President Kim Il Sung hosted a banquet for exemplary workers on May 1, 1947.

Acknowledging the cheering workers at the banquet hall, he congratulated them on their labour successes.

He shook hands with them one by one in praise of their exploits. Then he recognized a pitman among them.

Shaking hands with him, he told the audience that the pitman fulfilled his yearly plan for national economy ahead of schedule. Asking the audience to drink the first toast to good health and happiness of all coal miners, the backbone of national economy, he offered a cup to the pitman.

At that time the pitman told the President that the first toast would be made to good health of the President who liberated the nation and built a people-oriented country. Gently declining the offer, the President said that he was the host of the banquet and they were the guests so the first toast was for the workers.

All the participants were moved to tears by his warm benevolence. -0-