Great man and assets

The other day a western personage visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and met President Kim Il Sung.

Strolling along the path through a garden with spring flowers in full bloom, he was listening attentively to the succinct explanation of the President on problems arising in the Korean Peninsula and the international arena.

Then he abruptly asked if the President could give a hint how much assets leader Kim Jong Il had.

As it was the first time to face such a question, the President looked surprised without a word for a while.

Then he answered that Kim Jong Il had so much assets to surprise the billionaires of the West.

The western personage nodded his approval, saying that Kim Jong Il must have great assets, for he squarely challenged the tough policy of the United States, the alleged “superpower”, and made headway against the adverse wind of the world. Then he asked again whether the President could inform him of the bank where Kim Jong Il’s assets were deposited, guessing them at big banks in Switzerland or some other countries.

Kim Il Sung, giving a hearty laugh, said, “There is no need to keep them in foreign banks as we have many banks in Korea. You have a great interest. If you are so eager to know about his deposit bank, you’d better go to Mt. Myohyang resort. There is a big ‘bank’ which is rare to be found in the world.”

Having got an eye-opening “information”, he went right to Mt. Myohyang.

The Myohyang, the celebrated mountain of Korea, has the International Friendship Exhibition, which houses hundreds of thousands of gifts President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il received from the heads of state and government of the world, prominent figures of all circles, overseas Koreans and south Koreans. Every piece of them on display arouses the admiration of visitors for the rarity and preciousness and sincerity it manifests. A gold-decorated watch of the highest quality represents in an original way that time in the present century is promising by the will of His Excellency Kim Jong Il, and fine artifacts demonstrate the wish of the world people that Kim Jong Il may become the sun of the 21^st century… After looking round the exhibition, in which all the wealth created by mankind from time immemorial seem to be on display, he recited the words of someone, who had said: “It is not that Korea is included in the world, but the whole world in Korea.”

Several days after his visit to the exhibition, he met the President again.

He said to the President with excitement about his feelings that he had seen with his own eyes and come to know what he wanted to at Mt. Myohyang and leader Kim Jong Il was indeed, the man who got the world and the No. 1 rich man in the world.

Saying that the expression “No. 1 rich man in the world” was very interesting, the President said as follows: “Though the westerners evaluate the assets in terms of money, we reckon it by the idea and personality and love to win comrades and the popular masses. Kim Jong Il’s treasure house has everything-the contemporary idea, the art of governance and courage, versatile talents and intelligence, many comrades gained by his love and obligation, thus winning respect from the people. I think these are the wealth of Kim Jong Il, and I agree with your expression of the ‘No.1 rich man’”.

After a while, he continued to say in the following vein:

Though Kim Jong Il is the “No. 1 rich man in the world”, he has no personal wealth. All his wealth are dedicated to the people, and his treasure house is the one of the country. Whenever he receives gifts from foreigners including the Presidents and party heads of other countries, he sends them all to the International Friendship Exhibition, saying that they belong to the people.

Saying so, Kim Il Sung wore a smile of satisfaction on his face over the fact that he had Kim Jong Il as his successor, who was devoting to the country and the people all his wealth accumulated by dint of his worldwide authority and outstanding exploits.