It was on February 16, 1999. Chairman Kim Jong Il told officials, who earnestly requested him to rest from his work at least on his birthday, that he would give field inspection to the Korean People’s Army units to meet servicemen as he used to do.

The Chairman covered scores of kilometres through blizzard to visit a company and took parental care of its women soldiers’ life. In the afternoon, he inspected another unit and saw the training of servicemen and officers’ wives. He came back to his lodgings at nightfall.

Having a humble dinner with officials, the Chairman said that he had spent all day together with the servicemen and it was his pleasure and holiday to find himself among servicemen and people. He ardently said that he ought to live for the sake of servicemen and people.

It was a day of devotion made by the Chairman for the servicemen.