Kim Jong-il visits industrial complexes: report

SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited a vinalon
complex and a machine complex, Pyongyang's news agency said Thursday, as he
appears to be increasing the number of inspection tours this year from a year
earlier.
Kim made 13 visits to industrial and military sites in January, compared to eight
in the same month last year. He also visited a cooperative farm earlier this
month, according to a report Tuesday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The KCNA report said Kim gave field guidance to the February 8 Vinalon Complex
and the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, not
specifying the dates for either visit as usual.
Kim was quoted as saying, "The position and role of the complex are very
important for the building of a great prosperous and powerful nation." The
production of vinalon, a synthetic fiber used in many of North Korea's textiles,
makes it "possible to bring about a signal turn in the chemical industry," Kim
said.
Kim told workers at the machine complex, "We are optimistic about the successful
building of a great prosperous and powerful nation as we have such tremendous
potential."
He urged the workers to continue their efforts "with the same vim and vigor as
they displayed to produce large-size machines with nothing after the war, thus
startling the world."
North Korea this year revived a post-war reconstruction campaign first launched
five decades ago, striving to rebuild the nation's infrastructure and "solve food
problems by our own efforts."
The Chollima Movement, named after a mythical winged horse, was set up by the
leader's father and North Korean founder Kim Il-sung in 1956 to mobilize citizens
for the government-led reconstruction campaign after the Korean War. Its revival
comes as North Korea struggles to cope with the ongoing global recession.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)