Self-sufficiency in the economy is a material guarantee and a prerequisite for building an independent State

To firmly consolidate the material foundations of socialism by concentrating all efforts on economic construction is the central task facing the Party and the State at present and the main thing in economic construction is to hold higher the banner of self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said:

"Economic self-sufficiency is a material guarantee and prerequisite for building an independent State."

Economic independence is a material guarantee and prerequisite for building an independent State. Only by independent and powerful economic power can we defend the dignity of the State and steadily bolster up its political and military might.

Realizing economic self-sufficiency is a material guarantee and a prerequisite for building an independent State. First of all, it is because a nation can defend and glorify its dignity and status only with independent and powerful economic power.

Economic independence is the basic principle of socialist construction in the DPRK.

Since socialist construction is the work of the popular masses themselves to realize their demand and desire for independence, it requires them to exercise their rights as masters and fulfil their responsibility as such. In socialist Korea of Juche where the popular masses are fulfilling their rights and responsibilities as full-fledged masters of the State and society, the motive force of the development of the State is the high spiritual strength and creative power of the popular masses and the path of State building is that of independence which fully meets the specific conditions and actual conditions of the DPRK and the demands and interests of the Korean people.

In the present world political arena in which the imperialists' aggressive moves are becoming undisguised and the struggle of powers seeking hegemony is intensifying, a nation should have its own firm foundation in order to maintain and glorify its sovereignty.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is geographically located between big powers and the territory is still divided into two parts and socialist construction is being carried out, while frustrating the hostile forces' moves to contain, weaken and stifle the DPRK. The contradictions and confrontation between big powers for hegemony are being escalated in the region and the rest of the world.

In order to defend its sovereignty and dignity and achieve genuine prosperity under the special circumstances of the Korean revolution and the present complicated world situation, it is necessary for DPRK to strengthen its own strength and develop independently from a firm independent stand.

The people's growing laughter of happiness in socialist Korea, the most advantageous in the world, and the dignity and status of the DPRK in the international political arena are guaranteed only by the independent and powerful economic power, not by the offering of the passage of time.

Only self-sufficient and modern economic construction based on the strength and wisdom of the Korean people and the resources and scientific and technological strength of the DPRK is a proud and resolute way to defend and glorify the dignity and status of the country and people and to become strong and lead a prosperous life.

Economic self-sufficiency is the substantial strength and source guaranteeing the dignity of the DPRK and the Korean people and the prosperity of all generations to come.

The Korean people have solid foundations and assets of the independent national economy that President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il bequeathed as precious revolutionary heritage. And they have valuable successes and experience they gained in performing miracles in the new century of Juche Korea under the outstanding leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and the sci-tech potentials and material and technical foundations further strengthened under his wise guidance.

Thanks to the patriotic wisdom, enthusiasm and tremendous strength of the great Korean people who formed the fortress defending the great Party, the building of independent and powerful economy will surely be accelerated, and the dignity and status of the DPRK, the country of great people, will be further consolidated and glorified.

Second, it is because a nation can steadily bolster up its overall strength only on the basis of independent and powerful economic strength.

National strength is the practical strength of a country in political, economic, military, cultural and all other fields and the destiny and prosperity of a nation depend on the might of the national strength.

Economic strength can be called the material indicator in assessing the national strength. Only on the basis of the independent and powerful economic strength can we steadily increase the overall national strength of the country and successfully accelerate the building of an independent State.

The whole history of the Juche-oriented socialist construction is a proud history in which the overall national strength of the DPRK has been steadily built up by consistently implementing the line of building an independent national economy, regarding economic independence as the main principle of socialist construction.

The DPRK started the building of independent national economy with the work to nationalize the major industrial sectors existing only in name after liberation due to the Japanese imperialists' colonial subordinate economy, built economic sectors and structures one by one by its own effort without relying on foreign assistance. Even after the war when the country was completely destroyed, the Korean people fully demonstrated their strength, wisdom and patriotic enthusiasm by riding Chollima, thus accomplishing the historic cause of socialist industrialization.

When socialist countries tried to be the first to join CMEA and when reform and openness were made in the neighbouring countries, the principle of independence and the line of economic construction based on self-reliance that the Party, State and people of the DPRK held aloft were firmly maintained, which enabled the country to build a tremendous strength by making a great leap forward which took other countries several centuries.

Thanks to the wise leadership of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, the principle and line of self-sufficiency and self-reliance were successfully implemented in socialist economic construction, and as a result, the Korean people experienced in their daily life that the socialism of Juche is the best in the world, and the DPRK could firmly maintain the independent stand in State building and activities and turn into Chollima Korea and an exemplary country of socialism. With the collapse of socialism in several countries and despite the ever-escalating maneuvers of imperialists to isolate and suffocate the DPRK, the Korean people, on the firm and mighty foundations of self-sufficient national economy, fiercely kindled the flames of new industrial revolution in the new century and turned the country into an invincible fortress with self-defensive national defence capabilities, thus further increasing the overall national strength of the country.

Thanks to the great ideas and leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, the DPRK is demonstrating its might as the only independent state entity in the world which plays the proactive role in ensuring the peace and security of the region and the rest of the world and firmly guarantees the dignity, security, the bright future and happiness of the country and people.

The proud history and reality of the DPRK for over 70 years manifest that the economic independence is a sure guarantee for strengthening the country's political and military might in every way and that it is possible to steadily bolster up the overall national strength of the country when implementing the principle and line of self-sufficiency and self-reliance in economic construction.

The banner of self-reliance that the Party and people of the DPRK hold aloft is not a temporary tactical countermeasure to cope with the moves for sanctions and pressure of the imperialists, but a mode of revolution and fighting spirit to be held fast to forever in the whole course of its socialist construction.

The struggle of the great Korean people to further consolidate economic self-sufficiency, firmly maintaining self-reliance as a powerful driving force for prosperity and development of the country, will surely emerge victorious and the DPRK, great country of independence and the dignified people's country, will prosper forever.