Humankind Will Remember Him Forever

by Keshor Jung Rayamaji
June 6, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1496/humankind-will-remember-him-forever

What is the most impressive in my memo­ries of President Kim Il Sung is my audience with him. I was received by him on April 14, 1991 on the eve of his 79^th birthday.

At that time I was on a visit to Korea leading a Nepalese gov­ernment delegation as minister of education and culture. My greatest desire had been to see Kim Il Sung, but even getting on the plane bound for Pyongyang, I had doubted if my desire would be realized. I had wondered if he would meet a small delegation like ours because he would be very busy receiving many high-ranking delegations including heads of foreign parties and states on his birthday.

To my surprise, however, my desire came true the day after our arrival. Kim Il Sung received our greetings and warmly shook hands all around. He treated us as state guests, welcoming us warmly. Seeing his fascinating bright smile and hearing his affectionate words, I could not but feel my heart swelling with delight. Calming myself down, I courteously told the President that I was there in Korea to convey the best wishes of His Majesty King of Nepal and His Excellency Premier of Nepal to the President on his birthday. Then I handed their letters to Kim Il Sung.

On the occasion President Kim Il Sung said: "Korea and Nepal are fighting for independ­ence, peace and sovereignty in Asia. I hope that the two coun­tries will strive to strengthen friendly relations in the future. Now is the time for developing countries to unite and cooperate to defend independence and build an independent national economy."

His remarks were a precious support and encouragement for the Nepalese government and people in their efforts to develop the national economy by self-reliance. Though busy, he met our delegation and showed a deep concern to our Nepal, a small country, with his inspiring remarks.

I looked back upon the history of friendly relations between Nepal and Korea. The establishment of friendly ties between Nepal which was a kingdom and Korea, a socialist country, was entirely thanks to President Kim Il Sung, I believe. In Nepal not only political and public figures, but broad masses of people also have a good knowledge of President Kim Il Sung and cherish deep respect for him.

Supporting the independent and peaceful non-alignment pol­icy of our kingdom of Nepal, the President provided a firm guide­line to establish friendly ties be­tween Nepal and Korea which have different political views, social systems and religious beliefs. The guideline was nothing but independence. The President saw independence as a common denominator of friendship and solidarity between our two countries with different systems and religious beliefs.

On July 23, 1973, President Kim Il Sung met the permanent representative of Nepal to the United Nations.

During the interview the President said: "Both nation and man need independence. Without independence a nation cannot evade being subjugated to other nations, nor can man escape being a slave. Whether it practices socialism or nationalism or any other thing, a country should have independence. Both Nepal and Korea are small countries and the peoples of the two countries were oppressed and exploited by other countries in the past. Our people want to unite with the Nepalese people."

He went on to say:

"Difference in systems and ideas cannot become an obstacle to unity of countries and peoples. In their unity the problem is not a system but whether they have independence or not. Your king is enforcing a sovereign, independent and peaceful policy. We support it.

"We have a different idea, political view and religious belief from yours, but we do not make problem of it. Our two peoples are fighting for independence. Our two countries are fighting to build an independent and pros­perous nation. And that's why we can be good friends. We want to be friends with all people who have an independent idea ..."

Like this, President Kim Il Sung taught that inde­pendence is a firm guideline of Nepal-Korea friendship.

In 1974, the year after President Kim Il Sung met a Nepalese political figure, ambas­sadorial diplomatic relations were established between Nepal and Korea. A few years later two younger brothers of His Majesty King of Nepal visited Korea and then high-level delegations were exchanged. The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries developed ceaselessly.

Friendship between countries is inconceivable apart from mu­tual trust and intimacy between the leaders. The President's large calibre and great magnanimity produced another marvellous story on intimacy between the leaders of the two countries and warm mutual trust between a communist and a king that had been thought impossible by the established conception of the past.

The President said on differ­ent occasions to the following effect:

We are not narrow-minded. We have good relations with kings, too. As all people know, we have good relations with Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Of course, he is not a communist, but we support him for his sov­ereign, independent and peace­ful policy. Even now we keep faith with him. The King of Ne­pal, too, is enforcing an inde­pendent and peaceful policy. We support him.

On the unforgettable day when he received me, the President repeatedly told about our King. With deep emotion, he said: "I met your King in Indonesia when he was a prince and so I know him. I hope he will come to our country as 'my old friend'."

President Kim Il Sung, bas­ing himself on the Juche idea that considers all problems with man as the centre, kept a broad view that unity with kings is feasible as long as they have in­dependence.

His idea on independent unity benefited both the Korean revolution and the cause of global independence and will continue to bring about only victory and success in the future.

The longer we talked, the more warmly I experienced his great feature.

We began to talk about multi­party system introduced in many countries which made the situa­tion plunge into chaos due to dispute and argument. The President said that his country had not only the Workers' Party of Korea, but the Social Democ­ratic Party, the Chondoist Chongu Party, the Buddhist Fed­eration and the Christian Fed­eration as well, and that those parties and public organizations were all supporting the Juche idea. '"That's why they have no condition to fight one another," he said, and continued. "I have long been advocating united front. Without united front we cannot live."

The interview that day was not long, but it was the happiest and most honorable moment in my life. I cherished boundless respect and absolute worship for the President and firmly re­solved to make active contribu­tions to strengthening Nepal- Korea friendship for an inde­pendent and prosperous Nepal.

Today the Nepalese govern­ment is working actively to further strengthen Nepal-Korea friendship. I am convinced that the Nepal-Korea friendship will open a new page amid the scru­pulous attention of the leader Kim Jong Il who carries forward the noble intention of President Kim Il Sung.

This moment not only I, but many people around the world also remember President Kim Il Sung. In his lifetime the President is said to have met and looked after tens of thousands of politicians and other figures of different circles of the world.

President Kim Il Sung, the sun of all people, will live forever in the memory of humankind.

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