Life Devoted to Future

Kim Jong Il (1942-2011), eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, devoted his all to building a bright and prosperous future in Korea, true to the intention of President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994).

For the future!

This is the burning patriotic spirit that ran through his entire life.

Throughout his life Chairman Kim Jong Il held fast to the principle of giving priority to the future over the present.

In the whole course of leading the country and the people the Chairman put forward lines and policies and conducted activities, always looking tens or hundreds of years ahead and giving priority to the future of the country.

At the end of the previous century, when the Korean people suffered the worst ordeals owing to the intensified anti-socialist offensives of the imperialist allied forces and unprecedented natural disasters, he held higher the banner of Songun and continuously inspected the Korean People’s Army units. And, although he was haunted by the thought of his people who were suffering from food shortage, he, shedding his heart’s tears, decided to allocate the precious funds, which was virtually everything in the country’s coffers, on introducing CNC technology for the future of the machine-building industry. It was the best choice he made born out of his will to guarantee his people for lasting happy life, instead of a temporary stabilization, and foster its might, instead of importing someone else’s showy machines.

Unlike self-seeking politicians who give no thought to the future of their countries and people, the Chairman always followed the roads to bring about a brilliant future of his country. Herein lies his extraordinary traits as a great man.

Chairman Kim Jong Il worked out plans in a big way and went full steam ahead with them, thereby hastening the future of the country.

It was his firm conviction and will to bring close a bright future as soon as possible by ceaselessly accumulating valuable wealth for the country and coming generations in whatever adversity. Such words as “stalemate,” “impossibility” and “moderately” were not in his vocabulary and no severest ordeals and difficulties could shake his will to realize the ideals of his people at an early date.

Thanks to his conviction and will, Korea could carry out in a blitz and three-dimensional way enormous projects for the bright future of the country, which were thought to be beyond its capacity even under favourable conditions, in the worst situation at the end of the previous century: Artificial earth satellites were manufactured and launched by their own efforts and technology; large-scale land realignment and gravitational waterway construction projects were conducted; afforestation and greening work of the country was carried out and lots of power stations built; factories which served as models in the era of knowledge-based economy and world-class fruit farms were set up; and scenic spots including Mts. Kuwol and Chilbo and Ryongmun Cavern were developed.

Though the world was apprehensive about the destiny of Korea, it forced its way through difficulties unprecedented in its history and ushered in a new era of building a thriving socialist country. This is the historic event that cannot be explained otherwise but as a miracle from the viewpoint of international community.

The whole life of Kim Jong Il was the one devoted to the building of a bright future of his country and people.

It was his goal and pride of life to work his heart and soul for building a prosperous country and providing his people with happiness.

Once he said to the officials as follows; whenever I see army soldiers and people during my field guidance they always ask me to take regular meals, go to bed in time and have a rest for the sake of my health. I appreciate their sincere devotion to their leader. But I am a son of the people before I am the leader of a country, so I, as a son of the people, still have a lot to do. I am not allowed to have a moment’s rest before our country is developed into a powerful one that is the best in the world, and our people can lead the happiest and most affluent life to their heart’s content on the reunified land. I regard it as my greatest honour, happiness and pride to dedicate my whole life to the country and the people.

Kim Jong Il continued his field guidance tours for the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people, working all night long. Though he had to catnap in his running train or car and have balls of cooked rice and suffered from a serious illness owing to excessive mental and physical exertion, he did not stop his trips for on-site guidance. In his lifetime he gave on-site guidance to over 14 290 units, travelling over 669 840 km or nearly 17 times as long as the distance round the earth.

Chairman Kim Jong Il who dedicated his all to the brilliant future of the country and people will be remembered for ever by not only Korean people but also progressive mankind.