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With Kindred Affection
Among the people who have close ties with Jo Yun Gol, a war veteran, residing in Sojang-dong, Pothonggang District is Kim Yu Rim, head of a department at the Secretariat of the Cabinet.
The following story began one day four years ago when the war veteran was suffering from infirmity.
To his surprise, the war veteran, that night, was unexpectedly visited by Kim Yu Rim in sweaty clothes.
Kim brought rare materials for tonics which were sent by Kim’s mother-in-law who lived far away from Pyongyang. Not only then, but several months before, Kim called on the war veteran taking with him Kimchi and soybean paste he had specially made for the veteran.
The old veteran was impressed by his kind affection, and felt as if he was part of the family.
His frequent visit to the veteran, on his busy way to work and back from the office, for taking care of the veteran, touched the people’s hearts.
Even when he was on business trip, he never stopped concerning himself about the veteran’s health and life, and his sincerity influenced his relatives to take good care of the old veteran.
His kindness was also devoted to the veteran’s family circle. When the veteran’s grand-daughter was ill, Kim and his wife took tenderhearted care to recover her.
Saying that it was his bounden duty and what he did was unworthy of attention, he continued:
When it comes to the old veteran’s great merits during the Fatherland Liberation War, he had never told the others about his merits, but only would request to be absolutely faithful to the Party, and his request always encouraged me.
Not only he but also all our people, being encouraged by the earnest request of the war veterans, strenuously strive to live like them with patriotic aspiration.
Pak Won Ok is the schoolmistress of Haeun Primary School in Haeju City.
She, till now, has an unforgettable memory of a war veteran.
Ten-odd years ago, Pak arranged a meeting with war veterans on the occasion of the V-day.
The meeting encouraged the schoolchildren to model after noble spirit of the war veterans, and afterwards, they frequently visited the war veterans regarding it as their bounden duty.
Their deeds pricked her conscience.
She thought to herself.
(I, by myself, ought to be an example to my disciples to lead them succeed to the spirit of the wartime generation.)
Her decision was soon translated into action.
Ever since, she has devoted her kindred affection to Ri Ki Son, a war veteran.
Then one day, Ri requested Pak:
You must give yourself up to your work for teaching the children. But you are too much pressed with caring for me. You must know bringing up the children, the future of the country, with credit, is just the greatest respect and obligation to us, war veterans.
The earnest request of the old veteran who didn’t want any special favours, but to live up to the war veteran’s duty regardless of her merits further impressed Pak.
Now she keeps devoting her all to the war veterans together with her disciples.