment should be stronger than anyone in their revolutionary faith, he underlined the need to train the soldiers of the detachment as indomitable fighters steadfast in the spirit of defending the socialist country by conducting the political and ideological education among them in a unique manner.

He called for providing better cultural living conditions to the soldiers, establishing a strong habit of reading books and learning among them and conducting brisk activities of company art groups so that they may always spend their days of worthwhile military service full of optimism and joy with versatile knowledge and cultural attainments.

Learning in detail about the supply service to the soldiers and the education of the children of officers' families, he underlined the need to pay special attention to the living of the service personnel and officers' families and direct efforts to bean farming, greenhouse farming, stockbreeding and sideline fishing so that the service personnel of the islet detachment may not long for the life on the land.

He mounted an observation post where he learned in detail about the deployment of artillery pieces and combat readiness after being briefed on the firepower strike plan of the detachment.

Urging the service personnel of the detachment to do their bit once a fight breaks out, he gave precious instructions to round off its combat preparations.

He issued a surprise order to artillery piece No. 3 of the second platoon of the first company of the detachment to go into action from its position and strike the designated target and guided a live shell firing drill.

Having promptly finished their preparations to open fire, the artillerymen accurately hit the naval target as ordered by him.

He highly appreciated the results of their firing, saying with great joy that they are really good at firing as they won the master gunner prize at the artillery firing contest of islet artillery sub-units held in last July and he might rest assured of the defence detachment on Mahap Islet. He had a photo taken with them.

He gave the soldiers a pair of binoculars, an automatic rifle and a machine gun as gifts and had a photo session with all service personnel and officers' families of the defence detachment.

Accompanying him were Vice-Marshal of the KPA Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, Vice-Marshal of the KPA Ri Myong Su, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, Army Col. General Ri Yong Gil, first vice-chief of the KPA General Staff and director of the General Operation Bureau, Army Major General Pak Jong Chon, director of the Artillery Bureau of the KPA, Army Lieut. General Ri Song Guk, commander of the 4th Corps of the KPA, and Army Major General Ri Yong Chol, political commissar of the corps.

Kim Jong Un Inspects Fishery Stations of KPA

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, inspected the May 27 Fishery Station and the January 8 Fishery Station run by the KPA which have made big fish hauls.

He visited the May 27 Fishery Station.

Saying that upon receiving a report that the fishery station was built on a modern basis and caught several thousand tons of sailfin sandfish in a recent few days, he came to the station before doing anything else, being eager to convey the news of big fish hauls to the people, the supreme leader noted with great satisfaction that he feasted his eyes on the picturesque fishery station and dwelling houses on his tour boat and a new fishing village has sprung up to be a spectacular scenery in the east coastal area.

Servicepersons successfully built all structures to be impeccable even in the distant future, he said, adding that the area has undergone a dramatic change within a year and he would take off his hat to the KPA's fighting spirit and traits of emptying even a sea and flattening a mountain if it is a decision of the Party.

Looking at the visual aids floating in waters, he said the aids show how the KPA has implemented the Party policy that one can create a thing out of nothing when one's mental power is mobilized. This year alone, the KPA has done great things not only on the front of restoring the flood-hit northern area but in other parts of the country and one of the keys to such feats is that it has properly conducted the precisely-targeted, frontline-style Party political work.

He went round the combined control room, cold-storage processing factory and cannery.

Noting he is satisfied to see modern sharp-freezing and deep-freezing equipment with storing capacity of several thousand tons installed at the station and all processes, including washing, sorting, supply and auto-weighing of fish, pouring of water, quick freezing and thawing, put on a streamlined and unmanned basis, and specifically a robot smartly transferring frozen fish, he said that a sure guarantee has been laid to provide service personnel and civilians with fresh fish all the year round while saving manpower and preserving sanitation.

He learnt about the situation of fishing, seeing with bright smile the scene of loading and unloading fish on the ship and big piles of frozen fish at storages.

Going round the hall of culture and a residential district of multi-storied flats to be used by fishermen, he highly appreciated that servicepersons had built them well as intended by the Party.

He had a photo session with officials and employees of the May 27 Fishery Station.

Then he toured the January 8 Fishery Station.

He feels very good and relieved of his fatigue, seeing heaps of stored fish enough to be supplied until September of next year, he said with pride, adding that the establishment of the station has borne fruit.

He gave a high appreciation of the station's officials and fishermen who fulfilled their fishing plan for this year ahead of schedule, noting that they have made much effort to fishing with his and their mind to supply fish to children and old persons at orphanages and almshouses every day.

He had a photo session with officials and employees of the station.

He set forth the important tasks facing the fishing sector.

Accompanying him were KPA Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, and Army Col. General So Hong Chan, first vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces.

Kim Jong Un Guides Firing Contest among Women MLRS Gunners of KPA

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, guided a firing contest among women multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) gunners selected from the large combined units of the KPA.

He organized this contest all of a sudden and guided it on the spot in order to estimate and confirm the combat capability of women gunners through the firing contest among MLRS batteries for eliminating enemy helicopter-borne troops dropping on a landing area for an assault, and take steps and raise a hotter wind of training in the entire army the way the anti-Japanese guerillas did in Mt. Paektu.

He was briefed on the mode and method of the contest at an observation post and issued an order to start the contest.

Watching women gunners rapidly taking firing positions, he said the women gunners are doing really well though it would be hard for them to pull MLRS on the ankle-deep sand. Saying that there is a gap between men and women in the limits of their physical strength but there is no difference between the men and women soldiers in their loyalty to the Party and the revolution, the country and its people, he underlined the need to train the women soldiers as indomitable fighters steadfast in their revolutionary spirit to help them do their shares in the great war for national reunification.

When the order to fire was given, the women gunners fully demonstrated their marksmanship of never missing targets they have cultivated through a high-pitched movement for becoming crackshots.

Observing the contest, he stressed that commanding officers should be well aware of why he organized the contest all of a sudden. He underlined the need for them to prepare all gunners to be capable of hitting targets whenever and wherever they are ordered to fire. To this end, the training of artillery units should be conducted under the simulated conditions of an actual battle, he emphasized.

The training irrelevant to an actual war is not necessary no matter how frequently it is conducted and soldiers would have to pay dearly in combat for such training, he said, adding ardent patriotism and loyalty of the commanding officers and their warm love for soldiers are manifested in remaining strict with soldiers in training.

He gave instructions to round off the combat readiness of the KPA and bolster up its artillery force.

The women MLRS battery under the 9th Corps of the KPA came first in the contest and prizes personally prepared by him were conveyed to the winners.

He shook hands with the winners one by one and had a photo taken with the participants of the contest.

AFRICA REGIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE STUDY OF JUCHE IDEA HOLDS TENTH BOARD MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The tenth Board meeting of the African Regional Committee on the Study of Juche Idea was held Mpumalanga Province, South Africa from the October 25th to 31st, 2016. The 10th Board Meeting was followed by a seminar in conjunction with the South African Communist Party. Directors of the African Regional Committee on the Study of Juche Idea, members of the South African Communist Party, delegation from the Korean Association of Social Scientists, delegation from the International Institute of Juche Idea, members of the Juche Study groups in South Africa, members of the DPR of Korea/South African Friendship Association, officials of the DPR of Korea as well as progressives all over South Africa were present.

AFRICA REGIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE STUDY OF JUCHE IDEA HOLDS TENTH BOARD MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The tenth Board meeting of the African Regional Committee on the Study of Juche Idea was held Mpumalanga Province, South Africa from the October 25th to 31st, 2016. The 10th Board Meeting was followed by a seminar in conjunction with the South African Communist Party. Directors of the African Regional Committee on the Study of Juche Idea, members of the South African Communist Party, delegation from the Korean Association of Social Scientists, delegation from the International Institute of Juche Idea, members of the Juche Study groups in South Africa, members of the DPR of Korea/South African Friendship Association, officials of the DPR of Korea as well as progressives all over South Africa were present.

Kim Jong Un Provides Field Guidance to Ryongaksan Soap Factory

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, provided field guidance to the newly built Ryongaksan Soap Factory.

Enjoying a panoramic view of the factory with a broad smile on his face, he said with great satisfaction that a large-scale modern factory was built in a matter of a few months though it seemed like yesterday when he was visiting the construction site. Another factory has sprung up to contribute to improving the standard of the people's living, he added.

He went round various places of the factory to learn in detail about the production processes, technical specifications of equipment and varieties and quality of products.

Appreciating the successful construction of the factory, he said he was pleased with everything there as the building area and production space have been built and equipment are rationally distributed on the basis of the scientific design of technological processes and the inside and outside of the factory have been arranged in an impeccable style.

He noted that all production processes have been put on an automated and unmanned basis at a high level and an excellent integrated production system established in line with the features of the factory producing all kinds of liquid soap and detergent.

He was pleased that the factory has not only modern injection moulding machines capable of easily producing various containers for liquid soap which look nice and convenient but sufficient cutting-edge equipment capable of analyzing and examining the quality and hygienic safety of products.

He said that it is gratifying to see varieties of products including shampoo, rinse detergent for vessels and soap powder on high pile, though the factory started production not long before.

He set forth the tasks facing the factory including the issues of increasing varieties of liquid soap and detergent and their output year by year and thoroughly guaranteeing their quality and further improving their trademarks.

Noting that the factory was successfully built in such a manner as to match the natural scenery of Mt. Ryongak, he recalled that leader Kim Jong Il gave instructions to build a factory specializing in the production of liquid soap on several occasions in his lifetime and said with pleasure that one of his behests was fulfilled.

He said with a broad smile on his face that he was pleased to picture the people liking varieties of liquid soap and detergent produced by the factory, adding he was relieved of the pent-up fatigue.

The Ryongaksan Soap Factory is a factory to which the Party pays great attention and a factory directly related to improving the people's standard of living, he said, expressing expectation and conviction that its officials and employees would creditably fulfill their honorable duty.

He was accompanied by Hwang Pyong So, O Su Yong, An Jong Su, Kim Yong Su, So Hong Chan, Jo Yong Won and Ma Won Chun.

Kim Jong Un Inspects KPA Special Operation Battalion

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), inspected a special operation battalion under KPA Unit 525.

He personally organized the battalion and made sure that its barracks were successfully built.

Going round the bedroom, education room, mess hall, general training hall and swimming drill pool of the battalion, he guided hurdle-overcoming training, general striking drill, shooting training, minimum altitude dropping training, drill for dropping from helicopters with the help of rope and assault training at the general outdoor drill ground.

The combatants of the battalion having their basic mission to wipe out the human scum who have committed thrice-cursed high treasons, holding important posts at Chongwadae, the puppet government and the military, have fully displayed their capability to fulfill their duties independently and effectively.

He highly praised them for their successes in the drills, saying that all of them are one-match-for-a-hundred fighters with iron fists and they are crack shots as they hit all targets with pistols and automatic rifles.

Noting that the battalion is a combat unit to which the supreme commander attaches special importance and in which he reposes the deepest trust, he set forth the tasks facing the battalion.

Expressing expectation and conviction that the combatants of the battalion having an important mission to stab the enemy hearts with sharp daggers and break their backs would successfully carry out their honorable combat duty, he gave them a pair of binoculars and automatic rifle as gifts before having a photo session with them.

He was accompanied by KPA Vice Marshal Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, KPA Vice Marshal Ri Myong Su, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, and Army Col. General Ri Yong Gil, first vice-chief of the General Staff and director of the General Operation Bureau of the KPA.