Brilliant Leadership

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.

Spring Fragrance on International Women’s Day

On March 8 over a decade ago, there was a performance in the presence of Chairman Kim Jong Il. The women who were enjoying the performance together with him could not hold their excitement and joy. However, at that moment they could never know what other warm love was waiting for them. When the performance was over, an official mounted the stage and informed in an emotional voice that Chairman Kim Jong Il had sent “Pomhyanggi”-trademarked cosmetics and several kinds of foodstuffs to all the audience and performers as a gift on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. The hall was full of great emotion and joy. The Chairman had shown benevolent affection saying that the cosmetics should be given not only to the women but also to the male performers and audience so that their wives would be really pleased. That is how “Pomhyanggi” (meaning spring fragrance) flew into the magnificent East Pyongyang Grand Theatre and into the minds of the women across the country on that significant day.

Criterion of Service Activity

One day in March some years ago, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the newly built Mirae Shop. Acknowledging that the shop was well built as befits the model of commercial establishments in line with the intention of the Party, he felt really delighted to have more and more modern service bases for the people. On the day, he stressed that the officials and workers in the shop should lend an ear to the customers’ voices, out of the stand that people’s demand is just the criterion of service activities, and make every possible effort to improve their service, adding that they should take a well-knit measure to actively introduce advanced service methodologies and keep up the supply of goods in great demand. It was the moment of instilling into the hearts of the officials the service viewpoint towards the people.