Other titles include: “How to Be a Terrible Leader for Dummies” and “431 Quotes to Lose All Your Friends.”
North Korea and Japan are not currently on the best terms, with North Korea having shot not just one but two missiles over Japan during the past few weeks. Still, that hasn’t stopped North Korean travel agencies from trying to awkwardly entice Japanese tourists to come visit.
But why visit North Korea? What can you even get there? Well, apparently a Japanese translation of Kim Jong-un’s “little red book” of quotes, for starters.
Japanese news agency FNN News recently got ahold of one of these rare books, whose Japanese translation is only for sale in Pyongyang for 500 yen (US$4.50). Here’s what it looks like:
▼ A small, thin red book simply titled “Kim Jong-un Wise Sayings.”
The “1” underneath implies there may be sequels, which is, uh, good news for fans?
金正恩名言集 pic.twitter.com/QrLFTtqJee
— huruya (@huruya2100) September 18, 2017
The book is of course reminiscent of Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book, a collection of 267 quotes from the Chinese leader divided into into 25 topics.
Not to be outdone, Kim Jong-un’s “little red book” is also divided into different subjects such as politics, military, and citizens, and contains a whopping 431 quotes. Some of them provide insight into the head of Kim Jong-un, while others are pretty out there. Here’s a sampling:
“Time is on our side, and justice is on our side, so we will surely be victorious.”
I mean, literally everyone thinks justice is on their side, so I get that. But where does he get time from? Did he buy a bunch of clocks and set them up in his room to be perfectly synchronized? I could totally see that as a North Korean way of saying they’ve “conquered time.”
“If your military force is weak, then you cannot protect your autonomy and right to life. You will be tormented and preyed upon by the imperialists.”
This is actually a pretty important quote to show why North Korea constantly plays the dangerous game of shooting missiles and then claiming “you can’t be mad because I’m not actually hitting you!” They do it because they feel they need to be seen as a threat to be taken seriously.
“Scientists and engineers are the country’s precious treasure. They are the pioneers of the era to speed up the establishment of a mighty nation.”
Well, that’s kind of true… but it’s preferred when the scientists and engineers aren’t focusing all of their energy on making bombs, ya know?
“You should have your citizens sit upon a golden cushion.”
This quote means that citizens should be provided with an ideal lifestyle, that they should not have to struggle for it themselves. It would be pretty laughable, considering it’s essentially the opposite of North Korea, if it just weren’t so sad.
“When people’s eyes become lost in money they betray their country and countrymen without hesitation.”
Guess that means you better take away everyone’s money all the time forever then?
“An egg full of ideals can break stone.”
Not only does this one not make any sense, but it also attempts to provide justification for filling your head with terrible ideology. Kim Jong-un is basically telling his people if they believe really hard, then they can smash rocks with their egg-bodies. There’s only one problem with that, and it involves rocks not budging or caring at all no matter how many “ideal-filled” eggs are smashed against them.
“People smile with their eyes, and speak with their eyes.
Another confusing one, but this one has darker undertones. It’s essentially a warning to the North Korean people that even if they don’t say out loud anything against the state, they can still give themselves away with their eyes. So they need to completely and voluntarily brainwash themselves to be safe.
Not sure what to think about reading those? Neither were Japanese netizens. Here’s how they reacted:
“I wouldn’t want that book if they paid me 500 yen to take it.”
“Those are some pretty ruthless quotes.”
“Does anyone have any idea what he’s talking about?”
“Wow, that’s more than enough quotes to make a daily calendar with!”
“Wonder if I can find a used one at BookOff?”
Good luck with that, netizen. And if you do manage to find one for yourself, be sure to pick up a one-piece romper suit of Kim Jong-un’s face to wear while you read it.
Source: Yahoo! News Japan/Fuji News Network via Golden Times
Featured image: Twitter/@huruya2100

Scandal in North Korea after Kim Jong-un makes mildly self-deprecating remark
Kim Jong-un gives troops diarrhea for Christmas
Kim Jong-un allegedly orders entire extended family of executed uncle killed
Is North Korea really forcing its young men to get Kim Jong-un’s haircut? Probably not…
North Koreans reportedly forced to memorize Kim Jong-un’s entire 26-minute New Year speech
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Suspected yakuza member arrested for having frequent flyer mile account
Starbucks Japan has a secret breakfast set…and a hack for when it sells out
Do Bare Feet of a Gorilla slides really make your legs slimmer?
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Studio Ghibli adds mini pillows and massive mats to its anime merchandise store in Japan
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Let’s hike a Japanese mountain (that isn’t Mt. Fuji) – Mt. Tsukuba[Photos]
The top 12 incomprehensible school rules, as chosen by high school students
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Kim Jong-un visits North Korean women soldiers, internet Photoshop battle ensues【Pics】
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to star in upcoming run ‘n’ gun video game based on his life
Kim Jong-un summoned to appear in Tokyo District Court
Kim Jong-un’s face on one-piece romper suit available online, because that’s the world we live in
We finally know the age of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un
The power of fast food: Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un wants McDonald’s to invest in North Korea
Researcher claims North Korea’s Kim Jong-un loved manga, got bad grades as a teen
Madame Tussauds in Tokyo offering free Kim Jong-un haircuts for one day only!
We visited an oden store in Shinbashi frequented by the late Kim Jong-nam
Japanese porn star directs commercial in which Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are best friends【Vid】
Black telephone like me: What if a handsome guy tries modern politics’ most famous harido?
Hilarious GIF shows what could have happened to Moon Jae-in when he stepped into North Korea
North Korea releases new video showing dangerous improvement in their CGI arsenal