N. Korean leader visits country's northeast, near launch site

(ATTN: ADDS paras 2, 7, 8 for spokesman's quote on Kim's intentions, MODIFIES)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has given field
guidance to various facilities in the country's northeast, state media said
Wednesday, as he appeared to be touring a province where rocket launch
preparations are underway.
It was not known whether Kim arranged his visit to North Hamgyong Province with
regard to the preparations. A Seoul spokesman said Kim makes a nationwide tour at
the beginning of every year.
North Korea said on Tuesday that it will set off a "communications satellite"
from its launch site in Hwadae County while Kim has reportedly been visiting
other towns in North Hamgyong since last weekend. Hoeryong, a town bordering
China that Kim was said to have toured in Wednesday's report, is located opposite
the launch base in the same province.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the leader started his itinerary at
the birthplace of his late mother, Kim Jong-suk, who died in 1949 when he was
seven.
"Time flies, one generation is replaced by another," he was quoted as saying as
he emphasized that greater efforts should be made to educate the people on the
country's revolutionary traditions.
Kim also visited the Hoeryong Essential Foodstuff Factory and Hoeryong Taesong
Cigarette Factory, whose products are supplied to soldiers in the region, and the
Hoeryong Branch of the Central Bank and the Honored Thrice Red Flag Kim Ki Song
Hoeryong Middle School No. 1, the KCNA said.
The report did not mention the planned rocket launch. Seoul's Unification
Ministry could not say whether Kim's extensive trip is related to the launch or
just part of his regular public activity, as he has sharply increased nationwide
inspection tours this year. Kim is believed to have considerably recovered since
his reported stroke last August.
"It seems to be certain that Kim is now well enough, but we don't know whether he
visited there to encourage industrial production or if his visit is related to
the missile launch," ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said.
Seoul officials have expressed concern over the North's latest moves, saying it
would be a violation of U.N. resolutions adopted after the North's missile and
nuclear tests in 2006. Putting a satellite into orbit involves technology
development also used in advancing long-range missile systems, experts say.
Seoul expects the North will be ready to launch the "Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite"
in a week or two.
Wednesday's KCNA report said the leader was accompanied by Workers' Party senior
officials including department directors of the party's central committee Pak
Nam-gi and Jang Song-thaek, Kim's brother-in-law.
Kim Ki-nam, secretary of the party's central committee, and Hong Sok-hyong, chief
secretary of the party's North Hamgyong provincial committee, also accompanied
the North Korean leader.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)