Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating Kim Il Sung on His Fiftieth Birthday
(April 14, 1962)

Pyongyang
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea
Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Dear Comrade Kim Il Sung:

On the occasion of your fiftieth birthday, we extend to you, the beloved leader of the Korean people and a cherished friend of the Chinese people, our sincere and warm congratulations.

For decades, you have devoted all your wisdom and energy to the cause of Korea’s independence, unification, and socialism, and have achieved brilliant successes. You have creatively applied the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism to the actual conditions of Korea. You have led the heroic Korean people, standing firm on the eastern outpost of the socialist camp; holding high the banner of opposing imperialism, you have resolutely defended peace in the Far East and the world; guided by the principles of proletarian internationalism, you have made significant efforts to safeguard and strengthen the unity of the socialist camp and the international communist movement.

As a sincere friend and close comrade-in-arms of the Chinese people, you have consistently spared no effort in strengthening the fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Korea. During the difficult years of the 1930s for the Chinese people, you personally led the fine sons and daughters of the Korean people to support the Chinese people’s revolutionary struggle with their blood. During the arduous days of the Fatherland Liberation War of Korea, you showed the most meticulous care for the Chinese People’s Volunteers in the lofty spirit of proletarian internationalism. During the period when our two peoples are building socialism with great enthusiasm, you have continuously made valuable contributions to enhancing the friendly unity, mutual assistance, and cooperation between China and Korea. The friendship between the peoples of China and Korea is sealed in blood, and the unity of our two parties and two countries is as rock-solid as steel. The ever-growing development of Sino-Korean friendship is inseparable from your tremendous efforts. The Chinese people take pride in having a sincere friend like you and extend to you our highest esteem.

We wholeheartedly wish you good health and long life. May you achieve new and even greater successes in leading the Korean people in their great cause.

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

April 14, 1962