North Korea's 'Songun Policy' Prevents War with America

Is North Korea's military first policy or 'Songun Politics' responsible for keeping the Korean Peninsula at peace, while 'various parts of the world are being torn apart by wars and disputes instigated by America's arbitrary practices?' According to the statement published in North Korea's tightly-controlled news service, Kim Jong-il's policy of starving people to build nuclear weapons is fully justified.

November 23, 2006

North Korea - Korean News - Home Page (English)    

Pyongyang: Today's stirring reality eloquently shows that Songun politics [the 'Army First' policy] serves as an invincible sword and a great method for dealing with imperialist aggression and war. It represents and protects the dignity and honor of the nation.

[Editor's Note: The "Songon Line" or the "Songun Ideal" are said to have been introduced by Kim Jong-il in 1995 as an offshoot of the "Juche Ideal" which was put forth by his father Kim Il-sung. The phrase essentially means, "Self Reliance." The "Songun Line" is like Stalinist Communism on steroids. As in the former Soviet Union, it emphasizes the military over the quality of life of its people as a necessary stage in the nation's development. Here is an excerpt from a Korean News article that seeks to explain:

Regarding military affairs, Songun is the greatest of State affairs ... Some people ask: "Why do North Koreans put a priority on military affairs while going hungry?" and "Can the gun feed people?" As they say, the gun cannot give people food. But the essence of the Songun idea is that even though the gun of the revolutionary army cannot make a meal, it can create something even more valuable. Those with the guns of revolution have it within their power to create ideological and political life].

Irrespective of ideology, political view and isms, all Koreans are called on to support Songun politics. The Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland declared this on Thursday in an appeal to all the Koreans at home and abroad. It is the shining fruition of Songun politics that North Korea startled the world and now ranks itself proudly among the nuclear weapons states. The appeal goes on:

Drawing a bitter lesson from the painful history of the nation and current events, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea now has access to a nuclear deterrent. This was a self-defense measure taken to defend the nation in an unjust world, and was the proper message to send the U.S. imperialists, who pose the threat of aggression against the DPRK.

Various parts of the world are now being torn apart by wars and disputes instigated by America's arbitrary practices, but on the Korean Peninsula, peace has been firmly preserved. This clearly demonstrates that North Korea was quite right when it decided to increase the nation's capacity for self-defense, and be tightening the belts of the people under the uplifted banner of Songun.

It is thanks to Songun politics that the Korean nation is known as the proudest and most dignified nation in the world, it explains why the nation's peace and security are fully guaranteed.  Songun politics is the great political policy that protects the destiny of the Korean nation and safeguards peace in the country.

If not for Songun politics, peace would not have been preserved on the peninsula during the past over half-century, nor would the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration have been recorded in the history of the Korean nation, nor would the present era of "Our nation by itself" have come. Thanks to Songun politics, the tours of Mt. Kumgangsan and construction at the Kaesong Industrial Zone were launched, along with the dreams and laughter of fellow countrymen.

One's attitude toward Songun politics is what distinguishes patriots from traitors. Whoever has the blood and soul of the Korean nation in mind, whether he or she be in the north or south or overseas, is called on to single-mindedly uphold Songun Politics to demonstrate their most ardent patriotism.

The appeal calls on all fellow countrymen in the north, south and overseas to bravely stand up in the struggle to frustrate America's hostile policy, its sanctions and its blockade against toward North Korea.

The appeal calls for a more dynamic struggle to foil the war exercises of the bellicose forces of the U.S. and South Korea's, and put an end to America's military presence in south Korea.

The appeal urges the South Korean people to shatter the "Grand National Party's [opposition party]" wild ambition to return to power. All patriots are called upon to throw overboard all traitors to the nation and unite closer in the idea of "Our nation by itself," which is enshrined in the historic June 15 joint declaration.

It calls on all Koreans to join the great national march toward independence, peace, reunification and prosperity under the banner of Songun.