It has been 50 years since President Kim Il Sung paid a historic visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria from late May to early June in 1975, providing a firm guarantee for the development of friendship between the DPRK and Algeria, and also making a great contribution to the strengthening of friendship and solidarity of the world’s revolutionary people championing independence.

Houari Boumediene, the then Chairman of the Algerian Revolutionary Council and Premier of the Cabinet of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, had long been looking forward to the President’s visit to Algeria. When he received the news of the visit of President Kim Il Sung , he made sure that all necessary arrangements were made as a nationwide priority.

When the President arrived in Algeria, more than 600,000 citizens lined up along the 16-kilometre-long roads to offer him a warm welcome, a scene which had never been seen in the country. Wherever he went and whichever road he drove along, there were surging waves of people welcoming him.

During his visit, President Kim Il Sung had a comprehensive and frank exchange of views with Chairman Houari Boumediene and other senior officials of Algerian government on the issues related to the complex international situation, and discussed the measures and joint actions to cope with it.

He emphasized, in particular, that the DPRK and Algeria, despite the geographical distance, were closely linked with each other as they pursue common principles of independence in the righteous struggle against imperialism and colonialism, and in the building of a new society.

President Kim Il Sung visited Algiers University and made a historic speech on May 26. In his speech, he congratulated Algerian people and the leadership for their success achieved in the building of a new society. He also illustrated the principles and ways of struggle for the Algerian people, giving modest briefing on the successes and experiences gained by the DPRK in the revolution and construction with the Juche idea as the guiding principle.

His speech was met with loud applause of the state leading officials and the University staff and immediately received widespread media coverage across the world.

The big mass rally on May 28 with the participation of 15,000 citizens in welcome of the historic visit of President Kim Il Sung was an occasion that won greater admiration of Algerian people. State leaders, reflecting the boundless respect from Algerian people, conferred on President Kim Il Sung an honorary doctorate from Algiers University and the title of honorary citizenship of Algiers.

The historic visit to Algeria made by President Kim Il Sung 5 decades ago was a landmark event signifying a watershed in the development of DPRK-Algeria friendship. It served as a significant occasion that shed light of hope on the people of developing countries aspiring after national independence and independent development, free from the yoke of imperialist colonialism.

The friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Algeria that have been consolidated in the tribulations of history through generations and centuries are now developing further under the close attention and wise leadership of respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the DPRK.

We will invariably value and consistently develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with Algeria, and advance more resolutely the common cause of independence against imperialism and international justice.

Pak Ryong Ho

President

Korea-Arab Association