opinion

As the saying goes, something may remain after fire but nothing after flooding.

We were struck by such a natural disaster. 

In July last year, the Amnok River flooded our island village all of a sudden due to torrential downpour. 

Everything submerged and we could see nothing but water. At dawn we heard helicopters buzzing and I will never forget that moment all my life.

Hearing the sound clearing away all our uneasiness and horror, we all shouted “Long live the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un” at the top of our voice.

Nobody told us, but everyone was sure that they were the helicopters sent by the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un.

We got on a helicopter to escape danger and arrived at an airfield before heading for a bus.

At that moment we were surprised to see the respected General Secretary standing in the middle of the airfield. He was waving his hand to us in the rainy wind, which moved us to tears.

That day he was out there in the pouring rain to oversee the whole process of the rescue operation for thousands of flood victims which was carried out by helicopters. I also heard he ensured that a scouting flight was made once again at the end of the operation lest they should miss any one of victims.

The villagers in Ojok-ri who had been isolated on the island were all saved without mishap.

The General Secretary also led the work to repair the flood damage as soon as possible.

He personally confirmed the damage aboard a rubber boat at the dangerous site and convened an emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea on a train on a railway track that had been cut off due to flood. There a decision was adopted to repair flood damage without delay. And he also visited the tented camp where flood victims were temporarily staying to console them.

He also took the measure to bring old persons, mothers of young children, sickly persons, pupils and other children to Pyongyang as special guests of honour so that the state could take warm and responsible care of them until the rehabilitation campaign would be completed. Today our village has turned into a paradise, a modern cultured town, exceeding rehabilitation.

Natural disasters occur all across the earth, but there can be no despair and anguish on this land thanks to the benevolent care of the respected General Secretary, and our people will enjoy eternal happiness.

Ri Yong Nam, head of the Ojok-ri office in Uiju County, North Phyongan Province