The Non-aligned Movement was formed at the First Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in former Yugoslavia’s Belgrade in September 1961 with leaders from 25 countries in attendance.

The NAM’s ideal is independence against imperialism, and its fundamental principle is to refrain from joining any bloc.

Since its inception the NAM has taken it as its ennobling mission to abolish all sorts of domination and subjugation, fight against aggression and intervention, realize sovereignty of countries and nations and achieve sustainable socio-economic development.

History has advanced a long way and a century turned since the establishment of the NAM. Yet, high-handedness and arbitrariness based on power-is-almighty logic are still allowed to go unchecked in the international arena while NAM member states’ sovereignty and right to existence are seriously violated.

The current international situation is reminiscent of the early years of the Cold War in the last century when the NAM was formed, and requires the member nations to hold higher the banner of anti-imperialist independence, unity and cooperation in order to realize international justice.

The 19th NAM Summit was held in Kampala, Uganda, on January 19-20, 2024. It brought together heads of state and government and high-ranking delegations from 120 member nations, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as representatives from observer states and international and regional organizations.

The agenda items were about rejecting high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialist reactionary forces and their acts of aggression and infringement upon sovereignty, joining efforts of the member nations to defend their sovereignty and rights to existence and development, and raising the status and influence of the NAM as a force intended for anti-imperialist independence and peace against war. The summit adopted a final document and the Kampala Declaration.

It is the desire of mankind to bolster up the NAM, realize global independence and live in a peaceful world free from war.

Since it joined the NAM on August 25, 1975, the DPRK has remained faithful to the movement’s fundamental ideals and principles and committed itself to establishing fair international relations and securing global peace and security.

The DPRK government and people are making gigantic efforts to defend peace on the Korean peninsula and build a powerful socialist country, which renders a tangible contribution to maintaining global peace and security and achieving the just cause of the NAM.

In line with its foreign policy principles—independence, peace and friendship, the DPRK continues to attach importance to enhancing the NAM’s role in the establishment of a new international order based on independence and justice and makes every possible effort to further develop the movement.

Kim Wi Hyok