In April Juche 51 (1962) a meeting of the Political Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea adopted a resolution on giving President Kim Il Sung a rest in reflection of the unanimous desire of the entire Party and all the Korean people for the President’s health.
Nevertheless, the President worked hard as before. He only changed his work place, but no other change was made in his daily routine.
An official earnestly requested him not to start work in the early hours as he worked late into the night.
But the President said with a quiet smile as if to seek his understanding: An ingrained habit is very hard to shake off. I’ve got accustomed to getting up early in the morning in my long years of life. In the days of the anti-Japanese armed struggle the enemy would always attack us in the early hours, so I could not sleep at ease as I shouldered the destiny of my unit. From then I lay awake from daybreak. After the country’s liberation exciting affairs rose one after another for me to tackle, so I kept my eyes awake at dawn. It was followed by the war with the US imperialists, post-war reconstruction and campaign for a great Chollima upsurge. After all, life did not allow me to get to sleep peacefully until morning. As a result, I fell into the habit of getting up early.
His remark was very moving.
The President said that he could not perhaps abandon the habit for good.
