The higher the stage of socialist construction for achieving the independence of the masses reaches, the greater the challenge and resistance by the imperialists become.
As long as imperialism, whose inherent nature and means of existence is aggression and plunder, exists, the source of war cannot be rooted out, and antagonism and struggle between socialism, which aspires after independence and peace, and imperialism is unavoidable in the development of history.
Therefore, it is a crucial and vital requirement in achieving a steady development and prosperity of socialism that conditions and an environment that allow no aggressive threat be created; to this end, we should possess an absolute strength with which we can definitely overwhelm the enemy.
Our Republic, as a citadel of the anti-imperialist struggle and a fortress of socialism, resolutely promoted the construction of a self-reliant national defence capability according to its own timetable in the face of intervention and pressures by the hostile forces of all hues. By doing so, it put an end to the era when the US imperialists unilaterally imposed nuclear threat.
I found this quote really interesting in its honesty. If I am interpreting correctly, it seems as if he is acknowledging that capitulation to imperialist forces would likely lead to a better standard of living for many Korean people in the short term with better access to foreign consumer goods and foodstuffs, but that by looking at history we can clearly see that these boons (from things like IMF loans and western “aid”) do not last long and that austerity and defenselessness would ultimately destroy Korea as capitulation and collaboration have done so effectively in the past to other socialist nations. It reminds me of the Sankara quote about aid,
insofar as Chairman Kim goes on to elaborate that it will be the Korean people determining Korea’s destiny, and not conditional so-called aid from the imperialists. Brilliant speech.
This one, too.