All the DPRK people delightedly celebrate March 8 International Women's Day as they offer women unstinting praise and blessings.

Showing of respect and affection for women is a trait of DPRK society, which is displayed more prominently whenever the day comes.

It is 115 years since International Women's Day began to be celebrated as the day of struggle against imperialism and colonialism and for peace, democracy and national independence, the day of promoting unity among progressive women throughout the world for their equality and rights and the day of demonstrating the might of unity. Despite the long years of strivings, sexual equality and women’s rights still fail to be respected around the world.

It is an undeniable reality that large numbers of women, who should duly enjoy social rights, are subjected to discrimination, violence and crimes for the mere reason that they are female and therefore fall victim to all social evils in the face of inequality and contempt, being deprived of even their elementary right to existence.

All the DPRK people have the pride and honour of being "Koreans", while its women are proud of being "Korean women". Why?

When Korea was under Japanese military rule, they suffered double and triple oppression and exploitation due to the aggressors’ colonial exploitation and the rulers’ feudal subordination.

But after national liberation on August 15 1945, the people’s power was established and the genuine sexual equality was guaranteed, bringing about a dramatic change in the destiny of women.

Those women who had no access to school before became able to learn at schools and universities to their heart’s content. They became scientists, artistes, sportspersons, officials and deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly who discuss state affairs, exercising their legitimate rights.

Recorded in the history of the DPRK are many stories about the state policies adopted in succession to relieve the burden of women and promote their health, about the feats of many women working devotedly for the prosperity of the country at every workplace of creation and construction and about the beautiful traits of women who tend their families and society with warm affection, devotion, kind hearts and noble mind.

Today the dignity and honour of the Korean women are being exalted more highly and the women's movement is making a new history of upsurge and development.

They have come to have greater pride and honour under the loving care of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who regards everything they want as the cherished desire of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the most important state affair and puts them forward as a powerful force for the development of the state and society.

That is why the women of the DPRK devote all their sincere patriotic energy to the prosperity of the country in every place to which the Party calls.