Anecdote

Declaration of That Day

In January 1959 Kim Jong Il visited a university in Moscow.

Established in the 1750s, the university had a long tradition of over two hundred years; it was developed on an extensive scale, and had several institutes and hundreds of departments, more than a hundred lectures halls, 1 700 laboratories, 4 000 classrooms and 6 000 tutorial rooms. It was the pride of the Soviet Union. What was more, it had a building constructed only a few years before and educational facilities purchased at great expense that were objects of world envy.

With great interest, Kim Jong Il looked round the university’s lecture rooms, research rooms and laboratories.

He was then taken to a lounge. An official from that country, who had been guiding him, briefed him on the history of the university again and said that young people from many countries of the world were studying there. He gave examples of how the university had produced many government-level officials for other countries.

He then said to Kim Jong Il.

“I hope you will come to this university after finishing higher middle school in your country. It is not my personal, diplomatic recommendation. It is an earnest wish cherished by this university that values a genius who may promote the progress of mankind.”

His was a sincere wish, but Kim Jong Il declined the request, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, but we have an excellent university in Pyongyang. I will study at Kim Il Sung University with my comrades.”

Young people across the world were longing to study at the university, but Kim Jong Il was declining the offer and declaring that he would study at Kim Il Sung University.

It was only after many years that people realized his declaration reflected his noble aspiration and firm faith.