Mick Hartley

We're approaching the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-Il, aka the Dear Leader, so the official Rodong Sinmun is full of articles singing his praises.

Thus:

Philosophy of Snow

Snow falling quietly in December brings warmth to our heart, in reflection of the great philosophy of life and the noble revolutionary world of Chairman Kim Jong Il.

Once, he told officials, who could hardly repress their surging emotion while recalling the Chairman’s traces devoted to the country’s prosperity and the people’s happiness, that his philosophy of snow was self-sacrifice.

Snow, which preserves all sorts of wildness of nature in winter and vitalizes the revival of all things in the universe with call of warm spring, shows the sacred life of the Chairman intact.

There was no man like the Chairman in the world, who was born in Mt Paektu, the holy mountain of revolution, made a long journey for the revolution without even a moment’s rest through the fierce snowstorm and passed away on a running field train while carrying on his journey for field guidance till the last moment of his great life saying that one’s life is for the country and people.

All the sons and daughters in the country desired and requested the Chairman not to go along the road covered with snow, but he loved the snow more than others and dedicated himself to the country and people with a pure and ardent mind like snow.

Thus, the Chairman's philosophy of snow was deeply kept in our people’s mind till now conveying the boundless loving care and noble sacrifice and devotion of the peerlessly great man.

Let Us Become Roots

Suppose there is a great tree growing highly boasting of fresh and green leaves. If it was a revolution, the man who provided the revolution with nutrient and helped it spread its twigs becoming roots in his life time, was just Chairman Kim Jong Il.

One February day, the Chairman gave instructions on the outlook on life of a revolutionary. Listening to officials’ pledge to be leaves of a green big tree with the will to devote themselves to the country and revolution, he said that if the revolution was a big tree, the revolutionaries were its roots. In order to make a long journey following up the victory in any raging wind, revolutionaries, as roots, must be sound and loyal, he noted, adding that he would become strong roots of the revolution together with them.

The Chairman had burnt his mind with outlook on life that he would be roots, if the revolution was a big tree, wishing our country to become powerful and prosperous.

That’s why he could carry on his journey for prosperity of the country and happiness of the people in his lifetime, like roots.

Thanks to his devotion and noble sincerity, our people could open up the avenue for building a powerful socialist country despite all sorts of trials.

Or, His Devotion to Our Country and People:

Chairman Kim Jong Il is a great father who worked heart and soul for his country and people alone.

His toils and moils brought more strength to our country and greater happiness to the people. That’s why we cannot forget his life of devotion even for a moment no matter how much water may flow under the bridge.

Once, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un said that the Chairman’s life could be boiled down to a life like fire and that his life was literally like a flaring flame.

His meaningful words are also how the people most keenly feel about the great revolutionary career of the Chairman.

The Chairman made devotions for the country and people without even a moment’s rest throughout his life. He worked himself beyond the boundaries of man’s mental and physical abilities….

Well, you get the idea.

Here is the peerlessly great man, taking a moment off from his life of revolutionary fire:

[No, I'm not guaranteeing it's genuine.]