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128-532: The Genzan Air Group was founded on 15 November 1940 at Genzan , Korea , then a part of the Empire of Japan . It was initially a mixed-unit equipped with 33 Type 96 Mitsubishi G3M 1 bombers and 25 Type 96 Mitsubishi A5M 4 fighters under the command of the Second Air Fleet. On January 15, 1941, it was reassigned to the 22nd Kōkū Sentai and deployed to Hankou in central China . While based at Hankou,

256-480: A famine in which at least half a million people died, weakened his control of the country. Instead of recommending structural reforms, Kim began to criticize the WPK's lack of control over the economy, lambasting its local and provincial branches for their inability to implement central-level instructions. At a speech celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kim Il Sung University , he said: "The reason why people are loyal to

384-657: A feudal state . With Kim Jong Il's official appointment as heir apparent at the 6th Congress, power became more centralized in the Kim family. WPK officials began to speak openly about his succession, and beginning in 1981 he began to participate in (and lead) tours. In 1982, he was made a Hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and wrote On the Juche Idea . While foreign observers believed that Kim Jong Il's appointment would increase participation by

512-409: A 36-year hiatus. The congress announced the first Five-Year Plan since the 1980s and gave Kim Jong Un the new title of chairman, which replaced the previous office of First Secretary. In January 2021, the 8th WPK Congress was convened, where Kim Jong Un was given the title of general secretary, replacing the title of chairman. The congress also marked the consolidation of WPK control over the army and

640-511: A Grand Political Festival of the World's Humankind", was signed by 30 of the 79 attending parties. The WPK also sees itself as part of the worldwide leftist and socialist movements; during the Cold War , the WPK and North Korea had a policy of "exporting revolution", aiding leftist guerrillas worldwide. Additionally, its party rules say its ultimate aim is to "realize a communist society in which

768-639: A Japanese interviewer to define Juche Juche 's primary objective for North Korea is political, economic and military independence. Kim Il Sung, in his "Let Us Defend the Revolutionary Spirit of Independence, Self-reliance, and Self-defense More Thoroughly in All Fields of State Activities" speech to the Supreme People's Assembly in 1967, summarized Juche : The government of the republic will implement with all consistency

896-489: A coherent ideology did not develop until the 1960s. Similar to Stalinism , it led to the development of an unofficial (later formalized) ideological system defending the central party leadership. Until about 1972, Juche was called a "creative application" of Marxism–Leninism and "the Marxism–Leninism of today", and Kim Il Sung was hailed as "the greatest Marxist–Leninist of our time". However, by 1976 Juche had become

1024-436: A covered depot was opened. Prior to that, the vehicles were parked on the western loop. Services were often interrupted during this time. The new lines were planned to run from Changchon-dong to Kalma station , to Songdowon and to Myongsasimiri-dong. NK News however, incorrectly reported by implying that it was only being revived recently, while in fact, new Chollima-321 trolleybuses had been delivered since 2019. In 2020,

1152-498: A decade later it was defined as a system whose "fundamental principle was the realization of sovereignty". Although WPK theoreticians were initially hostile towards the terms "nation" and "nationalism" because of the influence of the Stalinist definition of "state", by the mid-1960s their definition that a nation was a "a stable, historically formed community of people based on common language, territory, economic life, and culture"

1280-571: A decrease in the army's power, with the number of military delegates in both the congress and the Politburo decreasing. It was reported in June 2021 that the party set up the post of 'First Secretary', with speculation that Jo Yong-won or Kim Tok Hun , the Premier of North Korea would fill the position. Starting from 2021, Kim Jong Un has started reviving communism and communist terminology within

1408-472: A diplomat and former Vice Chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea . In 2013, it was announced that Wonsan would be converted into a summer destination with resorts and entertainment. Having spent his childhood years there, Kim Jong Un has expressed significant interest in developing the region, with the construction of new infrastructure such as Kalma Airport , a dual-use civilian international airport and military proving ground . A state corporation,

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1536-528: A harbor with a boathouse, a beach, and a racehorse track. Wonsan used to be in South Hamgyong , but when provincial borders were redrawn in 1946, it joined the northern half of Kangwon (which had been split at the 38th parallel north into a zone under Soviet control in the north and one of American control in the south in 1945) and became its capital, as Kangwon's traditional capitals Wonju (1395–1895) and Ch'unch'on (since 1896) both were south of

1664-579: A reaction to foreign occupation, involvement and influence (primarily by the Chinese and Soviets) in North Korean affairs, and may be described "as a normal and healthy reaction of the Korean people to the deprivation they suffered under foreign domination." However, there is nothing uniquely Marxist or Leninist in this reaction; the primary reason for its description as "communist" is that it occurred in

1792-566: A reshuffling of the CMC (and the military leadership in general) to appease the old guard and younger officials. He did not reshuffle the WPK Central Committee or the government, however, during the 1990s the changes to its membership were caused mostly by its members dying of natural causes . Beginning in 1995, Kim Jong Il favoured the military over the WPK and the state. Problems began to mount as an economic crisis , coupled with

1920-631: A result, several industries in North Korea were on the brink of disaster. Mao Zedong began the Cultural Revolution shortly thereafter, an event criticized by the WPK as "left-wing opportunism" and a manifestation of the " Trotskyist theory of a permanent revolution ." Relations between the CPSU and the CCP stabilized during the 1960s, with the WPK making it clear it would remain neutral in

2048-515: A self-proclaimed socialist state. The WPK (and the North Korean leadership in general) have not explained in detail how their policies are Marxist, Leninist or communist; Juche is defined as "Korean", and the others as "foreign". You requested me to give a detailed explanation of the Juche idea. But there is no end to it. All the policies and lines of our party emanate from the Juche idea and they embody this idea. — Kim Il Sung, when asked by

2176-441: A separate ideology; Kim Jong Il called it "a unique ideology, the contents and structures which cannot simply be described as Marxist–Leninist." At the 5th Congress , Juche was elevated to the same level as Marxism–Leninism. It gained in prominence during the 1970s, and at the 6th Congress in 1980 it was recognized as the WPK's only ideology. During the following decade, Juche transformed from practical to pure ideology. On

2304-572: A unified Korea under a communist government; the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be Seoul, not Pyongyang. Kim Il Sung was the appointed head of government of the new state, with Kim Tu-bong heading the legislative branch. A year later on 24 June 1949, the Workers' Party of Korea was created with the merger of the WPNK and the Workers' Party of South Korea . Kim Il Sung

2432-471: A war against imperialist enemies , he emphasized a domestic response and summed up the party's (and state's) attitude towards military confrontation: "We do not want war, nor are we afraid of it, nor do we beg peace from the imperialists." According to Juche , because of his consciousness man has ultimate control over himself and the ability to change the world. This differs from classical Marxism, which believes that humans depend on their relationship to

2560-533: A water park, a football pitch, and a large private beach area. The camp's exterior features dormitories, recreational buildings, a gym, an aquarium where campers can learn about flora and fauna, a history of birds, and a display room for taxidermy animals. The camps also has a well-equipped cooking practice room so that campers can learn to cook various foods on their own. The camp's main events include cultural exchanges between countries, where students perform culturally relevant songs and dances. Other classes offered at

2688-698: A white sandy beach on the Sea of Japan. The Sinphyong-Kumgang Scenic Site is located on the Ahobiryong mountain range that extends to the central region of Korea. Its development began in December 2009 and was completed in four years. It is located 124 km from Pyongyang, and the total site area is 1820 hectares. Sinphyong-Kumgang Scenic Site has a total of 70 attractions, including Okryudaegol, Namgang Chongsokjong, Tanphunggol, Kumgang Waterfall Valley, Tohwa Cave, and Nounphogol. Visitors to this place appreciate

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2816-615: Is a pond, which is 1.5 metres in depth and 30 metres in radius. It is a favoured cultural recreation ground. Other famous scenic sites near Wonsan include Chongsokchon and Mt. Kŭmgang . The German Church is the former church of the Tokwon abbey , now used by the Wonsan University of Agriculture. Workers%27 Party of Korea The Workers' Party of Korea ( WPK ), also called the Korean Workers' Party ( KWP ),

2944-613: Is a scenic spot on the southeastern seashore of the Karma Peninsula in Wonsan. The sand dune of the Kalma Peninsula extending into Wonsan Bay is four miles long. The name Myongsasibri comes from a famous sandy field with a length of 10 ri (4 km). It is about 7 km from Namdaechon (Anbyon) fishing port. The width of the sand field is 0.7 km in the narrow part and 1.3 km in the wide part. Sokwangsa Temple

3072-492: Is a sham ideology, developed to extol Kim Il Sung as a political thinker comparable to Mao Zedong . According to Myers, North Korean military-first policy , racism and xenophobia (exemplified by race-based incidents such as the attempted lynching of black Cuban diplomats and forced abortions for North Korean women pregnant with ethnic Chinese children) indicate a base in far-right politics (inherited from Imperial Japan during its colonial occupation of Korea) rather than

3200-720: Is a temple from the late Koryo-Joson dynasties. In 1386, at the end of the Koryo Dynasty, Ungjinjon was first built, and after that, more than 50 large and small buildings were built during the Joson dynasty. Sokwangsa Temple is a valuable cultural heritage that shows the excellent architectural skills of feudal Korea. The Songdowon International Children's Camp, located in Wonsan, is a summer camp that hosts around 400 international children annually. The camp has undergone major renovations in 2014, increasing its maximum capacity to 1200 children. The camp offers various activities, including

3328-640: Is also an underground air force runway which runs through a mountain, near Wonsan. North Korea's first public air show, the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival , was held at Wonsan Airport in September 2016. Wonsan was also the terminus of the Mangyongbong-92 ferry that operated between Wonsan and Niigata , which was the only direct connection between Japan and North Korea. This service

3456-628: Is always benevolent and rules for the benefit of the masses (working class). For the Great Leader system to function, a unitary ideology must be in place; in North Korea, this is known as the Monolithic Ideological System . The Kim dynasty began with Kim Il Sung, the first leader of the WPK and North Korea. The official ideology is that the North Korean system functions "well" because it was established by Kim Il Sung, whose successors follow his bloodline . Every child

3584-431: Is an anthropocentric ideology in which "man is the master of everything and decides everything". Similar to Marxist–Leninist thought, Juche believes that history is law-governed but only man drives progress: "the popular masses are the drivers of history". From the perspective of Juche , the struggle for humanity as a whole to make their own history is restrained by the ruling classes in class society. Additionally, only

3712-453: Is committed to Juche , an ideology attributed to Kim Il Sung which promotes national independence and development through the efforts of the popular masses. Although Juche was originally presented as the Korean interpretation of Marxism–Leninism , the party now presents it as a freestanding philosophy. The WPK recognizes the ruling Kim family as the ultimate source of its political thought. The fourth party conference, held in 2012, amended

3840-533: Is educated in "the revolutionary history of the Great Leader" and "the revolutionary history of the Dear Leader" (Kim Jong Il). Kim Il Sung's first choice as successor was Kim Yong-ju , his brother, but he later decided to appoint his son Kim Jong Il instead; this decision was formalized at the 6th Congress. Kim Jong Il appointed his youngest son, Kim Jong Un , as his successor at the 3rd WPK Conference in 2010, and his son succeeded him in early 2011. Because of

3968-694: Is not a revolution in some foreign country but our Korean revolution. Therefore, every ideological action must benefit the Korean revolution. To fulfil the Korean revolution, one should be perfectly cognizant of the history of our national struggle, of Korea's geography, and our customs. From then on, he and the WPK stressed the roles of "revolutionary tradition" and Korea's cultural tradition in its revolution. At party meetings, members and cadres learned about North Korea's national prestige and its coming rejuvenation. Traditional customs were revived, to showcase Korean-ness. By 1965, Kim Il Sung stated that if communists continued opposing individuality and sovereignty ,

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4096-407: Is one of Juche 's central tenets. Juche stresses equality and mutual respect among nations, asserting that every state has the right to self-determination . In practice, the beliefs in self-determination and equal sovereignty have turned North Korea into a perceived " hermit kingdom ". As interpreted by the WPK, yielding to foreign pressure or intervention would violate chaju and threaten

4224-485: Is primarily developed for foreign investors and is adjacent to "Office Work" complexes, including an international financial building, leasing office building, and restaurants specializing in International cuisine. The plan also includes an international finance complex, which was previously referred to as a "financial service center" but has been renamed to "financial complex." On 15 July 2016, KCNA announced that

4352-709: Is the current party leader, serving as General Secretary of the WPK . On 13 October 1945, the North Korean Bureau of the Communist Party of Korea (NKB–CPK) was established, with Kim Yong-bom as its first chairman. However, the NKB–CPK remained subordinate to the CPK Central Committee, which was headquartered in Seoul and headed by Pak Hon-yong . Two months later, at the 3rd Plenum of

4480-635: Is the name given to the caste system established on 30 May 1957 by the WPK Politburo when it adopted the resolution, "On the Transformation of the Struggle with Counter-Revolutionary Elements into an All-People All-Party Movement" (also known as the 30 May Resolution). This led to a purge in North Korean society in which every individual was checked for his or her allegiance to the party and its leader. The purge began in earnest in 1959, when

4608-673: Is the sole ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. Founded in 1949 from a merger between the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party of South Korea , the WPK is the oldest active party in Korea . It also controls the Korean People's Army , North Korea's armed forces. The WPK is the largest party represented in the Supreme People's Assembly and coexists with two other legal parties that are completely subservient to

4736-505: Is the terminus of the P'yongyang-Wonsan Tourist Motorway and the Wonsan-Kŭmgangsan Highway. A trolleybus system with two lines is currently in operation in Wonsan. The system opened on September 8, 1988, from Wonsan station to Changchon-dong. In 2020, there were three new trolleybus lines under construction in the city, which is aimed at reducing the number of fossil fuel-powered vehicles and to prevent air pollution, and

4864-584: The 4 June Rolling Stock Works , which is one of the DPRK's largest railway rolling stock factories. The Wonsan-Mt. Kumgang International Tourist Zone, announced in 2014, was set to become an investment hub in North Korea. The investment proposal, titled 'Integrated Development of Jung-dong,' aims to construct 4 blocks of 30-storied and 6 blocks of 21-storied apartments for lease in No.1 and No.2 districts. The proposal includes around 2,000 flats with 3-4 living rooms. The area

4992-699: The Chinese counter-attack, the city fell under Chinese control on 9 December 1950. It was heavily bombed and shelled by the United Nations in the Blockade of Wonsan during the Korean War . According to the official US Navy history, Wonsan was under continuous siege and bombardment by the American navy from March 1951 until July 27, 1953, making it the longest siege in modern American naval history. By

5120-534: The Eastern Bloc ), with a high-ranking WPK official calling the marriages "a crime against the Korean race" and Eastern Bloc embassies in the country beginning to accuse the regime of fascism . In May 1963, a Soviet diplomat described Kim Il Sung's political circle as a "political Gestapo ". Similar remarks were made by other Eastern Bloc officials in North Korea, with the East German ambassador calling

5248-434: The Korean People's Army and the WPK to help him consolidate power. The following year, on 17 December 2011, Kim Jong Il died . After Kim Jong Il's death, the North Korean elite consolidated Kim Jong Un's position; he was declared in charge of the country when the official report of his father's death was published on 19 December. On 26 December 2011, the official newspaper Rodong Sinmun hailed him as supreme leader of

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5376-473: The Masikryong Ski Resort was built in 2016. A $ 123m golf course is planned outside the city. Songdowon is a scenic spot by the Sea of Japan, 3 km northwest of downtown Wonsan. The name Songdowon comes from the fact that when looked down from a high place, the pine trees look like waves. Songdowon is a scenic spot of the Sea of Japan that has been widely known since ancient times, where

5504-754: The Netherlands East Indies , with some aircraft dispersed to Kuching in Sarawak . On May 1, 1942, Genzan's flying unit was redeployed to Rabaul , New Britain to support the Japanese campaign in New Guinea . The group participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea , without success, and made numerous bombing attacks against Port Moresby . In July, after the cancellation of Operation Mo ,

5632-551: The New People's Party of Korea , a party primarily composed of communists from China. A special commission of the two parties ratified the merger on 28 July 1946, and it became official the following day. One month later (28–30 August 1946), the party held its founding congress , establishing the Workers' Party of North Korea (WPNK). The congress elected the former leader of the New People's Party of Korea Kim Tu-bong as

5760-606: The bombing of Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Genzan Air Group was deployed to Saigon , French Indochina . The group was a key participant in the sinking of the British capital ships HMS  Prince of Wales  (53) and HMS  Repulse  (1916) off the coast of Malaya on 10 December 1941, losing one aircraft and its crew during the battle. On January 22, 1942, bombers from

5888-657: The far-left . North Korea considers humanity the driving force of history. "Popular masses are placed in the centre of everything, and the leader in the centre of the masses". Traditional Marxism considers class struggle the driving force of historical progress . However, Marxism also sees class struggle as eventually coming to an end, when class distinctions begin to disappear in a communist society. From this point on, humanity can begin to "more and more consciously, make his own history" as human society ceases to be driven by social forces such as class struggle, but instead becomes "the result of his own free actions." Juche

6016-474: The means of production more than on themselves. The Juche view of a revolution led by a Great Leader, rather than a group of knowledgeable revolutionaries, is a break from Lenin's concept of a vanguard party . Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels did not clarify the difference between the state and law, focusing on class divisions within nations. They argued that nation and law (as it existed then) would be overthrown and replaced by proletarian rule . This

6144-441: The socialist era. However, for the masses to succeed they need a Great Leader . Marxism–Leninism argues that the people will lead, on the basis of their relationship to production. In North Korea a singular Great Leader is considered essential, and this helped Kim Il Sung establish a one-person autocracy . This theory makes the Great Leader an absolute , supreme leader . The working class thinks not for itself, but through

6272-551: The "Sun of the Nation", "The Iron All-Victorious General" and "Marshal of the All-Mighty Republic" in WPK and state publications; official propaganda stated that "burning loyalty to the leader" was one of the main characteristics of any Korean. Kim Il Sung and his guerilla faction had purged the WPK of its opposing factions during the 1950s and the 1960s, to the dismay of both the CCP and the CPSU. The domestic faction

6400-504: The 38th parallel and south of the Military Demarcation Line that replaced the 38th parallel as a border in 1953. Due to it being a coastal city, seafood is commonly consumed in Wonsan. Wonsan is known for many local seafood delicacies including boiled rice with clam meat, a speciality of Kangwon Province. Wonsan has an aquatic product processing factory, shipyard, chemistry enterprise, a cement factory, as well as

6528-610: The Administrative Council) and Yang Hyong-sop (President of the Academy of Social Sciences and chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly ). These individuals were appointed solely because of their ties to the Kim family , and presumably retain their positions as long as the Kim family controls the WPK and the country. The reason for Kim's support of nepotism (his own and that of the guerrilla faction) can be explained by

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6656-501: The CMC rather than elected by a plenum of the Central Committee. Although it was believed that Kim Jong Il would call a congress shortly after his appointment (to elect a new WPK leadership), he did not. The WPK would not be revitalized organizationally until the 3rd Conference in 2010. Until then, Kim Jong Il ruled as an autocrat ; only in WPK institutions considered important were new members and leaders appointed to take

6784-622: The Genzan Air Group attacked Kallang Airport in Singapore , and subsequently provided air support for Japanese offensives in Malaya including the landings at Endau . At the end of February, the unit was transferred to Bangkok and assigned to patrols over the Indian Ocean ; however, facilities at Bangkok were not satisfactory and the unit was soon reassigned to Palembang in Sumatra in

6912-439: The Great Leader; he is the mastermind of the working class and its only legitimate representative. Class struggle can only be realized through the Great Leader; difficult tasks in general (and revolutionary changes in particular) can only be introduced through—and by—him. Thus, in historical development the Great Leader is the leading force of the working class; he is a flawless, incorruptible human being who never makes mistakes,

7040-577: The Juche Idea , the primary text on Juche , was published in Kim Jong Il's name in 1982. Juche is, according to this study, inexorably linked with Kim Il Sung and "represents the guiding idea of the Korean Revolution   ... we are confronted with the honourable task of modelling the whole society on the Juche idea". In the work, Kim Jong Il says that Juche is not simply a creative application of Marxism–Leninism but "a new era in

7168-530: The Kalma area, located on the central east coast of Korea, will be turned into a tourist resort. The area boasts of four-kilometer-long beach resort, not far away from such scenic spots as Mt. Kumgang, Lake Sijung, Chongsokjong and Lagoon Samil and the Masikryong Ski Resort. It remained a priority project for the following years until 2020 when the further works on it were completely halted. Most of

7296-494: The Kim family and the guerilla faction. Beginning in the late 1980s, "a high (and increasing) proportion of North Korean high officials have been sons of high officials." Since the 1960s, Kim Il Sung had appointed family members to positions of power. By the early 1990s, a number of leading national offices were held by people in his family: Kang Song-san ( Premier of the Administrative Council and member of

7424-629: The Maritime Patrol Academy, the commissioned officer's training school of the Korean People's Navy. The city is home to Unp'asan Sports Club , an association football club that plays in the DPR Korea First Class Sports Group , North Korea's premier league. Wonsan has long been a popular tourism destination for both Koreans and international visitors. Attractions include Songdowon beach,

7552-462: The NKB, Kim Yong-bom was replaced by Kim Il Sung , an event which was probably orchestrated by the Soviet Union. The North Korean Bureau became the Communist Party of North Korea in spring 1946, with Kim Il Sung being elected its chairman. On 22 July 1946, Soviet authorities in North Korea established the United Democratic National Front , a popular front led by the Communist Party of North Korea. The Communist Party of North Korea soon merged with

7680-445: The Russian Empire surveyed the area and found it highly desirable. Wonsan opened as a trade port in 1880. Its original name was Wonsanjin (元山津), but it was also known by the Russian name of Port Lazarev (Lazaref). Under Japanese rule (1910–45) it was called Gensan (元山). In 1914 the P'yongwon and Kyongwon railway lines were opened, connecting the city to P'yongyang (then known as Heijo) and Seoul (then Keijo or Kyongsong). Thus,

7808-405: The Sea of Japan, but was blocked with sand. It is now a beautiful Lake with an area of 2.94 sq. km and a circumference of 11.8 km, and is registered as a natural monument. There are 7 islands in the lake, and in particular, the bottom is covered with high-quality Gamthang, a traditional way of treatment from mud . There are sanatoriums and resting places for experiencing Gamthang. Lake Sijung has

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7936-500: The Sino–Soviet conflict, thus resulting in the 1966 launch of the Juche program aimed at national self-determination at all levels. This, in turn, strengthened Kim Il Sung's position in the WPK. Beginning in the 1960s, Kim Il Sung's cult of personality reached new heights. It had been no greater than Stalin's or Mao's until 1972, when his birthday on 15 April became the country's main public holiday and statues of him began to be built nationwide. Kim became known as "Great Leader",

8064-453: The WPK Secretariat), Pak Song-chol ( Vice President ), Hwang Jang-yop and Kim Chung-rin (members of the WPK Secretariat), Kim Yong-sun (Head of the WPK International Department and member of the WPK Secretariat), Kang Hui-won (Secretary of the WPK Pyongyang Municipal Committee and Deputy Premier of the Administrative Council), Kim Tal-hyon ( Minister of Foreign Trade ), Kim Chan-ju ( Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Chairman of

8192-440: The WPK and must accept the WPK's " leading role " as a condition of their existence. The WPK is banned in the Republic of Korea ( South Korea ) under the National Security Act and is sanctioned by the United Nations , the European Union , Australia , and the United States . Officially, the WPK is a communist party guided by Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism , a synthesis of the ideas of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il . The party

8320-492: The WPK established a new supervisory body headed by Kim Il Sung's brother, Kim Yong-ju. The people of North Korea were divided into three "forces" (hostile, neutral or friendly), and the force in which a person was classified was hereditary. Hostile forces cannot live near Pyongyang (the country's capital) or other major cities, or near North Korea's border with other countries. Songbun affects access to educational and employment opportunities and, particularly, eligibility to join

8448-411: The WPK is organizationally similar to other communist parties, in practice it is far less institutionalized and informal politics plays a larger role than usual. Institutions such as the Central Committee , the Secretariat , the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Politburo and the Politburo's Presidium have much less power than what is formally bestowed on them by the party rules . Kim Jong Un

8576-426: The WPK nor the central government could run the country, and began shifting control to the military. A constitutional amendment in 1998 redirected supreme state power in North Korea to the leadership of the military, rather than the WPK. On 8 July 1997, the three-year mourning period for Kim Il Sung ended. Later that year, on 8 October, Kim Jong Il was appointed to the newly established office of General Secretary of

8704-443: The WPK, with the ideology being again written to the party rules. He also increasingly replaced Songun with "people-first politics" in the party rules. The WPK maintains a leftist image, and normally sends a delegation to the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties , where it has some support; its 2011 resolution, "Let us jointly commemorate the Birth Centenary of the Great Leader comrade President Kim Il Sung as

8832-400: The WPK. By 1962 Kim Il Sung and the WPK favored the CCP over the CPSU in the ideological struggle, and "for a few years North Korea almost unconditionally supported the Chinese position on all important issues." The primary conflict between the WPK and the CPSU during this period was that Kim Il Sung did not support the denunciation of Stalinism , the creation of a collective leadership , and

8960-404: The Wonsan Zone Development Corporation, has been established with feasibility studies for a wide variety of hotels and commercial and industrial development. Wonsan has also been known as Yonghunghang, Yuanshan in Chinese, Genzan or Gensan in Japanese, and Port Lazareva or Port Lazarev in Russian. Wonsan's area is 269 square kilometres (104 sq mi). It is located in Kangwon Province, on

9088-442: The Workers' Party of Korea. After celebrations for Kim Jong Il's 70th birth anniversary, the Politburo announced on 18 February the 4th Party Conference (which was scheduled for mid-April 2012, near the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung) "to glorify the sacred revolutionary life and feats of Kim Jong Il for all ages and accomplish the Juche cause, the Songun revolutionary cause, rallied close around Kim Jong Un". Kim Jong Un

9216-421: The Workers' Party of Korea. There was considerable discussion by foreign experts about why Kim Jong Il was appointed General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, instead of succeeding his father as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In a clear breach of the WPK rules, Kim Jong Il was appointed WPK General Secretary in a joint announcement by the 6th Central Committee and

9344-576: The administrative center of Kangwon Province. The City of Wonsan (Wonsan-si) is divided into 45 tong (neighborhoods) and 14 ri (villages): The city has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dwa ). Evidence of humans living in the area during the Neolithic period and Bronze age was found in the Chungpyongdong (Now promoted to ri) area, where pottery was found. The area was called Eo eul mae (於乙買) and Chonjung county (泉井郡), when it

9472-600: The behaviours of the people of North Korea. The Ten Principles have come to supersede the national constitution or edicts by the Workers' Party, and in practice serve as the supreme law of the country. Tomatoes, which are completely red to the core, are considered worthy Communists; apples, which are red only on the surface, are considered to need ideological improvement; and grapes are completely hopeless. — The three main classifications in North Korean society (core, wavering, and hostile), are metaphorically described as tomatoes, apples, and grapes, respectively. Songbun

9600-568: The bombers of the Genzan Air Group were primarily assigned to strategic bombing missions in Sichuan Province , while the fighters were assigned to combat air patrol and ground support missions in support of Imperial Japanese Army operations. The Genzan Air Group was withdrawn from China in September, 1941, returning to its home base at Genzan for training, and at the end of October, 1941 was forward deployed to Takao in Taiwan . With

9728-463: The camp include cooking, boating, football, various educational classes, camping, video games, and other sports. The camp's cost for international children is approximately $ 300 USD per week. It is a lake on the seaside on the Wonsan-Mt. Kumgang road. it is an ideal place to enjoy sea tours, lake tours, and therapeutic tours at the same time. Lake Sijung was originally a small lagoon on the shores of

9856-399: The city gradually developed into an eastern product distribution center. Under the Japanese occupation, the city was heavily industrialized and served as an important point in the distribution of trade between Korea and mainland Japan . After the Korean War broke out it was captured by American and South Korean troops on 10 October 1950 during their drive north. When they left ahead of

9984-463: The clear blue waves of the Sea of Japan, the white sandy field stretching far along the seashore, the thick pine forest along the sandy field, and the flowering dandelion flowers harmonize with each other, creating a reminiscent of a picture. Songdowon is organized as one large amusement park in an area of about 500 hectares which is divided into about 10 scenic areas such as the beach area, Jangdoksan sightseeing area, and pine forest area. Myongsasibri

10112-724: The conflict. The war had the effect of weakening Soviet influence over Kim Il Sung and the WPK. Around this time, the main fault lines in early WPK politics were created. Four factions formed: the domestic faction (WPK cadres who had remained in Korea during Japanese rule), the Soviet faction (Koreans from the Soviet Union), the Yan'an faction (Koreans from China) and the guerrilla faction (Kim Il Sung's personal faction). However, Kim Il Sung would be unable to further strengthen his position until

10240-423: The congress. In it he claimed that North Korea was "a base of democracy", in contrast to South Korea, which he believed to be dictatorial. On 28 April 1948 a special session of the Supreme People's Assembly approved the constitution proposed and written by WPNK cadres, which led to the official establishment of an independent North Korea. It did not call for the establishment of an independent North Korea, but for

10368-501: The country's ability to defend its sovereignty. This may explain why Kim Jong Il believed that the Korean revolution would fail if North Korea became dependent on a foreign entity. In relations with fellow socialist countries China and the Soviet Union Kim Il Sung urged cooperation, mutual support and dependence, acknowledging that it was important for North Korea to learn from other countries. Despite this, he abhorred

10496-544: The development of human history ". The WPK's break with basic Marxist–Leninist premises is spelt out clearly in the article, " Let Us March Under the Banner of Marxism–Leninism and the Juche Idea ". Despite Juche 's conception as a creative application of Marxism and Leninism , some scholars argue it has little direct connection to them. Policies may be explained without a Marxist or Leninist rationale, making

10624-541: The eastern side of the Korean Peninsula, on the Sea of Japan and the provincial capital. The port was opened by Japanese forces in 1880. Before the 1950–1953 Korean War , it fell within the jurisdiction of the then South Hamgyong province , and during the war, it was the location of the Blockade of Wonsan . The population of the city was estimated at 329,207 in 2013. Notable people from Wonsan include Kim Ki-nam ,

10752-680: The end of the war. Relations worsened between the WPK and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) when Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev , began pursuing a policy of de-Stalinization . During the Sino–Soviet conflict , an ideological conflict between the CPSU and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Kim Il Sung manoeuvred between the two socialist superpowers; by doing so, he weakened their influence on

10880-465: The extension from Changchon-dong to Kalma station was completed, while in 2021, a fully new line was opened, and trolleybuses started to run to Songdowon, from Changchon-dong. A tram line is also under construction, with the trams to be built by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works . The trams will be narrow gauge vehicles. This was after Kim Jong Un stressed the need for a tram line at

11008-562: The fact that he did not want the party bureaucracy to threaten his—and his son's—rule as it did in other socialist states. It was first generally believed by foreign observers that Kim Il Sung was planning for his brother, Kim Yong-ju , to succeed him. Kim Yong-ju's authority gradually increased, until he became co-chairman of the North-South Coordination Committee. From late 1972 to the 6th WPK Congress , Kim Yong-ju became an increasingly remote figure in

11136-453: The familial succession and the appointment of family members to high office, the Kim family has been called a dynasty and a royal family . Dae-Sook Suh , the author of Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader , notes that "What he [Kim Il Sung] has built in the North, however, resembles more a political system to accommodate his personal rule than a communist or socialist state in Korea. It is not

11264-400: The first WPNK chairman, with Kim Il Sung its appointed deputy chairman. However, despite his formal downgrade in the party's hierarchy, Kim Il Sung remained its leader. Party control increased throughout the country after the congress. From 27 to 30 March 1948, the WPNK convened its 2nd Congress . While Kim Tu-bong was still the party's formal head, Kim Il Sung presented the main report to

11392-430: The idea that North Korea could (or should) depend on the two nations and did not want to dogmatically follow their example. Kim Il Sung said that the WPK needed to "resolutely repudiate the tendency to swallow things of others undigested or imitate them mechanically", attributing the success of North Korea on the WPK's independence in implementing policies. To ensure North Korean independence, official pronouncements stressed

11520-441: The identification of specific influences from these ideologies difficult. Some analysts say it is easier to connect Juche with nationalism, but not a unique form of nationalism. Although the WPK claims to be socialist-patriotic , some analysts state its socialist patriotism would be more similar to bourgeois nationalism ; the chief difference is that socialist patriotism is nationalism in a socialist state . Juche developed as

11648-492: The instructions of the Central Committee is not because of party organizations and workers, but because of my authority." Kim Jong Il said that his father had told him to avoid economics, claiming that it was better left to experts. After this speech, the WPK's responsibility to control the economy was given to the Administrative Council (the central government). By late 1996, Kim Jong Il concluded that neither

11776-573: The line of independence, self-sustenance, and self-defence to consolidate the political independence of the country ( chaju ), build up more solidly the foundations of an independent national economy capable of insuring the complete unification, independence, and prosperity of our nation ( charip ) and increasing the country's defence capabilities, so as to safeguard the security of the fatherland reliably by our own force ( chawi ), by splendidly embodying our Party's idea of Juche in all fields." The principle of political independence known as chaju

11904-439: The movement would be threatened by dogmatism and revisionism . He criticized those communists who, he believed, subscribed to "national nihilism by praising all things foreign and vilifying all things national" and tried to impose foreign models on their own country. By the 1960s, Juche was a full-fledged ideology calling for a distinct path for North Korean socialist construction and non-interference in its affairs; however,

12032-498: The need for the people to unite under the WPK and the Great Leader. Economic independence ( charip ) is seen as the material basis of chaju . One of Kim Il Sung's greatest fears involved North Korean dependence on foreign aid; he believed it would threaten the country's ability to develop socialism, which only a state with a strong, independent economy could do. Charip emphasizes an independent national economy based on heavy industry ; this sector, in theory, would then drive

12160-709: The need to "reflect the demands of the revolutionary development of the Party, which is facing critical changes in bringing about the strong and prosperous state and Juche development." The conference met on 28 September, revising the party rules and electing (and dismissing) members of the Central Committee, the Secretariat, the Politburo, the Presidium and other bodies. Kim Jong Un was confirmed as heir apparent; Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho and General Kim Kyong-hui (Kim Jong Il's sister) were appointed to leading positions in

12288-458: The party and the state. On 30 December a meeting of the Politburo officially appointed him Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army , after he was nominated for the position by Kim Jong Il in October 2011 (the anniversary of Kim Jong Il's becoming general secretary). Despite the fact that he was not a Politburo member, Kim Jong Un was named to the unofficial position of the supreme leader of

12416-477: The party experienced its first open inner struggle in decades with the purge of Jang Song-thaek . The party has seen somewhat of a revival under Kim Jong Un, with more frequent meetings. There have been two conferences, after a gap of 44 years, and a congress between 2010 and 2016. After staging a huge military parade in celebration of the party's 70th anniversary on 10 October 2015, the Politburo announced that its 7th Congress will be held on 6 May 2016 after

12544-587: The party rules to state that Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism was "the only guiding idea of the party". Under Kim Jong Il, who governed as chairman of the National Defence Commission , communism was steadily removed from party and state documents in favor of Songun , or military-first politics. The military, rather than the working class, was established as the base of political power. However, his successor Kim Jong Un reversed this position in 2021, replacing Songun with "people-first politics" as

12672-400: The party's political method and reasserting the party's commitment to communism. The WPK is organized according to the Monolithic Ideological System , conceived by Kim Yong-ju and Kim Jong Il. The highest body of the WPK is formally the party congress; however, before Kim Jong Un's tenure as party leader, a congress rarely occurred. Between 1980 and 2016, no congresses were held. Although

12800-489: The party. Kim Jong Il remained WPK General Secretary, controlling the Organization and Guidance Department (OGD) and other institutions. While the central WPK leadership composition was not renewed in a single stroke until 2010, the WPK retained its important role as a mass organization . On 26 June 2010, the Politburo announced that it was summoning delegates for the 3rd Conference, with its official explanation of

12928-567: The people's ideals are fully realized" and further state it upholds "the revolutionary principles of Marxism–Leninism". Brian Reynolds Myers , Jasper Becker , and Dae-Sook Suh argue that the WPK's ideology is xenophobic, racist, and nationalist. Although the term " Juche " was first used in Kim Il Sung's speech (given in 1955), " On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work ", Juche as

13056-595: The place of dying officials. The 10th Supreme People's Assembly convened on 5 September 1998, amended the North Korean constitution . The amended constitution made the National Defense Commission (NDC), previously responsible for supervising the military, the highest state organ. Although the new constitution gave the cabinet and the NDC more independence from WPK officials, it did not weaken

13184-600: The policy "Goebbelsian" (a reference to Joseph Goebbels , Hitler's minister of propaganda ). Although this was said during a low point in relations between North Korea and the Eastern Bloc, it illustrated a perception of racism in Kim Il Sung's policies. In his book The Cleanest Race (2010), Brian Reynolds Myers dismisses the idea that Juche is North Korea's leading ideology. He views its public exaltation as being designed to deceive foreigners; it exists to be praised rather than followed. Myers writes that Juche

13312-496: The political system he built that will survive him; it is his son [Kim Jong Il], whom he has designated heir, who will succeed his reign." The ruling Kim family has been described as the head of a de facto absolute monarchy or "hereditary dictatorship". The Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System are a set of ten principles and 65 clauses which establish standards for governance and guide

13440-416: The regime. At the 6th Congress, he lost his Politburo and Central Committee seats, and rumours that Kim Il Sung had begun grooming Kim Jong Il in 1966 were confirmed. From 1974 to the 6th Congress, Kim Jong Il (called the "Party centre" by North Korean media) was the second most powerful man in North Korea. His selection was criticized, with his father accused of creating a dynasty or turning North Korea into

13568-442: The resort area. The line was completed on November 24, 2020, though passenger service has not started due to the incomplete state of the rest of the resort. The city has the dual purpose military and civilian Wonsan Airport ( IATA : WON) equipped with 01/19 and 15/33 dual runways. Images from Google Earth from July and August 2014 indicated that major expansion was taking place, including the construction of two new runways. There

13696-461: The rest of the economy. Kim Jong Il said: Building an independent national economy means building an economy which is free from dependence on others and which stands on its own feet, an economy which serves one's own people and develops on the strength of the resources of one's own country and by the efforts of one's people. Kim Il Sung considered military independence ( chawi ) crucial. Acknowledging that North Korea might need military support in

13824-482: The restoration of capitalism. The revival of the term "state" in the Soviet Union under Stalin led to the revival of the term "nation" in North Korea under Kim Il Sung. Despite official assertions that the Soviet Union was based on "class" rather than "state", the latter was revived during the 1930s. In 1955, Kim Il Sung expressed a similar view in his speech, "On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work": What we are doing now

13952-400: The same time, I mean nationalist and internationalist. Whatever the name and however elaborate his claim, Kim's Juche idea is nothing more than xenophobic nationalism that has little relevance to communism. — Dae-Sook Suh , author of Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader During the 1960s the WPK began forcing ethnic Koreans to divorce their European spouses (who were primarily from

14080-726: The site of the Songdowon International Children's Union Camp, which maintains exceptionally clear and clean water. Pine trees are abundant in the surrounding area, and it has been designated a national sightseeing point. The nearby Kalma Peninsula is to feature a new hotel and a bathing area. Announced in 2014, the Wonsan Special Tourist Zone is to cover more than 400 square km and boasts 40 historical relics, 10 sand beaches, 680 tourist attractions, four mineral springs, and several bathing resorts and natural lakes. As part of this development,

14208-506: The sole remaining living member of the Presidium (the highest body of the WPK when the Politburo and the Central Committee are not in session). While no member list of the WPK Central Military Commission (CMC, the highest party organ on military affairs) was published from 1993 to 2010, there were clear signs of movement in the military hierarchy during 1995. For the WPK's 50th anniversary, Kim Jong Il initiated

14336-454: The state would still exist if the Soviet Union reached the communist mode of production but the socialist world was encircled by capitalist forces. Kim Il Sung took this position to its logical conclusion, arguing that the state would exist after North Korea reached the communist mode of production until a future world revolution . As long as capitalism survived, even if the socialist world predominated, North Korea could still be threatened by

14464-449: The theory of peaceful coexistence between the capitalist and socialist worlds. Kim Il Sung believed peaceful coexistence to be synonymous with capitulation and knew that de-Stalinization in North Korea would effectively end his unlimited power over the WPK. The result of the souring of relations between the CPSU and the WPK was that the Soviet Union discontinued aid to North Korea. China was meanwhile unwilling to increase its aid, and, as

14592-471: The unique natural scenery of spring, summer, autumn and winter. At 75 metres high, Ullim Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Korea. It is so called due to the sound of the waterfall that shakes the valley and travels far. The water of the fall originates in the Masikryong Mountains and 20-25 cubic metres of water falls down per second in the middle of a steep cliff. Below the falls

14720-531: The unit was withdrawn to Japan and was based at Misawa, Aomori for training. Its fighter unit was detached and redesignated as the 252 Kōkūtai in September. The Genzan's flying unit was disbanded by being redesignated as the 755 Kōkūtai on 1 November 1942. Wonsan Wonsan ( Korean pronunciation: [wʌn.san] ), previously known as Wonsanjin ( 元山津 ), is a port city and naval base located in Kangwon Province , North Korea , along

14848-407: The war's end, the city was a vast shell. Kim Jong Un announced in 2015 plans for a $ 582 million redevelopment of the city center, which is to be entirely demolished and rebuilt. A 5-star hotel, a 17-story Wonsan International Finance Centre, and a $ 9.6m exhibition hall are expected to be built. Kim Jong Un maintains a private compound in Wonsan that includes a palace with several guest houses,

14976-408: The westernmost part of the Sea of Japan and the east end of the Korean peninsula's neck. Mt. Changdok (Changdok-san) and Mt. Nap'al (Nap'al-san) are located to the west of the city. More than 20 small islands flank Wonsan's immediate coastal area, including Hwangt'o Island and Ryo Island. Wonsan is considered an excellent natural port location. Mount Kŭmgang is located near Wonsan. Wonsan serves as

15104-553: The work on it is done and it is expected that it would be completed and will be opened for tourists after the country reopens its borders for tourism again. At night, the city is bright and well lit at par with Pyongyang. The district of Wonsan-si is served by several stations on the Kangwon Line of the Korean State Railway , including a branch to the port ; it is also connected to the national road network, and

15232-430: The workers, nationalism changed from a reactionary to a progressive idea. Kim Il Sung differentiated "nationalism" from what he called "genuine nationalism"; while genuine nationalism was a progressive idea, nationalism remained reactionary: True nationalism (genuine nationalism) is similar to patriotism . Only a genuine patriot can become a devoted and true internationalist . In this sense, when I say communist, at

15360-407: The working class can overcome these restraints and achieve a society where humanity can independently and creatively make their own history. Juche is in line with historical materialism , viewing mankind's ability to drive their own history as the culmination of a long-term historical process, whose foundations were laid by capitalism's ushering in of the working class, and thus Juche is unique to

15488-453: The younger generation, in On the Juche Idea he made it clear that his leadership would not mark the beginning of a new generation of leaders. The WPK could not address the crisis facing Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il's leadership at home and abroad, in part because of the gerontocracy at the highest level of the WPK and the state. With the death of O Jin-u on 25 February 1995, Kim Jong Il became

15616-647: Was canceled in 2006 when Japan banned North Korean ships. Wonsan has at least one provincial newspaper. The Korean Central Broadcasting Station maintains a 250-kilowatt mediumwave transmitter broadcasting on 882 kHz AM. Wonsan is home to Songdowon University, Kŭmgang University, Tonghae University, the Jong Jun Thaek University of Economics, Wonsan University of Medicine, the Jo Gun Sil University of Engineering, Wonsan First University of Education, Ri Su Dok University, and

15744-486: Was not the most ardent supporter of a military reunification of Korea; that role was played by the South Korean communists, headed by Pak Hon-yong. After several meetings between Kim Il Sung and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin , North Korea invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950, thus beginning the Korean War . With American intervention in the war the DPRK nearly collapsed, but it was saved by Chinese intervention in

15872-524: Was promoted to the rank of " Marshal of the Republic " in July 2012. At the 4th Party Conference on 11 April, Kim Jong Il was declared Eternal General Secretary and Kim Jong Un was elected to the newly created post of First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the Presidium. The conference amended the party rules to say Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism "the only guiding idea of the party". In December 2013,

16000-488: Was revised and the characteristic of a "shared bloodline" was added to the definition. During the 1980s a common economic life was removed from the definition, with shared bloodline receiving increased emphasis. The WPK revised the meaning of nationalism in response to the democratic transition in South Korea and the dissolution of the Soviet Union . Previously defined in Stalinist terms as a bourgeois weapon to exploit

16128-626: Was the first to go (in 1953–55), followed by the Yan'an faction in 1957–58 and the Soviet Koreans (along with anyone else deemed unfaithful to the WPK leadership) in the 1957–62 purge. According to historian Andrei Lankov , "Kim Il Sung had become not only supreme but also the omnipotent ruler of North Korea—no longer merely 'first amongst equals, as had been the case in the late 1940s". After purging his WPK opposition, Kim Il Sung consolidated his power base with nepotism and hereditary succession in

16256-441: Was the mainstream view of Soviet theoreticians during the 1920s; however, with Stalin at the helm in 1929, it was under attack. He criticized Nikolai Bukharin 's position that the proletariat was hostile to the inclinations of the state , arguing that since the state (the Soviet Union) was in transition from capitalism to socialism the relationship between the state and the proletariat was harmonious. By 1936, Stalin argued that

16384-494: Was under the rule of Goguryeo , and became Jungchon county (井泉郡) after it incorporated into the kingdom of Silla in 681. After Taejo of Goryeo conquered the region, the region was renamed as yongju (湧州) where it was ruled by a special defense administrator. The area was renamed again as Uiju (宜州), and a fortress was constructed in 1108. From 1258 to 1356, it was part of the Ssangseong Prefectures . In 1854,

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