The Dear Leader
친애하는 지시선
Kim Il-Sung became a guerrilla fighter in the struggle against Japanese occupation of Korea. When he returned from a long sojourn in the Soviet Union, he was chosen by the Soviets to control their new territory in the North in August 1945. Utilizing the ideology of Juche to ensure the Korean people’s loyalty to him, he would become the centerpiece of that ideology and the omnipresent force in the people’s life.
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Suk-Young Kim, Professor of East Asian Performance and Visual Culture at UCSB, and David Kang Professor of International Relations and Business at USC Dana explain the concept of a "family" in North Korean politics. Juche Strong
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"He stopped before a particular flower, its stem stretching straight, its leaves spreading fair, giving a cool appearance, and its pink blossoms showing off their elegance and preciousness; he said the plant looked lovely, speaking highly of the success in raising it. Sukarno said that the plant had not yet been named, and that he would name it after Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung declined his offer, but Sukarno insisted earnestly that respected Kim Il Sung was entitled to such a great honour, for he had already performed great exploits for the benefit of mankind."
- Pyongyang's Top 100 Important Events of the 20th Century: |
"North Koreans would continue to praise their leaders even as they starved to death. That's how they understood it." - Young Ea Ma, North Korean Defector "On April 15, 1912, Kim Il-Sung was born. The sun hath risen. We were so lucky to worship the Sun of the 21st Century."
- "Mrs. Kim", North Korean Defector |