Brilliant Leadership

Never Turn a Blind Eye

One day several decades ago, Chairman Kim Jong Il heard that the residents in an area of Hamhung City were envious of the good-tasting tap water in the city centre. He learnt in detail about it right away. It was supposed to involve huge amount of labor and money to draw the tap water to the area at that time. Now that he knew about the desire of the people, the Chairman could never turn a blind eye to it whatever huge amount of money it would take. He saw to it that the work started immediately, and took necessary measures. It was his noble intention that there is nothing trivial for the people.

Story of Mullet Soup Cooked with Cold Water

One morning in April several decades ago, President Kim Il Sung called an official to acquaint himself with the preparation for a consultant meeting which was due that morning. Calling upon him to organize luncheon for the participants after the meeting, the President friendly asked him if he liked mullet soup cooked with cold water. Judging from his expression of embarrassment that many officials including him must be unfamiliar with it, the President said he was going to give them a chance to try it at lunch time. Noting that despite being one of the well-known specialties of Pyongyang, even its name could hardly be heard of, the President said in a low but serious voice that he was planning to warn the officials by having them try it as they seemed not to be worried about it. At lunchtime, the President with a broad smile on his face encouraged them to help themselves to the mullet soup specially cooked for them, asking for an extra helping. When every one of them told the President they really enjoyed it, the President asked them if they knew how to cook mullet soup with cold water. There was no reply but a look passed between them instead. Looking at them with a smile, the President said that mullet soup cooked with cold water is one of the famous specialties of Pyongyang and explained to them how to cook it. It was the President who was always solicitous about providing our people with the most affluent and civilized living conditions, and leading the officials to voluntarily do many good things that would contribute to the improvement of the people’s living standard and to become genuine servants who take delight of life in it. The story of mullet soup still conveys the benevolent love for the people of the great father.

Exposed to Rain Bright and Early

Little rain in spring is one of the typical climate features of our country. One year some decades ago, very little rain fell throughout the country until the beginning of April. On April 14 that year, President Kim Il Sung was on his field guidance taking irrigation measures for field crops hit by drought before returning to the accommodation late at night. Then, he often opened the window to look up at the night sky. The sky was full of dark clouds as if the rain was ready to pour down, but it never did. At last, on the morning of the 15th, it began to rain. Without his coat on, the President went out into the yard and estimated the amount of rain on his flat hands. Then, he made a big smile on his face. One of the officials eagerly asked him in a sympathetic tone not to stand in the rain any more as it was the morning of his birthday. The President was still satisfied with being exposed to rain, saying that it gave him much more pleasure than celebrating his birthday. The President was such a benevolent father.

Chicken and Eggs Returned

One day in April, Juche 40(1951), in the midst of the Fatherland Liberation War, President Kim Il Sung learnt that the officials were doing some preparation for his birthday and called one of them. The President asked him why he had been to the village that day. He replied that he had bought a chicken and a straw wrapper of eggs from the village. Noting that the country was still suffering from a hard-fought war, the President stressed that he could not even imagine celebrating his birthday. After a while of looking out of the window, the President continued that spring is indeed a good season when flowers come out on the hills and fields and farmers plough and sow the fields, and that hens hatch their eggs in that season. Saying that the chicken from the village might also have its baby, the President suggested returning rather than eating it so that it could be kept for its young. That is how the official gave back to the owner the chicken and eggs in good condition.

Brilliant Lineage

It happened on a day before the parade for marking the 35th anniversary of the Victorious Pochonbo Battle. Chairman Kim Jong Il visited a unit of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and went up a low hill to see the soldiers training for the parade. After a little while, the parade training started. Satisfactorily watching them proudly march in procession, the Chairman spoke highly of their great efforts in the training. Noting that the change of generations is taking place in the Army, too, as in the overall sections of our revolution, he said that even though shift in generation is inevitable in the revolutionary struggle, only the linage must never be changed. Then, he stressed the linage of our People’s Army is that of the anti-Japanese guerilla army founded and led by President Kim Il Sung. Bearing in mind his precious teachings, the commanding officers of the unit made a firm pledge to succeed to the linage of Paektu generation after generation.

On Munsu Hill

It was April 6, Juche 36(1947). On the day President Kim Il Sung climbed Munsu Hill after attending a grand commemoration ceremony of tree-planting. The President was heartbroken at the sight of the extremely desolate Munsu Hill, with hardly any trees standing upright and no birds singing, just like the picture of our fatherland that had suffered all sorts of hardships and trials. The President, staring at the view of Munsu Hill for a long while without a word, said earnestly that forest is priceless treasure of the country and therefore afforestation is of great importance in protecting the land and adding beauty to the landscape of the country, adding that only when we plant many trees on the mountains, can we successfully protect our farmland, mountains and streams from natural disasters and also transfigure our country into a beautiful and fine paradise of people. Stressing that when all the mountains are turned into those with deep forests and rich resources, it will enhance our people’s national pride and dignity and arouse their patriotism even more, the President took the lead and planted a tree. The trees planted on the day are still growing tall and green, as if they were a witness of the history conveying the great love of the President for the fatherland.