A letter from Simon Park in Korea
Monday, December 19, 2011 - North Korea Report 3
Death of Kim Jong Il
Our final week in Pyongyang started with 6:30 breakfast in the cafeteria. Students are through with their final examinations and the teachers are beginning to leave the country in large numbers. This morning most of the foreign professors are absent from the cafeteria, perhaps finishing up all their food items before they leave for the long winter vacation. The students will stay on campus until December 26 finishing up the semester, including studies of Kim Il Sung ideology.
Simon, back row third from left, paying respect at Kim Jong Il's viewing.
For me it is time to return the office key and hand over the printer, a notebook computer, and a projector I brought as gifts to the school. Then we joined the final souvenir-shopping outing at 9:30, remembering the need to return to campus by 11:30 for the “Christmas lunch” among the foreign staff. We were interested in a painting by a highly decorated artist. It turned out to be a disappointment, so we stood outside the store and watched a large number of students marching behind large flags with their school names. We thought they were going to their work site or going to the assembly for the important announcement scheduled for noon that day. We simply followed the group along and got back to campus just in time for the lunch. We visited and wished safe travels for all and returned to our room around 12:30. That is when we learned of the death of Kim Jong Il, and ran to share the news with colleagues still at lunch. Then the following happened during the next 48 hours.
Dec 19, 1:30 – 1:50
Informal meeting of the expatriate staff
The students and DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea) staff have begun paying their respects at the Kim Il Sung Ideology Center.
Cancel all festivities and refrain from singing or loud laughter.
Wreaths have been ordered and those who wish may join the group to offer condolences.
Dec 19, 5:30
Final meeting of the expatriate staff for the semester
The wreaths have not arrived yet and the visit would probably be in the morning of the following day.
The cafeteria has been closed for the evening. It will probably reopen in the morning.
We should respect the sorrow of the North Koreans and behave accordingly.
Dec 20, 10:00 a.m.
We gathered in the lobby of the main building
There are three wreaths; one each from the president and the vice president of PUST (Pyongyang University of Science and Technology) and one from the foreign staff. Simon is to help carry the third wreath into the room set for the visitation.
We were the second group for that day and the DPRK president of the University and other leaders were receiving the visitors.
Comrade Lee, the leader of the group who processed our permits and guided us in our outings, thanked us for paying respect and for the service at the University. He was saying how much the dear general valued PUST and he would do his utmost to make the University a success for the country. I am filling in the end of his remarks as he could not finish his talk but left weeping.
We came back to our room and packed my only white shirt together with the only suit I had brought. Only thing to do was to wait for our departure the following day. At 12:45 we received a call that there would be another visitation outside the campus and the bus would leave at 1:20. Haejung helped me to “un-wrinkle” the shirt as best we could and out came the suit again.
1:20 We got on the bus and there were four guides, rather than usual two, with us, and they would not tell us exactly where we were going except that the first destination is Haebang-san Hotel in downtown Pyongyang.
1:50 Haebang-san Hotel parking lot—we stayed on the bus while the guides attended the briefing for guides of many other groups.
We were told that we will need to leave all metallic objects including keys, pens and non-essential items like cigarettes and candies in the car. Basically, empty all pockets. We collected the items and put them all in one purse.
Guides were even paying attention to our attires and made some suggestions.
We are told the hotel would be the final opportunity for using the facilities. As soon as our group returned the bus departed at 2:10.
2:30 The bus traveled to the Peoples Cultural Palace
We were led into a very large auditorium; we remembered seeing the hall on television where Kim Jong Il was greeted with great adoration.
We were told to sit and try not to talk loudly while waiting.
After a long silent wait, a lady came in and told us that PUST would be the third group to be processed.
We followed the crowd and waited in line. The PUST group was called out and then individual names were called for a security check. We went through a metal detector, were patted down by hand, and then a soldier worked a hand-held detector over our bodies again.
We went back to our bus and waited a while longer.
The bus left at 3:30 with a military police riding in our bus.
On the road we saw large groups of people walking to pay respect at places set up within walking distances. The largest crowds were at the Pyongyang Stadium and the 4.25 Memorial Cultural Center, numbering in many thousands.
4:00 The bus traveled for a while and turned into a manicured six-lane boulevard that led to a large stone structure and a vast parking lot.
Before we could figure out where we were, we were told to leave any outerwear and bags on the bus and move quickly. Other buses were unloading people and they were also moving quickly.
When we reached the building we climbed up through a very narrow staircase that only one person could go though at a time.
As we entered the lobby and edged closer to the person in front of us, we could hear the military band playing somber music continuously.
While we stood in waiting I recognized ambassadors from European nations as well as leaders of international organizations leaving the hall.
After the dignitaries left, our line started moving forward in good speed as people were going up on the stage in groups of 30 or so. Then it dawned on us that we may be in the group viewing the body of Kim Jong Il.
Suddenly it was our turn to be on the raised platform and I stood at the rear of the three rows of people bowing deeply. Though I could not see the body, I bowed my head slightly and offered a silent prayer for the people of North Korea. Haejung had been clinging to me for the previous 10 minutes or so and she was at my right.
After 30 seconds, the front line was asked to move out to the left. As the people moved in single file, I saw Kim Jong Eun standing a few meters away shaking hands with some of the visitors. Prime ministers and other high officials were standing a few steps to his right and rear.
When my turn came I offered my hand of condolences and he reached up with both hands, which surprised me.
I quickly walked on and moved to the head of the glass coffin and saw Kim Jong Il clearly. Lingering in the area would not have been proper, and I moved on out to the waiting bus. When I got to the bus, it was 4:35.
We rode in silence and the bus arrived back at the PUST campus at 5:00.
Only then we learned that we had been at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where they keep the body of Kim Il Sung as well.
Dec 21 10:00 Nine of us left on a bus to the airport for the short flight to Shenyang, China.
At noon, exactly 48 hours after the announcement of the death, the plane left the ground.
As the cabin crew distributed copies of Rodong Shinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party, it was not surprising to see that all six pages of the paper were devoted to the coverage of mourning.
It was a shock nonetheless to see a picture of me on page 4 accompanying the article about overseas Koreans paying respect to Kim Jong Il and offering condolences to Kim Jong Eun. Difficult to believe, isn’t it?
We pray for wisdom and compassion of the leaders to bring a lasting peace and hope for the people of North Korea.
Simon Park
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 196
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