Kim Jong Il and 2011

 

Kim Jong Il (1942-2011), eternal chairman of the National Defence Commission of the

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was the great leader of the people who devoted his all to

the prosperity of the country and people’s happiness throughout his whole life.

In his lifetime he visited over 14 290 units, the total distance of his field guidance trips

exceeding 669 840km.

Even in 2011, the last year of his life, he visited many units ranging from light industry

factories in the capital to small production cooperatives in provinces.

On a sultry day of the year he visited the Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 to look round

the hall for the second trade fair, giving instructions on how to develop light industry and

improve commercial service.

He also visited the newly-built Pothongmungori Fish and Meat Shop and the Pyongyang

Vegetable Science Institute in order to provide the people with fresh vegetables all the year

round.

Seeing the beautiful flowers in the greenhouses of the Pyongyang Floriculture Institute, he

stressed the need to build more flower shops in the city. At a noodle restaurant in a miners’

village, he even tasted the noodles and dishes, and during his visit to a machine-building factory,

he pointed to the necessity of producing daily necessities.

The Wonhung area in the suburbs of Pyongyang demonstrates his close concern for the

people; the large-scale Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm was established, followed by the

construction of a modern fruit-processing plant, a stockbreeding farm and a net factory.

Though the ideals of the people were coming true thanks to his devotion, he himself was in

failing health.

At that time he was suffering from a serious disease caused by excessive mental and physical

fatigue; he had a great difficulty in standing long.

However, he led the effort to build a socialist power, visiting over one hundred units in 2011

alone.

Medical staff begged him to take a good rest, but he went on his field guidance trips.

On the first Sunday of December 2011, he visited the Amusement Park of the Kaeson Youth

Park, which was newly renovated. It was the beginning of the winter and the weather was

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unusually freezing. When the staff of the park told him that he should not have come on such a

foul day, he said smilingly that as he came in bad weather, the people would come in fine

weather.

In the middle of the month he inspected such units as the February 8 Vinalon Complex,

Hamhung Knitwear Factory and Hungnam Leather Shoes Factory, making painstaking efforts for

the building of a powerful socialist country and improvement of the people’s standard of living.

On the 15 th , two days before he passed away, he visited the Hana Music Information Centre

and Kwangbok Area Supermarket.

On the 16 th , he took measures for the people’s living conditions, staying in his office until late

at night and that night, he set out on another trip for field guidance.

On the 17 th , his heart stopped beating on a running train.

For his noble devotion to the people’s wellbeing till the last moment of his life, Kim Jong Il

will live forever in the hearts of the Korean people and other progressive peoples throughout the

world.