The Korean Friendship Association of the UK(KFA UK ) and British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea held its 6th Joint Songun-Juche Q and A/study session at 1830 hours via Skype on the 5th of March . Participating were members of KFA UK and the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea from London , West of England and Oxfordshire . The meeting was joined by international guests from KFA Germany , KFA Spain , the People’s Korea Initiative of Poland , KFA Poland and Russia .
A minute’s silence was observed for the victims of genocide in Gaza .
A number of questions covering diverse topics such as the Juche idea , travel , old age pensions , switching jobs in the DPRK and the re-opening of Western embassies in the DPRK.
Comrade Alan Bolon , KFA UK Organisation and head of KFA UK West of England in response to a question about independence ,creativity and consciousness said that in part that “in a socialist society in DPRK, which provides all the basic needs for a man’s development, for his development at higher levels: intellectual. Creativity develops in connection with the consciousness that grows in conditions favourable to this development, that is, conditions when a person can, as a free and independent being, be the master of his own life without enslavement and consciously direct it, change the world and adapt world to his needs and aspirations just like his wants as a human being, for him and mutual relations to others.”
Dr Dermot Hudson Chairman of KFA UK and Chairman of the British Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in his response to the question said that “
Whilst independence , creativity and consciousness are intrinsic features of human beings it does not mean that man is automatically born with them , far from it . The Juche idea is a philosophy that is firmly rooted in materialism and not idealism.Such qualities are the attribute of a social being . In other words they formed only in society as a result of social interaction . Here is an example ; there are several different accounts of feral children or wolf boys who were raised by animals as a result they walked on all fours , ate with their hands or simply bit into the food and could not speak .
It is correct to say that independence , creativity and consciousness have developed s throughout history ,although such not always in a smooth and steady manner . They have developed as a result of the struggle of humans to master nature and in the struggle against different exploiting systems such as slavery ,feudalism and capitalism”
In answer to a question about overseas travel of DPRK citizens Dr Hudson said that the right of travel is guaranteed by the DPRK Constitution and that in fact DPRK citizens do travel abroad .
In response to a question about pensioners in the DPRK Dr Hudson said that in the DPRK pensioners receive extra benefits in addition to their pensions .Dr Hudson gave his views on the prospects for the re opening of Western embassies in the DPRK .
Additional questions were asked about the DPRK and BRICS and also the DPRK ‘s media coverage of the Aaron Bushnell case.
The session concluded at 19.50 hours.
