Pyongyang, December 15 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il provided field guidance to the Kwangbok Area Supermarket just before opening.

Kwangbok Department Store which was originally completed in October 1991 has been renovated as a supermarket thanks to the initiative and great loving care shown by Kim Jong Il being considerate of the people's well-being and improvement of their living standard.

The supermarket is a commercial service base capable of providing every convenience for the customers with accurate and rapid service as all of its management activities have been put on IT and digital basis ranging from warehousing to selling.

With the total floor space of more than 12 700 square meters, the three-storey supermarket has counters filled with household appliances and electronic goods, such foodstuff as confectionery, milk, tea, soy sauce, soybean paste and oil and such textile goods as children's clothes, toys, Korean dresses, towels, quilts and undergarment.

Going round counters on each floor, Kim Jong Il learned in detail about the varieties of goods, state of display and sales plan.

Saying that the supermarket is fitted with display cases, stands and tools and other facilities and furnishings needed for the storage and sales of goods to cater for the tastes of consumers, he expressed great satisfaction over the successful renovation of the commercial service center to be conducive to improving the standard of people's living.

The renovation has made it possible to satisfy the increasing demand of the people for goods, he noted.

He, calling for meeting the people's need in any case, saw to it that necessary measures were taken.

He set forth tasks facing the supermarket in its service.

Noting that the essence of the socialist commerce is to orientate all its activities to serving the people, to all intents and purposes, he urged the relevant units to conduct supply service from the stand of looking after the people's life with responsibility and ensure timely sale of goods urgently required by the people so as to provide convenience for their living.

He went on to say:

It is the firm will and determination of the Party to provide the people with things best. Officials should become true servants for the people, who provide them with good things first and worry about their life before anything else.

He underscored the need to strive to supply goods to the people before putting them in foreign markets.

Accompanying him were Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Kim Kyong Hui, member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., the WPK, Jang Song Thaek, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and vice-chairman of the NDC, Pak To Chun and Choe Ryong Hae, alternate members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., the WPK, Mun Kyong Dok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK and chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK, Ju Kyu Chang, alternate member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., the WPK, and Ri Jae Il, Pak Pong Ju and Han Kwang Sang, first vice department directors of the C.C., the WPK.