DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (3rd L) tours a factory in Hamhu’ng, capital of South Hamgyo’ng Province (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)
DPRK state media reported on 9 June (Sunday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju toured six factories in Hamhu’ng, provincial capital of South Hamgyo’ng Province. Pak toured the 8 February Vinalon Complex, the Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex and the Ryo’ngso’ng Machine Complex. He “in detail about the production of fertilizer and essential chemical goods there” and held meetings with factory officials. According to KCNA, at the meetings Pak Pong Ju “underscored the need to glorify the proud tradition in which the workers there upheld the Workers’ Party of Korea with successes in boosting production in each grim period of revolution” and he “called on the enterprises to bring about innovations as they play important roles in increasing production in agricultural and light industrial fields, the key fields in economic construction this year, and in improving people’s living standard, in response to the call of the WPK.” The meetings “discussed issues of ensuring profitability in enterprise management and business activities as required by the new century.”
The Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province (Photo: Google image)
The Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex in the Hu’ngnam district, Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province (Photo: Google image).
The Hamhu’ng Knitwear Factory and Hamhu’ng Woolen Mill in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province (Photo: Google image).
Pak also toured Hamhu’ng Woolen Mill, Hamhu’ng Knitwear Factory and Hu’ngnam Electrode Factory. In meetings with factory officials, Pak discussed upgrades to the factories’ production facilities and the meetings “took measures for solving issues arising in technological updating, including rationally distributing equipment, making up for the missing production processes and improving heat control.”
According to DPRK state media reporting, Pak Pong Ju’s visit to Hamhu’ng was tied to Kim Jong Un’s recent “Maiknyo’ng Speed” campaign appeal, which was announced on 4 June. The “Masiknyo’ng Speed” refers to the completion of a ski park on the border of Kangwo’n and South Hamgyo’ng Provinces by the end of 2013. In issuing his appeal Kim Jong Un held the Korean People’s Army [KPA] personnel working on the ski park as examples of model workers and wrote that “All the people, including the working class, agricultural workers, and intellectuals, firmly grasp the party’s simultaneous line on pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear armed forces and follow and learn from the Masingnyo’ng soldier-builders’ fighting spirit, thus becoming fighters of death-defying implementation and performers of feats in this meaningful year’s general onward march!” and that “I firmly believe that our soldiers and people, who have always been loyal to the party’s leadership, will complete the construction of the Masik Pass Skiing Ground without fail through mass heroism and bold attack spirit in this meaningful year greeting the 65th founding anniversary of the Republic and the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and usher in a new heyday on all fronts of powerful state construction.”
DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) tours the Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex in Anju, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 14 May (Tuesday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex in Anju, South P’yo’ngan Province. The primary purpose of Pak’s visit was to learn about the production of chemical fertilizers. Pak toured the chemical complex and “encouraged officials and workers in their effort to boost the production of Chuch’e fertilizer, true to the spirit of the March, 2013 Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.” According to KCNA Pak “stressed the need for the workers there to decisively increase the fertilizer production, bearing deep in mind that agricultural production is the main thrust of the drive for economic construction and the improvement of the people’s living standard and fertilizers precisely mean rice, and thus bring about a radical boost in grain production this year.” Pak also “called upon officials and workers of the coal mines to intensify the drive for increased production, underlining the need for the coal mines to satisfactorily provide coal for boosting the fertilizer production” and “proposed tasks for settling the issue of timely transport of coal for keeping the fertilizer production going at a high rate and other issues. “
Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex in the city of Anju, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Google image)
Senior members of the central leadership tour an exhibition of light industry goods in Pyongyang. Among the officials in this image are: Choe Tae Bok (5th R), Kim Yong Nam (4th R) Yang Hyong Sop (3rd R) and Pak To Chun (2nd R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 22 March (Friday) that members of the DPRK’s central political leadership toured an exhibition of light industry goods being held at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang on 20 and 22 March. Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and SPA Chairman Choe Tae Bok, KWP Secretary Pak To Chun and SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop toured the exhibition of what KCNA reported were “142.000 items of consumer goods produced by light industrial establishments in Pyongyang and local areas,” saw “exhibition stands fully stacked with vinalon products, velvet cloth, shoes, seasonal clothes, sportswear, foodstuffs, cosmetics and household utensils” and “popular among visitors were products from provincial combined foodstuff factories and Ch’angso’ng County which made big contributions to producing consumer goods by developing local industry.” According to KCNA “those consumer goods produced through the creative ingenuity of masses and the tapping of internal reserves clearly proved the validity and vitality of the August 3 Consumer Goods Production Movement. “
DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (foreground, R) tours an exhibition of light industry goods at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)
The 3 August Consumer Goods Production Movement was initiated on 3 August 1984 when the late supreme leader Kim Jong Il inspected the Pyongyang City Light Industrial Goods Exhibition. According to one of his official biographies, “this movement prvoed very viable because it sharply increased the production of various consumer goods and relied on the masses’ intelligence and creativity. Comrade Kim Jong Il suggested party organizations push on powerfully with the movement. In May 1986 he paid a high tribute to P’yo’ngchon District, Pyongyang, as an exemplary unit and its experience generalized across the country.”
Cover of the 20 March 2013 edition of the Korean Workers’ Party daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun
Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un and members of the central leadership with participants in an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 19 March (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a commemorative photo session with participants in a national meeting of industrial workers held in Pyongyang on 18 March (Monday). KJU’s last reported public appearance was at the national meeting of light industry workers. Attending the photo-op with Kim Jong Un were Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information]), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman), Pak Pong Ju (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Ri Mu Yong (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier) and the chief secretaries of KWP Provincial Committees and chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees.
Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph on 19 March 2013 with other members of the central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un and other members of the central leadership in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said, “the meeting loudly sounded the drive on the front of the light industry for improving the people’s living standard and made the torchlight for innovations kindled in the light industry furiously flare up for a fresh leap forward in agriculture and all economic sectors” and “warmly congratulated the participants on having successfully carried out their work with high enthusiasm and active participation and had a photo taken with them.” KJU also “expressed belief that working people, officials, scientists and technicians in the field of light industry and related fields playing important roles in improving the people’s living standard would perform their duties for developing the light industry as required by the building of a thriving socialist nation.”
Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un, members of the DPRK central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong Un (3rd L) sits on the platform (rostrum) during the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013. Also on the platform are Kim Ki Nam (L), Choe Yong Rim (2nd L), Kim Kyong Hui (4th L) and Tae Jong Su (5th L) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 18 March (Monday) that a national meeting of light industry workers was held in Pyongyang. Attending the meeting from the central leadership were Kim Jong Un, Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director), Kim Ki Nam [KWP Secretary], Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission) and Tae Jong Su (Chief Secretary of the South Hamgyo’ng KWP Provincial Committee) along with “officials of the units taking the lead in carrying out the Party’s policy of light industry and labor innovators, leading officials here and in local areas, officials of economic guidance organs, affiliated fields and working people.” KJU’s last reported public appearance was his observation and guidance of live fire artillery exercises in the West (Yellow) Sea.
A view of the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Choe Yong Rim delivered the national meeting’s report. According to KCNA Choe said in his report “that the history of the development of light industry in the DPRK is a history associated with President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il’s Juche-oriented idea on building light industry, their outstanding leadership and tireless devotion and efforts. Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il regarded it as the supreme principle of the party and state activities to improve the standard of people’s living, regarding it as their maxim to believe in people as in Heaven. The great Generalissimos’ idea of building the Juche-based light industry and their undying leadership feats are being successfully carried forward by Marshal Kim Jong Un.” Choe also “referred to the successes achieved in the light industrial field under the leadership of the WPK in the past” and “called for making great innovations and leap forward in producing consumer goods, steadily pushing forward the modernization of equipment and production processes and producing consumer goods as an all-people movement.”
Choe was followed by other speakers from the party, government and the country’s light industrial sector. Kim Jong Un then delivered his speech in which he said “that the light industrial front along with the agricultural front are the main fronts on which efforts should be focused in the drive for building an economic power and improving the people’s living standard. To rapidly develop the nation’s light industry is as worthwhile work not only for improving the people’s material and cultural living standards but an important political work for demonstrating the advantages and vitality of the socialist system in the DPRK, consolidating the single-minded unity of the Party and people as firm as a rock and bringing earlier the revolutionary great event of national reunification,” and KJU “set forth main tasks and ways to be held fast to by the field of light industry at present.”
Kim Jong Un (L) speaks at the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong Un addresses the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
According to a gist published by KCNA, Kim Jong Un also remarked:
It is necessary to make the most effective use of the existing production potential to radically increase the production of consumer goods and push forward the modernization and scientification of light industry and thus put it on the world’s advanced level.
The light industry should keep production going at a high rate to massively produce varieties of quality consumer goods.
The industrial establishments in the field of light industry should wage a widespread campaign to improve the quality of consumer goods in order to produce daily necessities favored by people and ones symbolic of their units and impeccable on foreign markets.
In order to solve the issue of raw and other materials for light industry the units tasked to provide funds for the people’s living should increase their roles for the present.
A basic way of solving the issue is to locally produce raw and other materials.
The chemical industry has a big role to play for locally producing those materials.
It is very important to develop the local industry for boosting the production of consumer goods.
The field of light industry should regard it as important task to put light industry on a modern and scientific basis and dynamically push forward it at a high level.
The industrial establishments should have scientists and technicians positively involved in production as required by the trend of developing modern light industry so that they may scientifically analyze all the issues arising in producing goods, improving quality, managing equipment and conducting business activities and solve them by dint of science and technology.
It is important to wage the drive for radically increasing the production of consumer goods through a movement involving all masses and the whole society.
It is necessary to boost the production of varieties of quality consumer goods by waging a widespread August 3 Consumer Goods Production Movement as it was done in the 1980s.
If the field of light industry makes rapid progress ahead of other fields, displaying its vitality, and the whole country intensifies the drive for the production of consumer goods, keeping pace with it, the Party’s plan to radically improve the people’s living standard in near future will be translated into a reality.
Great efforts should be channeled into improving public service while increasing the production of consumer goods.
In order to quickly improve the people’s living standard by bringing about a new turn in the development of light industry the officials in the field of light industry should increase their responsibility and role.
Officials of the ministries and national institutions in the field of light industry should learn about and grasp in detail the overall situation of light industry and actual conditions of the units under them. On this basis they should command in a responsible manner the operations for solving knotty problems and bringing about a new turn in the development of light industry.
The officials in the field of light industry should reject stiffness, schema, stagnation and depression, work in a unique and resilient manner and shape reasonable management and business strategies to ensure expanded reproduction and reenergize production by their own efforts.
The officials should have ardent patriotism, value their own things and make positive efforts to develop them to be better than others’.
Scientists and technicians should solve scientific and technological issues arising in the on-going production in good time and, at the same time, study and round off innovative plans for producing raw materials for light industry locally and putting machines and equipment and production processes on a CNC and automation basis and develop more new varieties of light industrial products and functional goods.
The whole state should attach importance to light industry and channel great efforts into its development.
Various sectors and units of national economy should render positive help to the field of light industry, bearing in mind the Party’s intention to effect a turn in the people’s living in the shortest possible span of time.
The Party organizations should increase their roles in order to rapidly develop light industry.
We have not a few difficulties and bottlenecks at present but light industry has a bright prospect of its development.
As long as there are a solid foundation of light industry provided by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il through all their lives’ dedication and the people intensely loyal to the Party’s leadership, a turn is sure to be effected in the development of the light industry and our people will fully enjoy wealth and glory under socialism without fail.
The Party Central Committee firmly believes that the officials and workers in the field of light industry will turn out with confidence of victory and bring about a new turn in its development.
DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (2nd R) tours a table tennis room in the Yanggakdo Sports Village in Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited the Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex in Anju, South P’yo’ngan Province and the recently constructed sports village on Yanggak Island (do) in the Taedong River in Pyongyang. Choe’s first visit was to the Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex, described as being “in the high-pitched drive for carrying out the tasks laid down in this year’s joint editorial.” During his visit to the complex, which he last visited in June 2012, Choe “underscored the need for the officials and workers to make great innovations in production, cherishing the great pride of working at the places associated with the loving care of Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.” At the end of his visit, Choe convened a meeting that “discussed a series of issues for keeping the Chuch’e fertilizer production going at a high rate and took necessary measures.”
Overview of Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex (Photo: Google image)
DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (3rd R) looks at a boxing room at the Yanggakdo Sports Village (Photo: KCNA)
Choe also visited the Yanggakdo Sports Village. He toured the new sports village’s various facilities and, according to KCNA, “learnt in detail about the fact that officials, players and coaches try to embody the Chuch’e-oriented strategy of game of the Workers’ Party of Korea and complete Korean-style tactical system and scientize the training before encouraging them.” At the end of his visit he convened a meeting which “discussed measures for relevant domains and units to fully provide conditions needed for sports development in keeping with the increasing state concern for sports.”
DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (2nd R) tours an area of the T’aean Heavy Machine Complex in South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 19 November (Monday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited the T’aean Heavy Machinery Complex and the Sunch’o'n Chemical Complex in South P’yo’ngan Province. Choe toured the T’aean Heavy Machine Complex in Kangso’ County, South P’yo’ngan Province, during which, according to KCNA, Choe said that “officials, workers and technicians there have honored their yearly plan as of the end of October by widely applying advanced technology while operating equipment in full capacity.” After his tour Choe “convened a consultative meeting on the spot. It discussed such issues as keeping the production of generating equipment and transformers going at a high rate while actively pushing forward the updating of the complex and underscored the need for the related units to ensure a satisfactory supply of necessary materials.”
The T’aean Heavy Machine Complex (above) and Sunch’o'n Chemical Complex (below) (Photo: Google images)
Choe Yong Rim also toured the Sunch’o'n Chemical Complex in the city of Sunch’o'n, South P’yo’ngan Province. According to KCNA, during his tour of the complex, Choe said “the complex succeeded in establishing an integrated automation system for business activities as required by the new century, thus laying a groundwork for boosting the vinalon production.” KCNA reported that during his visit Choe “took measures to accelerate the work to put the production processes on a modern basis through intensified scientific researches, and keep the production of carbide and vinalon going at a high rate.”
DPRK Choe Yong Rim (4th R) is briefed about the manufacturing process during a tour of the P’yo’ngso’ng Synthetic Leather Factory (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 29 September that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim (Ch’oe Yo’ng-rim) visited the P’yo’ngso’ng Synthetic Leather Factory and Terminal 2 at the Pyongyang Airport. Choe’s first visit was to ongoing construction work of Terminal 2 at Pyongyang (Sunan) Airport. KCNA reported that Choe “he encouraged the labor feats of soldier-builders who did a lot of work in a short span of time in hearty response to the order of the Supreme Commander.” After touring the construction site Choe convened a meeting with officials which “discussed ways for completing the construction of the terminal on the highest level as required by the new era true to the instructions given by the Supreme Commander.”
Choe Yong Rim later visited the P’yo’ngso’ng Synthetic Leather Factory. He toured the factory where he “learned in detail about the technological updating, technical specifications of equipment, varieties and quality of synthetic leather products, etc. going round different places of the factory including the 1st workshop visited by the Generalissimos (Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.” Choe convened a meeting with factory managers and local officials which “meeting discussed practical issues of ensuring materials and equipment necessary for rounding off the updating of the factory. It also took measures for the related units for sufficiently providing materials and equipment.” According to KCNA Choe said, “bringing the production of synthetic leather to a higher level is an important work to eternally glorify the leadership exploits of the Generalissimos and improve people’s living standard true to the intention of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.” KCNA also reported that Choe “called on the Cabinet and other related units to pay deep attention to this matter.”
DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim (3rd L) tours the Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex. Also seen in attendance is DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol (R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 20 September (Thursday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited two factories in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province, and the Kim Ch’aek Iron and Steel Complex in North Hamgyo’ng. The first stop on Choe’s itinerary was to the Kim Ch’aek Iron and Steel Complex in Ch’o'ngjin, the provincial capital of North Hamgyo’ng Province. It was Choe’s third reported visit to the complex in 2012. During his visit he held a meeting with factory managers and employees which “discussed measures to increase the production of iron and steel by directing sustained big efforts to the modernization of the production processes and provide coal and electricity to the enterprise on a priority basis. ” KCNA also reported that Choe visited the Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex and 8 February Vinalon Complex in the Hu’ngnam district of Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province. After touring the Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex, Choe held a meeting with the complex’s managers which KCNA said “referred to the need for officials and workers to boost the production of fertilizers for socialist rural areas.” Following a tour of the 8 February Vinalon Complex Choe held a similar meeting that KCNA reported “took measures to increase production by improving the management of equipment and technical control at the production processes including the process of vinalon fiber. Measures were also taken for relevant units to supply necessary resources and materials.” According KCNA Choe remarked said “that enterprises play very important roles in building an economic power and improving the people’s standard of living, calling on the workers to take the lead in the on-going advance for great surge.”
