A Seminar on the Juche Idea for "Independence, Sovereignty and Social Advancement―To Commemorate the 75th Founding Anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" was held in Rome, Italy, on September 3, 2023, under the auspices of the International Institute of the Juche Idea (IIJI).

The seminar was conducted in person at the venue and online.

Joining the seminar in person at the venue were the Director General, Secretary General, and Directors of the Board of the Directors of the European Regional Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, members of the Italian Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, members of Italian friendship and solidarity organizations with the DPRK, the Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the DPRK Embassy to Italy, and a delegation from the Secretariat of the IIJI.

Over 100 people participated in the seminar online, including the Director General, Secretary General, and Directors of the Board of Directors of the IIJI, Vice-Chairman of the Korean Association of Social Scientists (KASS), representatives of study organizations of the Juche idea from around the world, and participants from Korean friendship organizations.

More than 80 manuscripts were submitted to the seminar, including contributed papers and congratulatory messages.

The seminar was chaired by Prof. Matteo Carbonelli, secretary general of the European Regional Society for the Study of the Juche Idea.

Prof. Matteo Carbonelli gave the opening address.

Prof. Ramon Jimenez Lopez, director general of the IIJI made a congratulatory address.

“This seminar will be very important as it has been convened as a social significant movement of the anniversary of the DPRK has marched a victory of a proud history of seventy five years heroically independence, sovereignty and dignity of the country, peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, under the wise leadership of great leaders.

“The seminar will be an important opportunity to send our firm support and solidarity of the Korean people, who are fighting for the final victory in the confrontation against US imperialism and under the just wise leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK.”

In his congratulatory address, Mr. Pak Chol Jung, vice-chairman of the KASS said as follows:

“Today’s complicated realities, in which the basic rule of international relations is openly ignored and high-handedness and arbitrariness of big powers are rampant, eloquently tell how important it is to defend and realize independence.

“(Witnessed in the DPRK are) astonishing miracles in all fields of politics, the economy, culture and national defence, even under the hostile forces’ moves of suffocation and the world public health crisis.

“I’m sure that this seminar will serve as an important occasion that gives confidence and courage to the world progressives who make efforts to achieve independence, peace and social development, to deepen friendship and trust between countries and to further the study and dissemination of the Juche idea.”

In his congratulatory speech, Dr. Ogami Ken-ichi, secretary general of the IIJI said as follows:

“Nowadays, we are living in the era that we are able to feel more the trend of the era of independence when we look at the historic changes in Latin America, the Middle East, and the rest of the world that strengthen the trend of independence, sovereignty and solidarity.

“In the era of global independence when the people in individual countries are jointly pushing forward the struggle for independence in their own countries and the rest of the world, it is indispensable further in that direction to have an ideological theory that looks into the future of socialism and communism.

“It is an indisputable fact that with Kimilsung-Kimjongilism, it will be possible to widen more the world of independence and peace, and build a socialist and communist society in the future in a brilliant manner, while thoroughly crushing the maneuvers of imperialism whose true nature is war and aggression.”

The key-note report entitled “Independence Is Life of Sovereign State and Guarantee of Its Social Development” to the seminar was made by Prof. Edmond Jouve, director general, the Board of Directors of the relevant European Regional Society. He said as follows:

“This seminar is of great significance as it is held in the historic period of greeting the 75th founding anniversary of the DPRK, which displays dignity of an independent power in today’s reality in which rapid change and serious crustal movements are made in the trend of world politics and structure of international relations.

“President Kim Il Sung clarified that independence is the lifeblood not only of a man, but also of a country and nation, and ushered in the era of building an independent country, whereas General Secretary Kim Jong Il, with faith in independence, guaranteed existence and constant development of the country and with the outstanding political capability and saw that a glorious victory was registered in every confrontation with the imperialist forces and firmly defended the Republic, a citadel of socialism and independence.

“The DPRK demonstrates its existence of being a world nuclear power amid the rapid change in the balance of international forces, thus concentrating focus of the world and becoming a force that cannot be ignored in deciding the switch into a new structure of international relations.

“The 75-year history and the future of the DPRK convince the progressive people that their ideal is not just a dream, encourage all of them to the building of a new society and a new life and lead them to a correct road.”

The keynote report was followed by some speeches.

On behalf of the African Regional Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, Prof. Lohekele Kalonda Andre, secretary general of the said committee expressed congratulations on the seminar.

A speech entitled “The Founding of DPRK and Its Role in International Arena Today” written by Prof. Omar Lopez, deputy director general, the Board of Directors of the Latin American Institute of the Juche Idea was read aloud on behalf of him.

A speech entitled “Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism: Guideline of Our Study Group in Struggle for Sovereign of Austria” was delivered by Thomas Loesch, director of the Board of Directors of the relevant European Regional Society.

A speech entitled “75 Years since the Founding of the DPRK” was delivered by Mr. Juha Kieksi, deputy director-general, the Board of Directors of the relevant European Regional Society.

The final speech was delivered by Prof. Alexander Vorontsov, head of a department of the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Russian Academy of Sciences, who made an analysis of the reasons why the world is paying attention to the Juche idea and the DPRK.

After the speeches, a letter to General Secretary Kim Jong Un was adopted with thunderous applause.

The seminar was closed after the introduction of a video on the recent development of the DPRK.

After the seminar, a reception was held at a different venue.

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The seminar was marked an opportunity to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the DPRK, to reaffirm the importance of national sovereignty in today's world and the truthfulness and vitality of the Juche idea, and then after all, to strengthen our determination to further engage in the study and dissemination of the Juche idea.