Visiting a Recreation Ground 

  On the Harvest Moon Day in September 1999, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited Sinhung County.
After looking round a fish farming station, he said he had heard a recreation ground was built near the farm, asking an official of the county if the local people liked it.
The official answered that even people from other counties came there to enjoy themselves.
Kim Jong Il said he would like to see the recreation ground himself.
Officials suggested doing so the other day.
But Kim Jong Il moved his steps to the recreation ground, saying that people would feel disappointed if they knew that he did not visit the recreation ground.
After looking round several places of the recreation ground, he went to the angling site.
He looked at the site for a while, and said:
You have said many people come here, but I can’t see any of them today. It seems they all have gone for memorial services for their forefathers as it is the Harvest Moon Day. When I went to a park in Wonsan, I was happy to see many people there, but today I feel sorry that there are not people around here today. The people must not be aware that I am here. Please tell them that I was here to see them enjoying themselves.
The officials realized why Kim Jong Il looked round the recreation ground despite his busy schedule.
That day, before he left it, Kim Jong Il emphasized that the recreation ground should be kept in good maintenance so that people could enjoy themselves.
This story still tells how warm Kim Jong Il’s affection for the people was.