N. Korean leader makes rare visit to trade zone, stresses export growth

By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited Rason, a
northern port city that the country is developing into a trade hub, where he gave
guidelines on increasing exports, state media said.
The visit was Kim's first to the city since it was named a free trade zone nearly
two decades ago and comes as the North is struggling to buttress itself against
international sanctions imposed on the country after its nuclear test in May.
North Korea designated Rason and nearby Sonbong, on the country's northernmost
coast close to both China and Russia, as an economic free trade zone in 1991,
though foreign investment never materialized and senior officials who spearheaded
the project were reportedly ousted.
In recent years, however, the North has begun to try and reinvigorate the trade
zone, signing an accord with Russia to restore railways that could help
rejuvenate the port there. Russia invested 140 million euro in the Rason project
late last year.
It is also believed that the North reached an agreement with China to develop
Rajin port, the largest port in Rason, into an international logistics hub. In
2007, the allies drew up plans to build new roads there connecting the area with
China's Hunchun.
"It is very important to abide by the principle of the credit-first policy in
foreign trade," Kim was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency.
Kim also ordered workers to strictly observe "export discipline and improve the
quality of goods." The English language report came early Thursday but as is
customary did not give the date of the visit.
Kim toured a general marine products factory, a stock-breeding farm, a wine
factory and other sites at the Rason Taehung Trading Company to acquaint himself
with the production of export goods, the report said.
He was accompanied by Hong Sok-hyong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong
Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party, and party secretary Kim Ki-nam and
party directors Kim Kyong-hui, Jang Song-thaek and Pak Nam-gi, the report said.
Kim Kyong-hui, the leader's only sister, and her husband Jang have frequently
appeared alongside Kim in his recent outings.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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