Wherever there are soldiers

Leader Kim Jong Il in his lifetime toured a long way for his Songun revolutionary leadership, sometimes crossing a high and rugged pass and sometimes riding on the rough waves, to go wherever there were soldiers.

The Chol Pass in central Korea is a very steep and rugged road.

One March day in 1996 he, saying Supreme Commander should try driving a car if he wants to know the road to the front, crossed the Chol Pass at the wheels, though the road was slippery after sleeting.

Officials earnestly requested him not to cross the Chol Pass any more.

But he said: “I also know if I slip on the rough pass, I would fall over a precipice. But I cross the pass again and again because my soldiers over the pass are waiting their Supreme Commander while safeguarding the defense line of the country.

Lying on their belly on the frozen land to watch the enemy’s position all night, the soldiers think of their Supreme Commander. Then how can I sit at rest?”, he would say and crossed the Chol Pass over and over again.

That’s why today the Chol Pass has become a symbol of his Songun revolutionary leadership.

The same story is associated with Mt. Osong, a height faced with enemy on the front most line.

One day in August 1998 Kim Jong Il suggested officials to climb Mt. Osong. It is a high and rugged mountain with 151 curved passes, rising over 1 000 meters above the sea level.

Officials stood in his way, saying that it was impossible to go up because the pass was washed out by heavy rain.

“As I have come as far as here, I must climb up the height where there are soldiers. Supreme Commander must tour the rugged pass in the bad weather like today to learn how the soldiers were getting along.

Crossing steep roads, he arrived at the front commanding post on the top of the height.

The commander of the unit gave a salute to him and said with great concern how he could tour so rugged a road.

At this Kim Jong Il said he should go not only a smooth road, but a rugged road too.

For his Songun revolutionary leadership Kim Jong Il sailed the rough sea to Cho Islet.

One November day in 1996 he sailed the rough waves aboard a small fast boat.

Usually, the navigation route to Cho Islet was dangerous and that day it was very cold and there was so much lift of sea.

Officials tried to dissuade him from navigating and requested him to put off the schedule.

But Kim Jong Il got aboard, saying soldiers were waiting him on the islet and he had never sailed before the wind.

That day he got to the islet after sailing nearly an hour to cover a little over 5 miles.

The high and rugged Chol Pass and Mt. Osong and the rough waves could not keep Kim Jong Il from touring the road to the front with warm love for soldiers.

Like this, Kim Jong Il toured the road of his Songun revolutionary leadership with a firm determination to safeguard the destiny of the country and nation with arms and with a fervent love for soldiers.

Just it made the DPRK a dignified military power nobody can encroach upon.