He went round different production processes including open-cast mining sites, large crushing plants and ore dressing plants for hours to acquaint himself in detail with their technological updating and production there.

Looking at open-cast mining sites, vast mining lots with large mining machines at work and ore dressing plants furnished with the latest equipment and put on a CNC basis, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that all production processes of the mine have been technologically updated as required by the IT age.

It is a great success that the officials, workers and technicians of the mine have successfully carried out the overall technological updating in a matter of two years in the revolutionary spirit of devotedly implementing the party's policies, thereby radically changing the appearance of the mine and trebling the production of mineral ore, he said, extending high appreciation and thanks to them for having turned the mine into a leading nonferrous metal ore producer as desired by President Kim Il Sung.

Noting that the workers of the mine turned out as one in hearty response to the call of the WPK and successfully put the mine on a modern and scientific basis in a short span of time by their own efforts and with their own technology even under the difficult conditions, he added that this signal success is a striking demonstration of the mental power of the heroic working class of Korea.

Enjoying a bird's-eye view of the mine from an observation deck, he said that the picturesque mine is a paradise for the people and a communist land of bliss in the era of Songun.

It is, indeed, laudable success that the mine finished such gigantic construction by its own efforts while steadily increasing the production, he said, highly appreciating all the party members and other working people and their families of the mine for having brought about the gigantic changes full of confidence and optimism about the future.

He set forth important tasks to be fulfilled by the mine.

The most important task facing the mine is to systematically increase the production of minerals based on the already achieved successes and, to this end, it is necessary to continue to thoroughly implement the party's policy of massively mining and processing, he noted.

He underscored the need for the mine to keep the modern ore dressing plants that underwent technological updating in full capacity operation and, at the same time, conduct strenuous drive to further raise the actual concentration rate.

Stressing the need to send more concentrated ores to smelteries and, at the same time, build its own smelting plant in keeping with the drastically increased production of concentrated ores, he specified the orientation and ways to do so.

He instructed the officials of the mine to set up the correct management and business strategies and do business management in an innovative manner to ensure profitability and provide the miners with more excellent living conditions.

He expressed expectation and belief that the officials, workers and technicians of the mine would take the lead in working world-startling miracles and feats in building a thriving nation in the future, too, and thus demonstrate their heroic stamina and invincible spirit once again.

He was accompanied by Pak To Chun, chief secretary of the Jagang Provincial Committee of the WPK, Jang Song Thaek, vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and department director of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, and Kim Kyong Hui, Thae Jong Su and Hong Sok Hyong, department directors of the C.C., the WPK.