In August Juche 91 (2002), Chairman Kim Jong Il paid a visit to the Russian Far East.
When his train was approaching Khabarovsk, he said he wanted to visit St. Bishop Innokenty of Irkutsk Church, a Russian Orthodox church.
Surprised, the officials accompanying him said, “Only religious believers go there.”
Kim Jong Il responded:
Although I am not a believer, I am going to visit it because religion is also an object of politics. There is nothing wrong with us visiting a church, when the Russians are Orthodox Christians. We must never be narrow-minded but respect the customs of other nations. If we visit the church, we will better understand the traditions of the Russian people and their thoughts, aspirations and wishes, and feel close to the 60 million members of the Orthodox Church.
He explained that a politician ought to have a deep knowledge of religion, and told them about the origins of the Russian Orthodox Church and the history of its development. The Russian Orthodox Church, he said, is recognized as the biggest of the world’s 15 orthodox churches and exerts a considerable influence on state administration in Russia.
At the church, he looked round the area.
Suddenly the bells began to ring, deep and solemn.
Everyone looked in the direction from which the sound of bells was coming.
Pointing to the bell tower, the church superior said that the bell ringers were ringing the bells to welcome Kim Jong Il . He explained that nobody was entitled to ring the bells apart from graduates of the bell-ringing school, and that those who were now ringing the bells were the best ringers at the church.
It was a strict convention of the Russian Orthodox Church to ring the bells at noon, but the church had broken that convention.
“As the Sun has descended to our church, it is quite natural to ring the bells,” he said, putting his hands on his chest and then spreading his arms upward as if cheering.
More From Naenara (En)
The Sangwon Cement Complex, one of the country’s cement giants, is now gearing up for a production upsurge. On March 1, the
March 20, 2026
The Sangwon Cement Complex, one of the country’s cement giants, is now gearing up for a production upsurge. On March 1, the
The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK has produced new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in commemoration of the Ninth Congress
March 20, 2026
The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK has produced new stamps (two sheets and six individuals) in commemoration of the Ninth Congress
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened in the DPRK. The festival will be held, divided into professional sports field and
March 19, 2026
The 2026 Spring National Sports Festival opened in the DPRK. The festival will be held, divided into professional sports field and
Thanks to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un ’s grand plan for the capital city construction and energetic leadership, the
March 19, 2026
Thanks to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un ’s grand plan for the capital city construction and energetic leadership, the
Tamjing (579-631) was a monk and an artist of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668). In 610 he was invited to Japan to draw paintings on the
March 18, 2026
Tamjing (579-631) was a monk and an artist of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668). In 610 he was invited to Japan to draw paintings on the
Thanks to the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea to provide the people with a happier life and more cultured living
March 18, 2026
Thanks to the wise leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea to provide the people with a happier life and more cultured living
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly took place in the DPRK. All the people and service personnel of
March 17, 2026
The election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly took place in the DPRK. All the people and service personnel of
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22, 2026. The SPA
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22, 2026. The SPA
Senior Party and government officials went over to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election
March 17, 2026
Senior Party and government officials went over to sub-constituencies in different parts of the DPRK to take part in the election
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22, 2026. The session
March 17, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK will be convened in Pyongyang on March 22, 2026. The session
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 17, 2026
The Central Election Committee for the Election of Deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
The common spruce forest is located 700 metres above sea level, which is three kilometres southwest of the seat of Chonjang-ri,
March 17, 2026
The common spruce forest is located 700 metres above sea level, which is three kilometres southwest of the seat of Chonjang-ri,
The site of Koguryo’s wooden bridge over the Taedong River is the remains of a big wooden bridge built in front of the Anhak Palac
March 17, 2026
The site of Koguryo’s wooden bridge over the Taedong River is the remains of a big wooden bridge built in front of the Anhak Palac
On January 31 five babies greeted their first birth anniversary in the DPRK. The mother of the quintuplets, the first of its kind
March 17, 2026
On January 31 five babies greeted their first birth anniversary in the DPRK. The mother of the quintuplets, the first of its kind
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
March 16, 2026
Working people’s organizations of the DPRK conducted tree planting on the occasion of the Tree-planting Day.Officials of the Centr
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
March 16, 2026
Among the DPRK’s intangible cultural heritage items is folk song “Arirang.”The song symbolic of the Korean folk songs began to be
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
March 16, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 16, 2026
The central election committee for the election of deputies to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
March 16, 2026
March 16 this year marks the 103rd anniversary of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ’s 250-mile journey for learning. In his
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
March 16, 2026
The recently-held Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea underscored the need to invariably lift the ideals of “The people
More Articles
