Kim Jong Il went round the newly built combined production control room, the UHP electric arc furnace with a capacity of 100 tons, the relay ingot shop and the substation of the complex and various other production processes for hours to acquaint himself in detail with the technological updating and production there.

Watching for a long while the smelters at tapping work before the above-said electric arc furnace, he warmly encouraged them working with sweat running down in beads in their patriotic service for the prosperity and development of the country and appreciated their efforts.

Feasting his eyes on the Juche-based molten iron being churned out in an endless stream from the large furnace, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the workers of the complex have successfully built a modern Juche iron production base with a great capacity in hearty response to the Party's policy to put the metallurgical industry on a Juche basis, thus steadily boosting the production of steel.

The gasification of anthracite and the process of not using cokes, entirely depending on the locally available raw materials, are the philosophy governing the development of the economy in the DPRK, he noted, stressing the need to hold fast to this precious truth learned through the arduous struggle as a lifeline.

He advanced highly important tasks to be fulfilled by the complex.

He said that the most important task before the complex is to keep the production of iron and steel going at a high rate depending on the existing solid Juche iron production base.

The enterprises related to the complex have an important role to play in keeping the production going at a high rate at the complex, he said, underscoring the need for the power stations, ore and coal mines to increase the production of electricity and concentrated iron ore and coal and provide them to it in time.

He praised the workers of the complex as heroic ones as they have always upheld the Party with the production of iron and steel, bearing deep in mind the teaching of President Kim Il Sung that the complex is as important as the "Height 1211" in the development of nation's economy.

He expressed great expectation and conviction that they would emerge honorable victors in the final charge for opening the gate to a great prosperous and powerful nation with the same vim and vigor with which they demonstrated the mettle of the Korean people in the post-war rehabilitation and construction.

He was accompanied by Choe Ryong Hae, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Committee of the WPK, Secretary Kim Ki Nam and Department Directors Kim Kyong Hui and Jang Song Thaek of the C.C., the WPK and its First Vice-Department Directors Ju Kyu Chang and Ri Je Gang.