After being briefed on the company before a huge map showing its panoramic view, he went round a general aquatic products processing factory, a stock-breeding farm, a wine processing factory and other places of the company to acquaint himself in detail with the production of export goods and export.

He highly appreciated the feats performed by the officials and workers of the company, expressing great satisfaction over the fact that they have minutely organized the work for increasing the production of export goods and stepped up trade, contributing to the prosperity of the country.

He was greatly pleased to learn that the company has built a modern stock-breeding farm and a fish culture ground covering hundreds of hectares on the shore to produce large quantities of quality seafood of various kinds including shellfish and highly appreciated the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance displayed by them.

After looking round the company, Kim Jong Il advanced important tasks which would serve as guidelines for further developing foreign trade of the country on the spot.

He said that in order to significantly develop foreign trade it is necessary to rapidly increase the production of exports and tap export sources through a mass movement.

He underscored the need for the fields of railway and marine transports to take thorough measures for transport in order to satisfactorily ensure the transport of freight for trade in keeping with the rapid increase of exports.

As it is very important to abide by the principle of the credit-first policy in foreign trade it is necessary to pay deep attention to this matter, he said, adding that to this end it is essential to intensify the drive for strictly observing the export discipline and improve the quality of goods.

He pointed out that in order to develop foreign trade it is necessary to correctly work out an export plan and thoroughly implement the policy of unified trade and, at the same time, the party organizations and administrative officials should regularly learn about and grasp how the plans for the production of export goods are fulfilled, unravel knotty problems in time and effectively conduct the organizational and political work to honor the export plans.

Officials in the field of foreign trade have particularly important duties and roles to perform for rapidly expanding and developing foreign trade as required by the developing reality in which they are getting very close to the gate to a thriving nation, he noted, calling for conducting external activities in a progressive manner to steadily expand foreign markets.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the employees of the company would display patriotic devotion to bring about a new turn in the production of export goods and foreign trade.

While touring Rason City on the same day, he learned about the overall work of the city including city construction and management.

Calling for building the city well under a long-term plan and paying special attention to the party and administrative work in the city as it has many revolutionary battle sites and revolutionary sites, precious treasures of the WPK, and it is one of the important centers for foreign trade, he specified tasks and ways to do so.

He was accompanied by Hong Sok Hyong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, and Kim Kyong Hui, Jang Song Thaek and Pak Nam Gi, department directors of the C.C., the WPK.