From Voice of Korea-Persimmon Tree Company

 From Voice of Korea.

http://vok.rep.kp/index.php/detail_com/scomde/iee241120001/39/en

Persimmon Tree Company

  The great leader Kim Jong Il named a coast artillerywomen's company the Persimmon Tree Company.

  He visited the company in February 1995 during his continued tour for Songun (military-first) leadership.

  Here is Choe Myong Ok who served as the company commander at that time.

  "When the great leader Kim Jong Il came to our company, the soldiers were on duty at the artillery emplacement. Informed of it, he directly headed for the artillery emplacement in spite of the biting sea wind. The soldiers were extremely happy to see him.

  He went round the artillery emplacement and watched a martial art training of the soldiers in the playground. He also dropped in at the barracks to see the footlockers one by one. After enjoying an art performance given by soldiers of the company, he said he had got a deep impression during his inspection of the company."

  That day, Kim Jong Il appreciated the efforts of the women soldiers for defending the coast of the country and worried about the chapped face of the company commander. And afterwards, he sent tonic cream to the coast artillerywomen of the company.

  In August that year, he watched women soldiers of the company in their swimming training and highly praised them.

  Two years later in November 1997, he called at the company again without forgetting his promise to come again in the season when persimmons ripen.

  Valuing the coast artillerywomen defending the country impregnably, he had a photo taken with them. Looking at the persimmon trees around the barracks, he affectionately said the company could be called the Persimmon Tree Company. 

  Many years have passed since then. But the Korean people still remember the immortal footprints left by Kim Jong Il at the coast artillerywomen's company and create literary works on them.

  People's Artist Ri Chol at the Mansudae Art Studio created a Korean painting depicting Kim Jong Il who had visited the coast artillerywomen's company. He says:

  "We can hardly represent in a work the lifelong exploits of the great leader Kim Jong Il no matter how hard we may try day and night."

  The love of Kim Jong Il, who firmly trained the coast artillerywomen and showed warm love to them, will be told forever along with the Persimmon Tree Company.