It covers an area of more than a hundred hectares at the foot of picturesque Mt. Taesong.

After being briefed on the zoo in front of a big painting showing a panoramic view of the zoo, he went round aquarium, tiger, bear and horse sheds and other places for a long while. Learning in detail about the reconstruction and operation of the zoo, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the appearance of the zoo has radically changed in a few years.

He highly praised the constructers for having built a splendid structure and sent thanks to them, noting that the zoo reconstructed on an expansion basis was successfully designed in a peculiar manner and the best quality was ensured in its construction.

He appreciated the efforts made by Kim Sun Ok, head of the workteam for the tiger shed, who has faithfully worked as an animal breeder for more than four decades, and officials and other workers of the zoo, noting that they have done a lot of work, indeed, at the honorable post for the people's happiness.

He set forth important tasks which would serve as guidelines for managing and operating the zoo, stressing that it is the pride of the people in the DPRK to have a large modern zoo.

He said that it is very important to spruce up the zoo well and improve its operation as it is not only a precious treasure of the country to be handed down to the generations to come but is of great significance in the cultural and emotional life of working people and school youth and children and their upbringing and education.

In order to build the zoo better under a long-term plan it is necessary to increase the species of animals and consolidate its material and technical foundation to serve its purpose, he added.

It is important for the zoo to solve the feed problem and establish a veterinary and anti-epidemic system as it breeds a lot of animals of diverse species, he noted, underscoring the need to take thorough-going measures for providing feed suited to the diversity of species of animals and, at the same time, build modern veterinary hospitals.

He also stressed the need to refurnish the inside and outside of the animal sheds in such a way as to make them convenient to visitors and build facilities sufficient for their rest so that an increasing number of working people and school youth and children may visit the zoo to enjoy a cultural and emotional life.

There are in the zoo many rare animals including gift animals sent by different countries of the world and it is, therefore, necessary to pay deep attention to the preservation and breeding of them, he said, calling on the zoo to put the breeding and management on a scientific basis.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the employees of the zoo would successfully perform their honorable mission and duty as servants for people in the future, too.

He was accompanied by Department Directors of the WPK Central Committee Jang Song Thaek and Kim Yang Gon, First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Sok Ju, First Vice Department Directors of the WPK Central Committee Ri Je Gang and Ri Jae Il, Chairman of the Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee of the DPRK Cha Sung Su, and other senior officials and KPA Generals Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su and other commanding officers of the KPA.