Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong et al. on the Seventeenth Anniversary of the Founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (September 8, 1965) 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 Geon, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

On the occasion of the seventeenth 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 establishment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea inaugurated a new era in Korean history. Over the past seventeen years, under the leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea headed by Comrade Kim Il Sung, the heroic Korean people have achieved splendid victories both in their struggle against U.S. imperialist aggression and in the cause of socialist construction.

Today, wielding the sickle and hammer in one hand and weapons in the other, the Korean people continue to advance courageously toward the grand goals of the Seven-Year Plan, inspired by a spirit of self-reliance and the bold strides of the Chollima Movement; at the same time, they are engaged in a tit-for-tat struggle against U.S. imperialism, firmly safeguarding the fruits of the revolution.

The struggles and victories of the Korean people have made an enormous contribution to the cause of safeguarding peace in Asia and throughout the world. The Chinese people rejoice in every victory and achievement of the Korean people as if they were their own.

The Korean people have waged an unrelenting struggle against the U.S. aggressor forces’ occupation of South Korea, for the reunification of the motherland, and to defeat the “South Korea–Japan Treaty.” Recently, the people of South Korea have once again set off a mighty tide of anti-U.S. patriotic struggle, powerfully shaking the reactionary rule of U.S. imperialism and its lackeys. The Chinese people firmly support the just struggle of the Korean people and are convinced that U.S. imperialism will ultimately be driven out of South Korea, and that the beautiful land of Korea, stretching three thousand li, will surely be unified.

The peoples of China and Korea have forged a profound friendship through their long years of revolutionary struggle. The friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries are constantly developing. The combat solidarity and fraternal friendship between our two peoples, based on Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, are unbreakable. This solidarity and friendship will undoubtedly be further consolidated and strengthened in our common struggle against imperialism, in support of national liberation, in the pursuit of socialism, and in the defense of world peace.

We wish the Korean people new and even greater achievements in their socialist construction and in their struggle for national reunification. May the great unity and combat friendship between the Chinese and Korean peoples endure forever! 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 September 8, 1965 Printed according to the edition in the People’s Daily of September 9, 1965.