His View on Happiness

When he met some officials one day in December Juche 87 (1998), Chairman Kim Jong Il said to them that his joy was in the happiness of the people and he had spared nothing for their happy life.

Looking at the officials, he continued: I give field guidance at army units, factories and enterprises almost every day just for the happiness of people. As I am always on a field guidance trip, I have never slept comfortably and have to get a wink of sleep in the car on my way for field guidance. Now that I am accustomed to this style of life, sleeping on the bed seems to me uncomfortable.

After a while, he said that he had never thought such a life as a pain and that he rather felt great worth of life and happiness in it, adding that when he heard the people were well off, he felt invigorated even though he had skipped sleep and meals.

When he visited a fish farm, he repeatedly praised the farm after he heard a report that it had supplied rainbow trouts to the people on the occasion of the birthday of President Kim Il Sung, saying that it was the happiest news he had ever received.

Then he earnestly said that he finds his joy and happiness in the people’s joy and happiness and that officials should work hard for the sake of people, keeping this in their minds.