Dear Comrade the Leader, Episode 183
Chapter 65. Rounding
“… … And in this way, our republic has reached its second heyday since the founding of President Kim Il-sung, the eternal sun of the nation, under the leadership of our dear leader, Comrade Kim Jeong-hwan. In 1988, Comrade General Secretary declared the new three lines of line, dispatched troops to the Persian Gulf War in 1991, which served as an opportunity to dramatically improve relations with the United States, and a victory that will remain in the history of the nation. put an end to… … Do you know any of your students? Can you tell me, comrade?”
“The 1997 North-South Great Compromise.”
“Well done. And as soon as the visa issuance office in charge of exchanges between the two countries was established following the North-South Grand Negotiation, did you know, without needing to say, that the people of South Korea had no time to set foot? Now here at the Workers’ Party of Korea History Museum, photos of those times are also displayed. The next is the ‘entering of the 21st century IT era and the information revolution of the Republic’. Please move slowly, starting with the comrades at the end of the line!”
In early April, when you can feel the arrival of spring, the Workers’ Party of Korea History Museum, located in Sinri-dong, east of the Taedong River, was full of middle school students in downtown Pyongyang who went on a field trip under the guidance of the guide.
As for the history museum, there was the ‘Chosun Central History Museum’ located on the west side of the Taedong River, but it was far from promoting the Joseon Labor Party, which was built in the modern and modern times, as it mainly focused on ancient and medieval times.
Of course, many propaganda facilities such as the Juche Tower, the Party Founding Memorial located on Haebangsan Street, and the Joseon Revolutionary Museum already exist. ) was clearly distinguished from other museums.
So, what differentiates them apart from the main period, budget (a different number of digits from other facilities) and facilities… … .
“… … In 1998, the same year that the North-South Grand Agreement was reached, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In addition, thanks to the settlement and cooperation of companies that migrated from the south to the north to avoid economic disaster, it has succeeded in making computers with the Republic’s own technology. … Oh, photography is prohibited outside of designated areas, so please keep that in mind. No cell phone camera, of course!”
When the guide raised their voice slightly, opened their cellphones and stopped some students from pointing their cameras around the museum, they were startled and quickly put the object into their pockets.
The latest device, which has been released for only half a year, is a ‘camera phone’ with a whopping 350,000-pixel camera, but it seems that they can already carry such expensive things with them because they are students attending middle school in Pyongyang.
However, in fact, this very situation was also a symbolic moment to show that this view of history is different from other old history views across the Taedong River, and that North Korea in the past three years has changed decisively from that of North Korea before 2000.
The Workers’ Party of Korea no longer propagated the history of the partisan revolution or the Juche ideology.
The people, too, were no longer just looking at the benefits and services of capitalism as if they were paralyzed across the river.
The 21st century has come.
“… … And in this way, under the leadership of Comrade General Secretary, we, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, have reached their greatest heyday in history, entering a new century, the 21st century, which has now passed a year ago.”
After a brief disturbance was subsided by the teachers’ restraint, the female guide calmed her voice for a moment and then guided the students to the next exhibition hall.
Unlike the previous exhibition hall, which had indirect lighting and antique lighting, the new pavilion was made of bright blue lighting and smooth silver plastic and silicone as if symbolizing the 21st century.
Upon entering there, the guide was busy promoting the achievements of the Party and the leader to the students who had their eyes widened in a voice filled with emotion.
Rather, it is not that she is simply passionate about her propaganda work, but her eyes looking at the face of Kim Jeong-hwan, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, who are the most prominent in the photos and video materials throughout the exhibition hall, are as if looking at the Savior who came down from the sky. It wasn’t serious.
“With the completion of the first Siberian railway opening project from Rason to Hassan and Vladivostok, trade with allies such as China and Russia has been further spurred. Last year, the average per capita income of the people exceeded $10,000, and We are one step closer to the realization of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s final guiding ideology of realization of the people’s happiness. Now… … .”
The female guide stopped talking again after explaining in an exaggerated voice as if she was so proud that she couldn’t stand it.
Every day, close to ten groups of middle school students from Pyongyang and other provinces are guided to this new Workers’ Party of Korea History Museum, but these students were particularly lucky today.
This is because, this morning, an unexpected special guest may visit from the center of the party for a while.
“… … Comrades children, I am very happy to present an unexpected guest here today. You are the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, Kim Yong-gun, the head of international affairs, and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly!”
“nice to see you. young comrades. How do you feel about visiting this historical museum?”
Surprisingly, the person introduced by the guide was Foreign Minister Kim Yong-geon, who was waiting in the last exhibition room of the History Museum with only a few secretaries beside him.
When the identity of a middle-aged man who greeted them with a friendly smile was revealed, even middle school students who had been fiddling with their cell phones in their hands with a slightly bored expression began to murmur in surprise.
Even those who were still only 14 years old (but gradually hardened their heads and began to grasp the world) knew that they were party workers with a high rank for at least a middle school student to go on a museum tour.
In the past, it was common for the leader or party central worker to visit the people directly, but most of them were thoroughly planned contacts in advance for propaganda, and children and people who were ‘mobilized’ also had to meet with whom and what to say in advance. The difference was that they were all instructed.
But now, Kim Yong-gun was in a situation where he had a few assistants beside him, let alone a camera.
This was also one of the changes that took place over the past three years, because the Workers’ Party of Korea, led by General Secretary Kim Jeong-hwan, was also showing signs of breaking away from useless authoritarianism by advocating a people-friendly party.
However, in the era of live-broadcast talks in the form of ‘meeting with the people’ in South Korea, a democratic country, there was no change in the fact that Kim Yong-geon was too ‘high person’ to appear at a field trip to middle school students.
“Why is everyone so frozen? Do you have any student comrades who can tell me how you feel about visiting this party history building?”
“Wow… … .”
“Oh, tell me about it, comrade. I will answer anything for you.”
“In addition, has the Foreign Minister comrade ever been directly seated at the site exhibited in this history museum? Can you tell us the story then? … .”
“Of course it is.”
With a smile on his face, Yonggeon Kim began to explain while pointing to various places in the historical center.
“There, at the site of joining the OECD, of course, I was there too. I accompanied Comrade General Secretary to the General Assembly held in Paris, France, and then I witnessed the signing of the Charter of Affiliation next to me.”
“… … If there is a dance tale that comes to mind… … .”
“At that time, the Japanese side argued that North Korea was not yet qualified to join the OECD and used all kinds of black propaganda and vicious acts to hinder our republic from joining the OECD at the Board of Directors of Resident Representatives. However, I do remember that the Secretary General gave the order to resolutely confront the efforts of all the islanders, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fought with one accord and finally achieved the diplomatic status of our republic as it is today.”
“Waah aah… … !”
The children nodded their heads at Yonggeon Kim’s words as if listening to a story from a fairy tale, and chattered among themselves.
One of the middle school students crawled to Kim Yong-geon, who was watching the scene happily, and asked again.
“I, there… … Comrade Foreign Minister Kim!”
“Ah, ask. friend. What else do you want to know?”
“Hey, maybe the Foreign Minister comrade… … Do you have the experience of meeting and meeting the general secretary in person?”
“… … !”
This time the son-in-law was all silent.
The air was taut with tension and subtle anticipation, as if something that should not be contained, but everyone was curious about, came out.
In fact, it was a pathetic question in a way, but Kim Yong-geon did not think it was pathetic at all.
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No, I was even glad that such a question came up.It was because he was able to feel well that the time had come when the people were voluntarily curious about the Party and the leader, and that it was never a forced or staged curiosity, and that he himself could answer those questions without any burden.
So Kim Yong-geon answered the question with a cheerful smile like when he was a boy.
“Of course, to put it bluntly, I am still on my way to see him even now.”
* * *
“It’s time to go. right?”
“Yes. Foreign Minister’s Comrade. If you want to attend the Politburo meeting now, you need to hurry.”
The secretary nodded at Kim Yong-geon’s question as he looked at the backs of passing children while blushing and chattering.
In fact, since this historical building is right next to the meeting place of the Politburo, you don’t have to worry about being late, but it’s still a meeting presided over by the supreme leader.
In time, Kim Yong-geon quickly left the Party History Hall and moved to a nearby building, the ‘New Workers’ Party of Korea Building’ where the Politburo meeting was scheduled for today at noon.
A few minutes later, when he arrived at the main gate of the government building, Kim Yong-geon looked at the building that was extended across the Taedong River along with the History Museum and fell into emotion again.
‘New office building of the Workers’ Party of Korea.’
“Heh heh, it makes my heart flutter every time I see it.”
The new building was a huge glass palace.
Unlike the old government building on the west side of the Taedong River built of bricks and cement, the 9-story building with a steel frame, glass and solar panels boasted a geometric curve and quietly overlooked the Taedong River and Pyongyang.
Rather than being a party’s party, the appearance was reminiscent of a modern art museum or the headquarters of an IT company (even of a party that advocates socialism).
“You came just in time. The general secretary is waiting inside.”
“Ah, thank you.”
With the secretaries waiting outside, Yonggeon Kim went into the conference room and took a seat.
The Politburo Small Conference Room, located on the 8th floor, has a full glass window, allowing a panoramic view of the Taedong River and Pyongyang.
And a man was seated at the top of a huge rectangular table.
The man, Jeonghwan, looked at the documents handed to him by Yoo Hye-rim, recognized Kim Yong-geon’s arrival and blinked lightly.
“Come. Comrade Kim, Foreign Minister.”
“I don’t know if I’m late, Comrade General.”
“no. take a seat So, before we start the meeting… … Comrades, I have one issue to point out. Can you please go to the golf course in moderation? Did you know that you heard the recommendation from the clerk’s office to use less than 8 times a year for party workers above the deputy chief level? Or at least go to a golf course in the Republic. What kind of business is driven only by Hokkaido and New Zealand?”