Anecdote

Compatriotic Affection across the Barrier of National Division

Late at night on August 31, 1984, the rain pouring down, as it was the close of the rainy season. Kim Jong Il was on a field guidance tour, and stood by the window at his lodgings. He was gazing at the sky over the southern part of the country.

Then he told his officials that the sight of the unceasing rain made him very concerned about his compatriots in south Korea. He added the heavy rain must have triggered severe flooding, and that the people would be suffering.

He went on:

“It seems that a man’s longing grows stronger as the night advances. Thinking of the south Korean people, I feel my heart rending. It is very painful for me to think that our compatriots in south Korea are suffering so much owing to the division of the country.”

Then he turned to watch the torrential downpour outside. As he had predicted, terrible floods swept Seoul and many other parts of south Korea, claiming 350 lives. In all, 207 000 people were made homeless by the disaster; those who were left alive, were desperate for relief.

Learning the news, Kim Jong Il skipped his meal and called an official. He said that when he thought of the flood victims he could not eat. And urged him to come up with ways of aiding them.

Soon afterwards, a decision on sending relief goods to the flood victims in south Korea was made public in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Il said:

There is no need to spare relief goods however huge the amount needed may be. Blood is thicker than water. There is nobody else but us who the victims can turn to. The relief goods should be prepared with utmost care.

Thanks to his warm affection for his compatriots, a vast quantity of relief goods including 50 000 sok(one sok equals just under five bushels) of rice, 500 000 meters of cloth, 100 000 tons of cement and a large amount of medicines were delivered to the people in the south across the barrier of national division. This was the first ever undertaking of its kind since the division of Korea.