Telegram on the Fifteenth Anniversary
(August 14, 1960)

Comrade Kim Il Sung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Comrade Choe Yong Gon, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

On the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the liberation of Korea, we wish to extend, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese people, the warmest, fraternal congratulations to the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Korean people.

Over the past fifteen years, the industrious and valiant Korean people, under the correct leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea headed by Comrade Kim Il Sung, have traversed an arduous yet glorious path, establishing a system of people’s democratic dictatorship in the northern part of Korea and carrying out socialist revolution and socialist construction. After defeating the aggression of U.S. imperialism, the number one enemy of the people of the world, the heroic Korean people, with an indomitable fighting spirit, overcame countless difficulties and swiftly restored the national economy, which had been ravaged by war. With exuberant revolutionary fervor, the Korean people have launched the nation-wide Chollima Movement, leaping forward along the brilliant road of socialism and achieving great successes on every front of socialist construction.

The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has unswervingly pursued a foreign policy of peace, resolutely opposed the aggressive and war policies of U.S. imperialism, and made tremendous contributions to the safeguarding of peace in the Far East and the world. The just struggle waged by the Korean people for the peaceful reunification of their fatherland has won universal support from all peace-loving peoples and countries throughout the world. Recently, the struggle of the people of South Korea against U.S. imperialism and its agents has been developing vigorously. We are deeply convinced that, with the persistent struggle of the entire heroic Korean people, U.S. imperialism will one day be compelled to withdraw from South Korea, and the peaceful reunification of Korea will one day be realized. The Chinese people pledge to stand forever with the Korean people and to fight to the end against our common enemy, U.S. imperialism.

The fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Korea, cemented with blood, has been comprehensively developed and consolidated in the common cause of opposing U.S. aggression, safeguarding world peace, and building socialism. This great friendship, established and developed on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, not only conforms to the common interests of our two peoples but also strengthens the forces of the entire socialist camp. The Chinese people will make unremitting efforts to develop the friendship between the peoples of China and Korea and to strengthen the unity of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union.

We wish the Korean people new and still greater achievements in the cause of building socialism and striving for the peaceful reunification of their fatherland. May the fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Korea remain evergreen for all eternity.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Liu Shaoqi, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China
Zhu De, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China
Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
August 14, 1960