What was recently a street in North Korea's flood-hit South
Pyongan Province. Is it possible that funneling the lion's
share
of national resources to the military has contributed to the
disaster? Pyongyang takes
umbrage at the suggestion.
'Ridiculous' Americans
Say Songun Ideal Brought on Flood Damage (Korean Central
News Agency, North Korea)
Is it possible
that Pyongyang's religiously-touted 'Songun' or 'Military
First' policy of governance could be behind the tremendous loss of life and
property during recent flooding in the country? Apparently not according to the
North Korea regime, which calls the charge made by Koreans interviewed by the VOA, a 'ridiculous sophism.'
PYONGYANG: It appears
that the United States is now intent on curbing the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea from enforcing Songun politics, by
blaming Songun politics for recent flood damage.
It [the United States] blamed the flood damage in the DPRK on the Songun Ideal.
[Editor's Note: The Songun
Ideal [aka/Military First] is said to have been introduced by Kim Jong-il in 1995, as an offshoot of the "Juche Ideal," which means, essentially, "Self Reliance." The Songun Line is like Stalinist Communism on steroids. Like
the Soviet Stalinists, it emphasizes military strength over the quality of life
of people, regarding it as a necessary stage in the nation's development. It is
a belief that literally favors the achievement of the vaguely-defined "creation
of an ideological and political life" over the most elemental needs of
human beings. What makes this editorial stand out is that it appears to show that the King Jong-un regime intends to tip ever so slightly toward the people's needs and away from the military. In it, it seeks more
of a balance between the strength of the army and basic needs of the people. Here
is an excerpt from a 2008 Korean news article that sought to explain the Songun Ideal:
"Songun means to regard military affairs as the greatest of
State affairs. ... Some people ask: 'Why do north Koreans put such a priority on
military affairs while allowing some to go hungry?' and 'Can the gun feed
people?' As they say, the gun cannot give food. The essence of the Songun idea is that although guns of the Revolutionary Army
cannot make a meal, they can create something even more valuable. Those with
the guns of revolution have it within their power to create ideological and
political life"].
It [the
United States] allowed "professors" and defectors to the south to say, in
appearances on the Voice of America, that "many aspects of the disaster show a failure
on the part of the government's policy" and "to better control flooding,
the north should change it Songun politics."
It is nothing
but a ridiculous sophism to link natural disasters that regularly sweep the
world and abnormal and unpredictable climatic conditions with Songun politics. This very typical example of U.S. propaganda
offers a glimpse into its unending hostility toward the dignity of Songun politics and the DPRK socialist
system, and is yet another grave and unpardonable politically-motivated
provocation.
[Editor's Note: The Voice of America reported on
on Aug. 7: "Heavy rains have triggered deadly floods across much of North
Korea since July 25. State media says about 170 people have died in the floods
and 400 are missing. More than 200,000 are reported homeless, while 60,000
hectares of farmland have been washed away.]
As has been
long recognized by the international community, the cause of independence is
one of truth and vitality. In the DPRK, the cause of Songun has already been proven by history as promoting the
progress of society and mankind and meeting the desire of the masses for
independence.
Gigantic
projects to harness nature may face temporary setbacks and unexpected natural
disaster. The Democratic People's Republic overcomes such ordeals by dint of
the great unity of it army and people under the banner of Songun.
The nation's Songun politics represent the treasured and ever-victorious
sword for the protection of the sovereignty and dignity of the country - and
welfare of the people.
This screen grab
from the Korean Central News Agency shows
a street in Anju
City, about 30 miles north of Pyongyang.
The DPRK's present drive for building an economic power and for realizing the
people's wishes owes a lot to Songun politics, and it remains unchanged in its stand.
With blinders on,
however, the U.S. is kicking up mean-spirited propaganda, aimed at influencing the world.
The aim is to
undercut the prestige of the Songun-dignified DPRK and build discontent in DPRK society in an effort to bring
down Korea-style socialism at any cost.
Trying to force the DPRK to give up Songun
politics is little short of forcing it to lay down its arms and surrender. It is just another version of "regime change" and only
reveals the absurdity of American assertions that Washington has no hostility toward the
DPRK.
If any policy changes are needed, they are surely in the foreign and domestic policies of the U.S.
In 2005, Hurricane
"Katrina" hit America, bringing to light the country's political and
moral vulnerabilities. The VOA admitted as much at the time, reporting that the disaster highlighted the need to tackle
domestic poverty and racism. It is a report that is still fresh
in the memory of the world's people.
America's brigandish policy, which disregards the
sovereignty of other nations and the right of their peoples to exist, is most responsible for the plights and deaths of innocent people.
As is clearly demonstrable. U.S. policy is the most reactionary and unethical in the world, and itself
imposes every kind of disaster on mankind.
Rather than lecturing others, the U.S.
should feel ashamed of its own sordid policies.
