The respected Comrade
"Comrade
One of the many items on display in the International Friendship Exhibition House in the beautiful Mt. Myohyang is an old car which was used by President
It is the gift he received from the leader of the Party and state of the former Soviet Union who held him in high respect as a hero of the East.
On this car he travelled all over the country to guide the people along the victorious road in the years of building a new country after national liberation and rehabilitating the country after the Fatherland Liberation War.
Over the years the tyres were replaced dozens of times, which tells how old the car must have been.
It was so old and outdated that officials concerned and often voiced their opinion that the car had to be changed with a new one. The President, however, always rejected their opinion.
One day in August Juche 51 (1962) he was staying in Changsong County, North Phyongan Province.
Availing himself of the time when he was presiding over a conference, his chauffeur began to repair the car. As it was outmoded and demanded a lot of work for maintenance, the driver often took such opportunities as meetings to look after the car.
After the meeting was over the President walked out and approached his chauffeur, who was absorbed in his work, to have a careful look at the car. Turning his face to the driver, he said "This is an old car now, isn't it?"
Guessing that the President had now decided to change the car, the driver, feeling pleased, replied that it had been well past its time.
Nodding in the affirmative, the President had a close look at the car again.
Looking back the car had run a thousand and one miles across mountains and fields, gravelly places whether it was rainy or snowy. One day the President even had his car used to pull a tractor, which was stuck in a pool on a muddy road.
Casting a long, thoughtful look at the car, the President asked the driver about the capacity of the engine of Sungni 58 trucks, which were produced in the country.
Hearing the answer that it was a capacity of 70hp, the President asked again the capacity of the engine. The driver casually replied that the car also had the same 70hp. Now the President asked him again whether he could use the car continuously if the engine of the car was replaced with the one of the Sungni 58 truck.
Then, the driver belatedly realized why the President asked about the engine of the Sungni 58 truck. He said earnestly that it would be something unreasonable.
Putting his hand on the shoulder of the driver, the President said seriously that our country was quite careful about spending every penny prepared by our people with great effort and we didn't have enough money to provide the people with even footwear. He continued that if we had money to buy a new car, we had better buy even a pair of shoes for the people and that there would be no problem with the car if it was maintained well. He then suggested making good use of the old car, instead of buying a new one.
There were also times that the President had refused to wear a new suit but had done a faded gray one with its inside turned out, and wore it with pleasure. And he had had a pair of his shoes with worn-out heels mended and happily wore them, saying they were no less good than a new pair.
Indeed, the President lived as simple life as the ordinary people, always thinking of the people's welfare ahead of his own and seeking pleasure of life in the happiness of the people. Although he was the leader of the country, he allowed no privilege for himself at all; in this way he suggested continuously using his old car, which should have been discarded long before, by replacing the engine.
Looking up at the leader who lived such a humble and ordinary life, the driver felt a lump in his throat.
President
