Pyongyang
Telegram on the Sixteenth Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic
(September 8, 1964)

To 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,

And to Comrade Choe Yong-geon, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

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

The Chinese people view with great joy and inspiration the fact that the industrious and courageous Korean people, closely united around the Workers’ Party of Korea under the leadership of Comrade Kim Il-sung, have steadfastly followed the revolutionary line of building an independent national economy, transforming their homeland in a short span of time into a socialist industrial–agricultural country with a solid foundation in an independent national economy. This glorious achievement of the Korean people is a great victory of the Workers’ Party of Korea in creatively applying the universal truths of Marxism-Leninism to the specific conditions of Korea.

The Chinese people are firmly convinced that the fraternal Korean people will surely realize their lofty goals in carrying out the tasks of the Seven-Year Plan for National Economic Development.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has consistently pursued a policy of peace in its foreign relations, resolutely opposing the aggressive and war-mongering policies of U.S. imperialism, actively supporting the revolutionary struggles of all oppressed nations and peoples, and making outstanding contributions to safeguarding the security of the socialist camp and upholding peace in Asia and throughout the world. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs, and its international prestige is steadily rising.

The Korean people have waged an unrelenting struggle against the occupation of South Korea by U.S. aggressor forces, striving for the peaceful reunification of their fatherland. The anti-U.S. patriotic struggle of the people of South Korea continues to shake the reactionary rule of U.S. imperialism and its lackey, the Park Chung-hee clique. The Chinese people are confident that the Korean people’s patriotic and just struggle will ultimately triumph, and that their ardent desire to reunify the motherland will be fulfilled.

Over the past year, the combat friendship and great unity between the peoples of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have been further strengthened and developed in the struggle against imperialism and modern revisionism, as well as in comprehensive cooperation for the development of socialist construction. This friendship and unity are based on Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism; they have been forged in blood and are unbreakable. The Chinese people will forever remain closely united with the fraternal Korean people, fighting to the end for the realization of our common great revolutionary ideals.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Liu Shaoqi, President 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

Beijing, September 8, 1964