The first leg of his guidance was the Taehung Youth Hero Mine.

After being briefed on the scientific and technological achievements made by the mine, Kim Jong Il went round several production processes for hours to learn in detail about the technological updating and situation of production there.

It is a great feat of weighty significance in the industrial development of the country that officials, technicians and workers of the mine have successfully realized the Juche-orientation of the production of magnesia clinker totally based on domestic raw materials by their own efforts, he said, highly praising their feats and giving his heartfelt thanks to them.

Saying that the technological progress made by the officials, technicians and workers of the mine, pioneers in making the national economy Juche-oriented, is admirable heroic feat, he bestowed warm love for them by designating the mine as Taehung Youth Hero Mine.

He underlined the need for all fields including the metal industry to zealously follow the example of the mine so as to successfully carry out the work for putting the national economy on a Juche-oriented basis.

And he went round a mine village built into a socialist-style fairy land.

He set forth the highly important tasks to be fulfilled by the mine, stressing that the mine should be renewed in a prospective way to turn into a world leading mineral producer.

The next leg of his guidance was the Komdok Mining Complex, a gigantic nonferrous mineral production base.

Going round the Dressing Plant No. 2, the June 5 Pumping Station and other places, he acquainted himself in detail with the performance of technological updating and production.

Expressing his great satisfaction over the fact that the miners of Komdok have radically increased the mineral production by laying a material and technological foundation of the mine and done a lot of work including the establishment of excellent production culture, he highly appreciated their achievements.

Then he was informed of how the complex runs its supply service bases and went round a miners' rest room at the Kumgol Mine before highly appreciating the efforts made by officials of the complex.

He stressed that deep care should be always shown for the miners' life, saying that health of the workers, a precious asset of the Party and the revolution, is more valuable than underground treasure. And he advanced highly important tasks facing the mine.

He also gave field guidance to the Ryongyang Mine.

After being briefed on the mine before its panoramic map, he went into the June 5 Pit to acquaint himself with the work of putting the cutting on large-sized and modern basis.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the workers of Paekgumsan have doubled the mineral production by securing rich ore reserves and introducing the advanced cutting method and highly estimated their labour feats.

Watching the members of the Hero Excavator No.7 Workteam at work, he gave pep-talks to them fully displaying the stamina of the workteam in the 150-day campaign.

He met again with Song Sun Ae who encouraged the members of the workteam to performing feats, working as its agitator for many years and highly praised her efforts.

Then he set forth the tasks to be carried out by the mine.

It is very proud to see the mines in the Komdok area where miners are making continued leap and advance, full of vigor, at the worksites turned into a people's paradise, he said, expressing great satisfaction at the fact that the mines in the area have undergone great changes in recent years.

Accompanying him were Secretary Kim Ki Nam and department directors Pak Nam Gi and Jang Song Thaek of the WPK Central Committee.