The Selected Works of Kim Il Sung

by Kim Il Sung

Kim Il Sung was a Korean politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He served as the Chairman and General Secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Il Sung's legendary career began in his youth, when he joined a group of guerrillas fighting the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Genres: Politics, Theory, Nonfiction

151 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2011

Reviews

[Verba Non Res · Rating 1 out of 5]

Esperaba algún insight sobre el curioso régimen norcoreano, y me encontré con un texto tan árido, gris e insoportable como el régimen norcoreano. Podría con facilidad reiterar las críticas que ya le hice a un texto del hijo de Kim Il Sung.

[Aidan Cashman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ideas in the book are poor and completely unrealistic, even when viewed in the time period written/delivered. However, for what it is in terms of revealing the ideology of a frankly fascinating leader, it proves invaluable.

[bwright1701 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One star. The star of solidarity. The star of Chajusong.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"On the establishment of the Worker's Party of North Korea and the question of founding the Worker's Party of South Korea"

In reality two essays, one celebrating the merger of two worker's parties in the DPRK that reasserts the purpose of the party (something the US has yet to prove) and prescribing the future of the worker's party in ROK. "A party is not a party for its own sake, but a weapon necessary for achieving the aims of a certain class" Kim states, and its hard to disagree given the way Kim weaves prescriptive ideology with people's history, if perhaps less brilliantly than his Russian and Chinese counterparts.


"On eliminating dogmatism and formalism and establishing Juche in ideological work"

Two things: First, Kim Il Sung essentially refutes anti-nationalist sentiment and reaffirms the importance of Korean nationalism to the revolution. Second, dispels the myth that patriotism and internationalism are inherently opposed to each other. Kim's primary goal here seems to be the prevention of the swallowing of the new Korean state, by China or USSR under expansionism or USA/ROK by imperialism, and reaffirming the party's goal of eventual reunification. Juche is still a shaky ideology for me that I don't quite understand but Kim's passion and optimism are genuinely heartwarming.

[Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juche as a concept intrigues me because it is one solely of autonomy and sustainability. It reminds of Nyerere’s Ujamaa and its own sustainability. Both Sung and Nyerere emphasized this need to create a self-sustaining nation that can survive famine, war, etc. Sung’s belief that only economic independence can truly make political independence is correct. Without the meddling of foreign nations, how could a liberated one be genuinely free when their money is tied to neocolonialist wills. How can Cuba be truly free with an illegal embargo against its country? Or how could Iran have been free if they are unable to nationalize their oil production? A nation which is dependent on another economic ally is bound to be politically subordinate.

In “For the Development of the Non-Aligned Movement,” we see Kim Il Sung state that we must abolish nuclear weapons to abolish the threat of global devastation. Sung equates that imperialist forces were/are amassing large arsenals to deter revolutionary and independent movements, which is just correct. I find it interesting in the case of DPRK and China that their building of nuclear arsenals was not in an imperialist manner to control but rather deter. It’s why Iran, with a potential of nuclear capabilities and alignment with other BRICS nations with nuclear arsenals, allows them the to protect their borders from encroachment from imperialist forces. Do I believe in the full abolition of nuclear weapons? Of course. But the monopoly of violence cannot be just maintained by the capitalist nations or everyone will bend the knee to oppression.

Sung’s emphasis on a self-reliant state requires political independence, military self-reliance, and stressed equality of each nation to have self-determination. I think distortions of Juche by his sons has done innumerable damage to the socialist project in DPRK. Not to say it is a failure, but I believe it has left its democratic origins for a more nationalist interpretation. Vulgar Marxists tend to have a simplistic view that socialist societies simply cannot exploit workers or deny democratic rights. This ignores Marx’s analysis that the whole economic, social, and ideological conditions of a society mutually affect each other and that we wage some “good vs evil” form of moral battle.

I pray to see a unified, democratic, and socialist Korea in our lifetime.

[Nechayev_V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was tempted to give it three stars for the terrible typos, but I can't let the errors of a crappy publisher detract from the broader messages of Kim Il Sung's thought. Overall, it's a good, informative, and quick read: even as someone who doesn't necessarily subscribe to Juche, it is undeniable that Kim was one of the most successful and accomplished revolutionaries of the 20th century, and his tactical wisdom prevails throughout these writings. I suggest that it be read less as theory, and more as a collection of writings on the Korean success, to be adapted by modern revolutionaries to their own struggles.

[Juhyundred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a solid read. Good summary of the immediate period after division/liberation, nice intro to juche. On the development of a non aligned movement was a little repetitive at times but still pretty interesting as a window into DPRK’s orientation to foreign policy at the time

[Douglas Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but good introduction into the political thought of Kim Il Sung, not only of the beginnings of the DPRK and his Juche philosophy, but of geopolitics and the overall communist movement worldwide and how western capital was organized against it.

The book contains essays at various points in Kim Il Sung's leadership of the DPRK, from before the Korean War and after, to the Latin American struggle, to the Iraqi one in the Middle East and later on in his life. By no means comprehensive, it nonetheless gives a good overview of Kim Il Sung's thought about his Juche philosophy and how it could be applied to other countries fighting for their own liberation against western imperialist rule.

I have yet to read more from the other communist leaders, but Kim's writings very much remind me of Lenin's, having a clear and concise view of the overarching macro view of geopolitical goings on, and how they all aligned against American imperialism, which he saw as attempting to control the entire globe. Many of his writings seem prescient now, especially his comments on Palestine and the Middle East. Kim, like many other Marxists, was simply ahead of his time.

[Lance Carrico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most widely known piece of literature from the formerly communist-esq North Korea.

He writes with great passion for his country, and it gives the best insight into where the North Koreans are coming from in terms of their political positions being a reaction to US aggression and imperialism.

[Nina Dillenz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great when drunk

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited by Prism Key's website and collection, but the horrendous typos and generally poor quality of translation and selection was unquestionable in this volume.