PYONGYANG -- Raul Castro congratulated Kim Jong Il on his birthday in a February 13 message.

      Kim, the de facto leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), turned either 65 or 66 on February 16, depending on one's source.   The official North Korean line is that Kim was born in 1942, but other sources claim that he was actually born a year earlier.   Bradley K. Martin, in his book Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, suggests that 1942 may have been selected in order to line up Kim's milestone birthdays with those of his father, the late Kim Il Sung, who was born in 1912.   In any case, Kim received congratulations from a number of fellow world leaders, including the younger brother of Fidel Castro.

      Raul Castro's message read, "Please accept my warmest congratulations sent to you on behalf of the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba and the Cuban people on your birthday.  It gives me great pleasure to most sincerely wish you success in your work to lead the heroic Korean people linked with the Cuban people by the ties of fraternal solidarity.   Availing myself of this opportunity, I express admiration at the Korean people's indomitable struggle to defend (its) sovereignty and reiterate our support (for) the just cause of achieving the reunification of the Korean nation."

    The Republic of Cuba and the DPRK have long been allies in the global Communist revolution against the often allegedly imperialistic capitalist West, which won the Cold War when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.  Years ago, Fidel Castro praised Kim Il Sung as a great socialist leader; the late Ernesto "Che" Guevara pronounced the DPRK a revolutionary socialist model for the Republic of Cuba to follow when he visited the former country in the 1960s.  With the only other remaining Communist-ruled countries -- the People's Republic of China, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) -- increasingly embracing capitalism (though maintaining one-party authoritarian rule), Cuba and the DPRK are the world's last bastions of Communism.   Officially, Cuba is Marxist-Leninist, while the DPRK's official ideology is Juche, a term essentially meaning national self-reliance.  Juche nevertheless maintains socialism and communism as national goals.

      Kim Jong Il is Chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and a member of the Supreme People's Assembly.   Officially, he shares power with Kim Yong Nam (no relation), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and de facto head of state, and Premier Pak Pong Ju, head of the government.  Kim Il Sung, despite his death in 1994, continues in his official capacity as Eternal President.

      Raul Castro is First Vice President and Acting President of the Council of State and of the Council of Ministers of Cuba.  Fidel Castro, despite a long illness, has stayed on officially as President of the Council of State and of the Council of Ministers and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba.   However, Fidel temporarily transferred the duties of these offices to Raul when he fell ill last year.   Despite recent Cuban reports that Fidel is recovering, it is unknown whether he will eventually resume his duties or permanently pass the torch to Raul.

 

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