151 Bends on Mt. Osong

One August day in 1998 Kim Jong Il was visiting a frontline unit of the Korean People’s Army stationed on Mt. Osong, 1 000 m above sea level. The mountain has steep cliffs and deep valleys.

An enemy post was only a stone’s throw away.

He was about to make his way to the unit, when the officials accompanying him requested him not to do so, saying, “Supreme Commander, the path was washed away in several places by heavy rain. So, delay your plan until it is repaired. Please do as we ask, just this once.”

Turning his eyes away from their entreating faces, he looked up the dizzy mountain path.

Thanking them, he refused their entreaty and got into his car, saying that he could not turn back because his soldiers were at the post and he had to experience the challenges of the rough road to the front line in such bad weather if he was to learn what life was like for them.

His car began moving towards the forward command post at the summit of the mountain. There were 151 bends along the route, and by the roadside there were bushes uprooted and scattered by the strong wind and heavy rain; the path had been swept by a violent muddy stream, leaving only rubble. The car bumped along. One side of the path below was lined with hair-raising cliffs. Bang! A tyre was punctured on a sharp stone. The tyre was changed. As the car passed around several bends, it suddenly tilted sideways towards the cliff. The driver turned the steering-wheel quickly, and the car recovered its balance.

But Kim Jong Il remained unperturbed; he was more worried about the following cars.

When his car arrived at the breast of the summit, they heard the bang of another tyre being punctured. The driver, soaked with sweat, changed the tyre. Now only one spare was left.

The car continued to advance, but suddenly began to skid downwards.

Kim Jong Il, sensing the danger, got out and pushed the car up the mountain helped by his entourage. The car advanced inch by inch. At long last they arrived at the forward command post, having passed through 151 bends.

“How are you?” asked Kim Jong Il.

Moved to tears at the sight of Kim Jong Il with his clothes wet with rain and stained with mud, the commander responded in a choked voice, “We are all right, thank you, Supreme Commander. That you should come all the way along the rough road!”