Cuba and North Korea: Two Songun Peas in a Pod

"The Cuban people," we learn, "have unswervingly followed the road of independence and socialism" while the Korean people are "dashing ahead like wind toward a thriving socialist nation." What's with the Cubans? Why can't they dash like the wind, too?

Rodong Sinmun Sunday dedicates a signed article to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Cuba.

The paper says that for the last five decades the peoples of the DPRK and Cuba have fully demonstrated the might of the friendly relations between the two countries that were forged in the joint struggle to defend socialism.

The Korean people have extended full support and solidarity to the Cuban people in their struggle to honorably defend the gains of the revolution while defeating the imperialists' aggression and interference from the very day they gained victory in the Cuban revolution, the daily says, and goes on:

The Cuban people have extended full support and encouragement to the struggle of the Korean people who are dashing ahead like wind toward a thriving socialist nation holding high the red flag of the revolution without the slightest vacillation and pessimism despite the pressure and sanctions on the part of the imperialist allied forces.

The solidity and invincibility of the bilateral friendship have been consolidated thanks to President Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people, and Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban revolution.

Under the leadership of Fidel Castro and Raul Castro the Cuban people have achieved great successes in their struggle to defend the country, revolution and socialism while frustrating the vicious moves of the imperialists to isolate and suffocate Cuba.

Well aware that only socialism can guarantee their happy life and bright future, the Cuban people have unswervingly followed the road of independence and socialism against imperialism, holding high the slogan of revolution and struggle "Socialism or death, we will win!"

It is the steadfast stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to support the Cuban revolution and invariably strengthen the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation.

The Korean people will as ever make positive efforts to continue to develop the traditional friendly and cooperative relations with the Cuban people based on the revolutionary principle and comradely obligation.