The first leg of his guidance was the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex.

He acquainted himself in detail with technological updating and construction and production at the complex, going round its different places including the newly installed large oxygen plant.

He highly appreciated the achievements made by the workers of the complex, expressing great satisfaction over the fact that they have successfully completed the vast reconstruction project by their own efforts and satisfactorily settled difficult technological matters including the introduction of a new method to the heating process with their own technology.

He said that the achievements made by the complex in the recent period are the fruition of the implementation of the slogan of "Self-reliance is the only way out!" in all aspects of their work and life, adding that the experience of the complex is a convincing proof of the great vitality of the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance created by President Kim Il Sung in the crucible of the cutting wind in Mt. Paektu.

Saying that the complex is playing an important role in building a great prosperous and powerful nation, he put forward the tasks to be carried out by the complex.

The workers of the complex represent the heroic working class who created the tradition of loyalty, supporting the Party with iron, bearing deep in mind the teachings of the President "Iron and the machine are the king of industry!", he said, calling upon them to live and struggle with the same spirit and stamina as they displayed in building socialism from scratch after the war.

He stressed that the most important task facing the complex is to thoroughly establish the iron production system relying on locally available raw materials.

It is necessary to give fullest play to the production capacity already created by the complex and, at the same time, steadily increase its production capacity by continuing to push forward technological updating in order to satisfactorily meet the ever-growing need for iron and steel, he said.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the workers of the complex would bring a new turn in the production of iron and steel through a devoted drive and thus creditably discharge their honorable mission and duty as a hardcore unit in building a great prosperous and powerful nation.

The next leg of his guidance was the Ranam Coal Mining Machine Complex.

Going round the machines newly manufactured on the basis of the latest technology and technologically-updated processes, he learned in detail about the progress made in the modernization of the complex and its production.

He highly appreciated the successes made by its workers, expressing his great satisfaction over the fact that they are successfully carrying out the work to put the complex on a modern and scientific basis through a brisk mass technical innovation movement.

Noting that the complex is rapidly turning out machinery requiring high technology by closely combining science and technology with production and working out bold and big operations and carrying them out in a persevering manner to cement its material and technical foundations, he highly appreciated the mental power and tirelessly creative energies displayed by its officials, workers and technicians in steadily creating everything advanced in Korean style.

It deserves a high praise that the officials, workers and technicians of the complex jointly explored a new area for modernization and scientification by their own efforts and technology, he said, adding: This signal achievement goes to clearly prove the true advantages of our society where the rights of the working people are fully guaranteed and their wisdom and creative ability displayed to the full and the validity and tremendous vitality of the WPK's idea of giving importance to science.

The heroic workers of the DPRK are the fighters who devotedly carry out any difficult task in time with the faith that they can do anything unconditionally when the party is determined to do, he said, stressing that a great prosperous and powerful nation is sure to be built as there are large contingents of such faithful workers.

He set forth important tasks to be carried out by the complex, expressing deep trust that its workers would realize its modernization and scientification at a higher level on the basis of the successes already made.

It is an important task facing the complex to closely combine the work for keeping the production going at a high rate with modernization in reliance upon the advantageous socialist planned economy and push ahead with them and thus break the record in production and improve the quality of machinery, he noted, indicating the orientation and ways to do so.

He was accompanied by Hong Sok Hyong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Pak Nam Gi, department director of the WPK Central Committee, and Ju Kyu Chang and Ri Jae Il, first vice department directors of the WPK Central Committee.