However, in contrast to the devastating consequences that resulted from the problem of succession to the cause of the revolutionary leader in a number of other socialist countries, that in Korea was a testimony to the maturity and self-confidence of that country's socialist system. Since his graduation from Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University, Comrade Kim Jong Il had worked in the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea for some 30 years, where he began by effecting a great revolutionary change in the country's art and culture. As President Kim Il Sung advanced in years, and under his leadership and guidance, Comrade Kim Jong Il progressively took charge of all the day- to-day work of the Korean party, state and people's armed forces. The magnificent transformations that have taken place on Korean soil must, therefore, be inextricably associated with the names of both Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. This is reflected in the fact that the first major slogan put up by Comrade Kim Jong Il when he assumed full responsibility for the destiny of the Korean people was: "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is always with us!" Thousands of miles and entire continents separate us from the Korean people. But we should not feel as though we are far removed from our Korean brothers and sisters. As an international class, the working class cannot remain indifferent to events and trends in any part of the world. We are drawn close to the Korean people because of their country's dogged determination to remain on the socialist road, making it one of the most important countries in today's world for communists, revolutionaries and politically-conscious workers wherever they may be. Likewise, we are drawn closer to the Korean people because the Korean communists, under the guidance of their leaders, have also been acutely conscious of their internationalist role, responsibilities and duties. Not least, it was they who stepped forward after the modern revisionists had
