Day of the Shining Star & a Commitment to Korean Solidarity and Friendship

Dylan Clive, Adelaide Branch Chairperson and Australia-DPRK Friendship & Cultural Society

ON February 16, 1942, Comrade Kim Jong Il was born, a man who would then dedicate his life to the people of his country as did his father, Eternal President, Kim Il Sung before him and as his son, Kim Jong Un continues in the current day.

During the mid-1990’s Comrade Kim Jong Il led his people through some of the darkest days of their revolution, a period referred to as the Arduous March. The country was ravaged by floods, causing widespread destruction to their agricultural output. Their largest trading partner (the USSR) had been illegally dissolved as well as also being subjected to some of the strongest and most inhumane sanctions in world history led by the imperialist United States, a country who had carpet bombed up to 75 percent of their country and killed up to 25 percent of their population. All of this, while the threat of further imperialist aggression hung over their heads.

Under the guidance of Kim Jong Il and the Worker’s Party of Korea, they emerged victorious against all odds, with a strong and united country that had shown the tremendous strength of the people united with a common goal and a common destiny.

In 2018, I had the privilege of visiting the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the historic occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK. We visited the capital city, Pyongyang, historic sites such as the great fatherland liberation museum, the demilitarised zone, the Oceania friendship farm and witnessed such monumental human achievements of beauty at the mass games and the torchlit parade in Kim Il-Sung square.

All the while I had the understanding that this great land had been built and fought for by working people, under the banner of Socialism and the Juche idea. Truly, these were pivotal experiences in my understanding of the need for fighting for the liberation of the human spirit from the oppressive yolk of capitalism and the need to build strong and long-lasting relationships built on mutual respect and cooperation. It was a reminder of the indomitable human spirit, which above all else, is kind, loving and seeks to grow endlessly through great understanding of life, the universe, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

In the words of Kim Il Sung “My God is none other than the people." Only the popular masses are omniscient and omnipotent and almighty on earth. Therefore, my lifetime motto is: "The people are my God."

On the auspicious occasion of the 81st anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il (February 16, 2023), the Adelaide Branch of the Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society was successfully formed with like-minded individuals sympathetic to the plight of the Korean people coming together. They vowed to dedicate their time to disseminate the wide-spread misinformation and outright lies spread by the capitalist media and facilitate a new understanding of the DPRK in the minds of Australians.

Following the inaugural branch launch, the CPA International department alongside the Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society co-hosted the Day Of The Shining Star event to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Il and the successful launch of the Adelaide branch. An online/hybrid event featuring speeches from HE An Kwang Il, DPRK Ambassador to Indonesia, CPA and Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society members as well as a heartfelt tribute to Kim Jong Il and a final video showcasing the achievements of the people of the DPRK in 2022 under the great leadership of the Worker’s Party of Korea.

The Communist Party of Australia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening friendship and solidarity with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the leadership of the Workers Party of Korea.

While the imperialists rattle their sabres and threat of world war grows stronger, it is as important as ever to break down the walls that divide us and to build strong communities of solidarity both internationally and domestically. Marx’s rallying cry remains as pertinent as ever: “Workers of the world, unite!”