Recorded in the revolutionary activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il who was on ceaseless inspection trips to units of the Korean People’s Army to defend the security of the country and the people were moving stories that tell his loving care for coastal artillery women.

Choe Myong Ok is the ex-commander of the women’s coast artillery company called Persimmon-Tree Company. She is now working at the February 16 Art Education Publishing House. It was one day in February 28 years ago when she met with Kim Jong Il for the first time.

It was very cold and windy that day. The road on the sea walls was icy because of high waves. Kim Jong Il visited the company despite bad weather and wet road. After going round several places of the company he watched the training of artillery women and enjoyed a performance of the company art group and had a photo session with them.

Choe, who was laughing and crying as she was happy, could not know that the Chairman cared for her brown and chapped face affected by the sea wind. Afterwards, he took a benevolent measure to send creams to all soldiers of the company.

Many years have passed. She made her daughter become a soldier of the company as she could not forget the happy days when she had been in military service.

Whenever she visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Ri Yong Wol, ex-company political instructor, would stand for a while in front of the boat that the Chairman had used.

One day in August Juche 84 (1995), the Chairman sent a ship to bring the soldiers of the company and personally saw their training under the scorching heat, and ensured that a meal was prepared for them. Then, he said to them, who were unwilling to part from him, that he would visit the company in the persimmon-ripening season and that he, the Supreme Commander, would not break his promise with soldiers.

Ryang Chun Nyo is working at the South Hwanghae Provincial People’s Committee.

On the day of inspecting the company, Kim Jong Il came to know that there were twin boy and girl soldiers in the company and met them. He warmly asked them about their age and when they joined the army and how they were.

Upon realizing their military ranks were different, he said to the commanding officers that Korean parents would dress their twins with clothes of the same type and recommended awarding the same military ranks to them as their parents would do. He called them to his side and posed for a photograph with them. Later, too, he showed special loving care for them.

Much water has flown under the bridge since then.

But the ex-soldiers of the company carry on their brilliant lives with ardent yearning for Kim Jong Il , always cherishing in their minds the happiness and glory they had enjoyed under his warm care.

Yang Ryon Hui