In this regard, Ri Tok Song, department director of the Ministry of Coal Industry, told KCNA:

The ministry is concentrating efforts on more than 10 objects this year.

A prospective tunneling campaign was launched at the February 8 Jikdong Youth and Chonsong Youth coal mines under the Sunchon Area Youth Coal Mining Complex to secure new coal beds with annual production capacity of hundreds of thousands of tons. The tunneling has been carried out at 80 percent.

Meanwhile, the Kaechon Area Coal Mining Complex and the Kyongwon Area Coal Mining Complex began to develop new coal mines. Lots of coal beds have been secured, and brisk preparatory work is going on for tunneling and pit construction.

The Sochang Youth Coal Mine under the Tokchon Area Coal Mining Complex and the Inpho Youth Coal Mine under the Pukchang Area Youth Coal Mining Complex are hastening the belt extension projects to increase the hauling capacity.