Utterly nonplussed, the officials tried to persuade him to postpone it a few days at least because of bad weather.

He told them that one could say he saw real Mt. Paektu, understand the mettle of Mt. Paektu and get grasps on the revolutionary spirit of Mt. Paektu only when he climbed the mountain in blizzards and set out on the trip to the mountain with them.

When the party escorting him got to Taeyonji Peak, the snowstorm of Mt. Paektu began to assault them.

The howling snowstorm made it difficult to see an inch ahead and the raging wind carried mountains of snow in a twinkle, blocking the way.

Again the officials told him it seemed impossible to go up further.

Saying with a hearty laughter that a real march was just beginning then, he cut through the snow at the head.

Fighting the way through the maddening wind, snowstorm and snowdrift, the party managed to reach the top of Mt. Paektu at last.

When Kim Jong Il was looking around, with his arms akimbo, a thunderous sound of ice breaking came from Lake Chon all of a sudden and the frantic blizzards began to subside.

The clouds slowly moved away, revealing the blue sky and the sun threw its bright rays. Peaks of the mountain shone dazzlingly in the sunshine.

It was really a grand snow-covered scene of Mt. Paektu.

"Mt. Paektu opened its gate to its master and revealed its gigantic and graceful sight. What a wonder of Mt. Paektu!" shouted the officials to themselves in solemn feelings, fascinated by the mysterious scene.