Kim Jong Un was re-elected to the post of President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly on March 22.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to his DPRK counterpart on March 26, in which he wrote:
“The traditional China-DPRK friendship is a precious asset common to the two countries. It is the consistent and steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-DPRK relations.”
In a reply message sent the following day, Kim Jong Un wrote that:
“I am pleased to note that the traditional DPRK-China relations are being put on a new high stage in keeping with the aspiration and desire of the two parties and the peoples of the two countries according to the important agreement reached at the meeting with you in September last year. Steadfast is the stand of our Party and government to continue to develop in depth the DPRK-China relations of friendship and cooperation with socialism as the core.”
The day following his re-election, Kim Jong Un delivered an important speech in which he began by: “Expressing my thanks to the Supreme People’s Assembly for entrusting me again with the sacred mission of representing the DPRK and guiding the overall work of the country, I solemnly pledge to make all sincere efforts to firmly defend the Constitution of our Republic and promote the prosperity and development of the State and the well-being of the people, bearing deep in mind the trust and expectations of all of you.”
In the course of a comprehensive and wide-ranging presentation the DPRK leader made some significant observations bearing on the present international situation, including the following:
“The past decade clearly showed that no objective conditions and circumstances can ever check the advance of a state and people that have turned out in the struggle to shape their future, rallied as one with a firm faith, and that the most correct road to prosperity is to achieve self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
“The hostile forces wanted us to make a different choice, preaching a payment for our giving up of nuclear weapons, but the present situation clearly proves how just the strategic option and decision of our State were in rejecting the enemy’s cajolery and perpetuating our nuclear possession so that it is irreversible…
“Thus, our State has ushered in a new era of achieving security and safeguarding peace with strength, not by any declaration or through any appeal.
“The present world situation, in which the dignity and rights of sovereign states are being trampled upon feebly by unilateral high-handedness and tyranny, clearly teaches us what is a sure guarantee for the existence of our State and for defending peace.
“With an insight into the immutable nature of the imperialist and dominationist forces, for whom seeking hegemony has become an inveterate mental attribute and whose shamelessness would evolve to be more brigandish, we secured in a foresighted way a substantial capability for coping with the security threats that would face us in the future and their worst changes. We were absolutely right in doing so.
“Externally, the United States and its allies are constantly deploying nuclear strategic assets in the region around our country and threatening the security mainstay in the region, but in fact this is not something new to us, and security of our State is being maintained on a level higher than that in other regions of the world.
“I am sure to say: Ours is no longer a country that is susceptible to threats from others, and it has the power to threaten them, if necessary…
“Unpredictability is the only predictable future situation in the present world. If there is anything predictable, it is the aggressive nature of imperialism which can never change.
“Therefore, it will be the greatest error and a reckless gamble for us to predict the presently existing threats and prospective international political trend too easily and without adequate consideration and plan the future without careful deliberation.
“The surest way to predict future events and provide for unpredictability is to be prepared for everything.
“The correct way to turn unpredictability into predictability is to always worry about the worst situation, rather than seeking comfort, prioritise long-term and strategic benefits over short-term and visible benefits, and aspire to tomorrow’s sustainable prosperity, rather than today’s ease.
“We should have a powerful force to make peace a choice of the strong, not a sign of weakness. The DPRK has never refused peace so far and has not neglected in the slightest the efforts to have the most reliable means of defending peace from the most peace-loving stand. This is the most responsible choice not only for guaranteeing our own security but also for maintaining stability and durable peace in the region and the international community…
“Precisely, we know too well what we have to do, and will continue to do what we have to do as ever without fail. Whether our enemies choose confrontation or peaceful co-existence, it is their option, and we are ready to respond to any of their options…
“Although the United States is now resorting to acts of state-sponsored terrorism and aggression in various parts of the world, its arrogant high-handedness and rashness have failed to undermine the will of progressive humanity to oppose domination and subjugation and achieve independence and equality, but rather triggered off anti-American sentiments and hatred of the forces aspiring after independence, and they are pushing them towards unity and resistance.
“The forces aspiring after independence will surely overcome the present trials and get stronger than the hegemony-seeking forces, and the building of an equitable and just multipolar world will be further promoted.
“The government of the DPRK will, in the future, too, readily undertake the historic mission of leading the trend of global independence under the uplifted banner of independence.
“We should firmly guarantee the building of socialist society politically and diplomatically by pursuing an independent foreign policy that best conforms to our national interests, while regarding it as the foremost principle to defend national interests to cope with the changed international balance of forces and the uncertain international political situation…
“The DPRK will, in the future, too, discharge its responsibility in promoting international justice and regional and global peace and security, while firmly defending its sovereignty, security and fundamental interests.”
The detailed report of the speech, dealing with many aspects of socialist construction in the DPRK, may be read here.
The following articles were originally published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). At time of writing, KCNA had also reported messages of greetings to Kim Jong Un on his re-election from the presidents of Russia, Vietnam, Belarus, Nicaragua, Mongolia, and Palestine.
