DPRK Premier Visits Construction of KPA Breeding Station

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) is briefed about the construction of KPA Breeding Station #621, a facility which will breed grass-fed livestock. Also in attendance is DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol (2) (Photo: KCNA).

DPRK state media reported on 23 May (Thursday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the construction of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Breeding Station #621, which will breed grass-fed livestock such as goats.  Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was reported on 20 May (Monday) to have visited the breeding station and initiated its construction.  After KJU’s visit, the construction project was described as “the soldier-builders are bringing about innovations in every construction site in order to build the station at the highest level.”  Pak, joined DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol, toured the buildings under construction by KPA service members and “encouraged them” before convening a meeting of KPA construction managers and personnel.  According to KCNA, Pak “underscored the need to step up the construction of breeding pens, folds, a goat institute, dwelling houses, etc., bearing in mind the intention of Kim Jong Un, who made a long and tiresome journey to provide good diet to the soldiers.”  The meeting also “underlined the need to finish the construction of the breeding station as early as possible and called on the Cabinet and other relevant units to ensure a timely supply of necessary raw and other materials and fuel to the construction sites.”

 

DPRK Premier Visits Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex and Construction Projects in Pyongyang

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) examines production at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 20 May (Monday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex and three construction projects in and around Pyongyang.  Pak’s first visit was to Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex.  It followed up a recent visit Pak made to the Posan Iron Works at the Ch’o'llima Steel Works complex.  During the first expanded meeting of the DPRK Cabinet in mid-April 2013, the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex was instructed to “vigorously wage a struggle to technically round off the heavy rail track production process and to normalize production there and should epochally increase rolled steel production.”  Pak toured the iron and steel complex, described as engaged in “a high-pitched drive to increase iron and steel production true to the new line of the Workers’ Party of Korea on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force.”

Pak Pong Ju  held a meeting with the complex’s managers and employees which “underscored the importance of the complex in making a breakthrough in building an economic power” and “discussed the issues of increasing iron and steel production.”  According to KCNA, Pak “called upon officials and workers of the complex to step up the push to put the production processes on a modern and scientific basis and increase the production capabilities” and “pressed for measures for the Cabinet and relevant units to fully provide raw and other materials necessary for keeping production going at a high rate.”

DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) is briefed about the renovation of the Sports Village on Chongchun Street in the Mangyo’ngdae section in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

Pak also visited three construction projects in Pyongyang.  He visited the renovation work at the Mangyo’ngdae Sports Village on Cho’ngchun Street, the construction of the Munsu Wading Pool and the renovation and expansion of the Taedonggang Terrapin Farm Factory where “he reviewed the progress.”  According to KCNA, Pak “stressed the need to ensure the highest quality in the construction and discussed matters arising in the construction.”

DPRK Premier Visits Steel Complex, Cement Plant Children’s Hosptial and Trade Fair

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) is briefed about the Ryonha Machinery Company’s exhibition at the 16th annual Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang. (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 17 May (Friday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Ch’o'llima Steel Complex, the Sunch’o'n Cement Complex, the construction of the Pyongyang Children’s Hospital and the 16th annual Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair.  Pak’s first visits were to the construction site of Pyongyang Children’s Hospital and to the international trade fair.  The trade fair, which includes exhibitions by 100 DPRK companies and 40 foreign companies, was held at the Three Revolutions’ Exhibition in Pyongyang from 13 to 16 May.  Pak later visited the Sunch’o'n Cement Complex in the city of Sunch’o'n, South P’yo’ngan Province.  At the cement complex, Pak Pong Ju held a meeting with local officials, factory managers and employees which addressed “issues on substantially supplying cement needed for implementing the new line of the Workers’ Party of Korea and stepping up the updating of production processes.”

Pak also visited the Posan Iron Works at the Ch’o'llima Steel Works, between Pyongyang and Namp’o, South P’yo’ngan Province, which was described as “waging a dynamic drive for increased iron production, the premier encouraged the officials, technicians and workers to work hard to implement the party’s policy.”  He convened a meeting of officials and factory managers at which Pak “he underscored the need for the officials and other workers of the complex to steadily increase the production capacity by stepping up Juche-orientation and modernization of the non-ferrous metal industry, with firm resolve to shatter the moves of the U.S. imperialists and their stooges to ignite a war in hearty response to the line advanced by the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un on pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force.”  According to KCNA, Pak also said that “more iron and steel are required at the worksites for building a socialist economic power” and he called “for making great innovations in production.”

According to Minju Joson the first expanded meeting of the DPRK Cabinet in mid-April 2013, the Cabinet said that “the Ch’o'llima Steel Complex should normalize production at Posan Iron Works and should thereby solve the raw materials problem for steel production and should increase rolled steel production and should thereby pay back the trust of the party that wants the complex to become a standard-bearer and a shock brigade in implementing the party’s simultaneous line.”

DPRK Premier Visits Namhung Youth Chemical Complex

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)

DPRK Premier Visits Pukchang Thermal Power Complex and Cooperative Farm

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju tours the Pukch’ang Thermal Power Complex in Pukch’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 9 May (Thursday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited a cooperative farm in Mundo’k County, South P’yo’ngan Province and the Pukch’ang Thermal Power Complex.  Pak’s first stop was a visit to Ryongrim Cooperative Farm in Mundo’k County.  According to KCNA, Pak “encouraged the farmers there in their effort to step up preparations for rice transplanting despite unfavorable weather conditions with the belief that rice precisely means socialism” and he “urged them to decisively boost the per-hectare yield by completing the rice transplantation at the right time as it is decisive of success in the year’s farming.”  Pak also “underlined the need to widely introduce the advanced farming methods and technologies, put farming on a scientific basis and boost the production of quality organic fertilizer to increase the fertility of soil and give full play to the advantages of the sub-workteam management system.”

View of Ryongrim-ri (Yongnim-ni), Mundo’k County, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Google image)

Ryongrim-ri and the Pukch’ang Thermal Power Complex, two locales visited by DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (Photo: Google image)

Pak Pong Ju also visited Pukch’ang Thermal Power Complex in Pukch’ang County, South P’yo’ngan.  He toured the power complex and “encouraged the scientists, technicians and workers there registering successes in the production of electricity and modernization of the complex.”  Whilst “underscoring the great importance of increased electricity production in carrying out the new line of simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force set forth by the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n)” Pak Pong Ju “called for bringing about a boost in the power production in line with the elated enthusiasm of people across the country.”

Pak held a meeting with the power complex’s managers and party officials which “underlined the need to focus all efforts on boosting the power production to suit the position of the complex in economic construction” and stressed the need for the related fields to sufficiently provide raw and other materials to the complex.”  Pak held a separate meeting with managers and officials of the Pukch’ang and To’kch’o'n coal mining complexes.  That meeting “called upon the field of coal industry to honor its monthly and quarterly production quotas to contribute to increasing power production and improving people’s living standard” and “discussed the issue of improving the standards of material and cultural life of coal miners.”

Overview of the Puk’chang Thermal Power Complex in Pukch’ang County, South P’yo’ngan Province (Photo: Google image)

Overview of the Pukch’ang Thermal Power Complex, and the Pukch’ang Area and To’kch’o'n Area Coal Mine Complexes (Photo: Google image)

In April 2013, the top Cabinet official for the DPRK’s coal mine complex was replaced.  At the first expanded plenary meeting of the DPRK Cabinet on 21 April 2013, Ri Yong Yong participated in the Cabinet’s debate on the agenda item “the fulfillment of this year’s first quarter people’s economy development plan and on measures for the fulfillment of the second quarter people’s economy development plan.”  This was the first occasion at which Ri was identified as Minister of Coal Industry.  According to Minju Joson the Cabinet resolved that “the coal industry sector to give firm priority to prospecting and tunneling, to actively introduce advanced coal cutting methods, and to thereby epochally increase coal production and for the collieries to actively introduce coal dressing facilities according to their situations and to thereby decisively improve coal qualities” and “investments should be concentrated in the coal mines in the western region and the coal mines in Anju and Kyo’ngwo’n areas where there are large quantities of coal deposits and where the coal mining conditions are good to further expand the coal production capacity, and firm measures should be worked out to provide with top priority the facilities, supplies, and labor safety articles needed by the coal mines.”

Previously the Vice Minister of Coal Industry from 2006 to 2013, Ri Yong Yong replaced Kim Hyong Sik, who had served as Minister since September 2007.  Ri Yong Yong is the former general manager of the Kangdong Area Coal Mine Complex in Kangdong County, Pyongyang.

In reporting on the Cabinet meeting, Minju Joson identified Ri as Minister of Coal Industry.

Kim Jong Un Visits Turf Institute at State Academy of Sciences

Kim Jong Un (1) visiting the Turf Institute of the Bioengineering Branch of the State Academy of Sciences. Also in attendance are VMar Choe Ryong Hae (2) and Choe Tae Bok (3) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 5 May (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Turf Institute of the Bioengineering Branch of the State Academy of Sciences.  KJU’s last observed public appearance was his attendance at May Day-themed concert of the U’nhasu Orchestra at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang.  Joining Kim Jong Un for his visit to the Turf Institute were Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman Choe Tae Bok and KWP Deputy (vice) Department Directors Pak T’ae-so’ng and Hwang Pyong So.

The Turf Institute, which was the locale of previous visits by senior government and party officials, was described as “newly constructed by soldiers.”  Kim Jong Un visited the institute’s main building where he “was pleased to see the green-tiled outer wall” and he “praised the soldier-builders for erecting the monument to the institute in an imposing manner.”  KJU toured the institute’s exhibition of its accomplishments, various research facilities, a study center and its e-library.  Kim Jong Un noted “research rooms and laboratories were built well to suit the nature of the institute” and “he underscored the need to take measures for providing it with necessary equipment and scientific and technological information.”  He also toured the institute’s commissary and living quarters of its employees.

Kim Jong Un (1) talks with managers of the Turf Institute of the State Academy of Sciences during a visit there. (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un toured the Turf Institute’s research greenhouse where he saw “various species of turf being cultivated.”  According to KCNA, KJU said “what is essential in the research into turf is to cultivate turf which remains green all the year round, strong in resistance to cold and treading and high in ornamental effect.”  KJU also toured experimental plots of turf “comprising the experimental field for species, experimental field for seed-selection and vegetative propagation, experimental field for turf cutting and other fields” where he “called for conducting research into species suited to the areas distinct in four seasons and different in their climatic conditions.”  Kim Jong Un also instructed that regional offices of the Turf Institute be established in the east, west and central areas of the DPRK.  KJU also looked at several species of turf  and instructed that additional research be conducted into developing grass that is green throughout the year.  Kim Jong Un also spoke of “the need to plant trees, create grassland and cultivate flowers and other plants in all lands except the cultivated land so that there may be no land left waste or overgrown with weed.”  KJU also inspected “various type machines including those for collecting turf seeds, sowing them and cutting turf and a ground-stiffening roller machine contrived and manufactured by the Academy”  and “called for widely applying them.”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said he “would send modern equipment for researches to the institute” and he “underscored the need to turn the country into a socialist thriving nation and make it richer and more beautiful for the people by dynamically conducting the land management under a long-term plan.”

Kim Jong Un Visits Yanggakdo Stadium and Football Game

Kim Jong Un (1) provides instructions on the renovation of Yanggakdo Stadium in Pyongyang. Also seen in attendance are Jang Song Taek (2), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (3) and Kim Jong Un’s wife Ri Sol Ju (4) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 29 April (Monday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Yanggakdo Stadium and attended the men’s football finals for the Mangyo’ngdae Prize at Kim Il Sung Stadium.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his visit to the Haedanghwa Health Complex.  KJU’s first visit was to the Yanggakdo Stadium which he ordered to be renovated.  Attending the visit was his wife, Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu), along with VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau) and other officials.

According to KCNA Kim Jong Un visited the stadium (originally opened in 1989) “with a plan to radically remodel the stadium as required by the new century.”  KJU visited the stadium historical exhibition where he “recollected with deep emotion the undying exploits they performed for the development of the Juche-based physical culture and sports.”  KJU then toured the stadium and ordered a series of renovations.  He said, “it is the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea to turn the stadium into a football stadium which can represent stadiums of such type across the country as required by the new century.”  KJU also “formed a strong construction unit capable of carrying out the project in a brief span of time.”  KJU also remarked that “to develop physical culture and sports is an important work to augment the national power in every way, demonstrate the indomitable spirit and dignity of Military-First (So’ngun) Korea before the world and let all the service personnel and people dynamically step up the building of a thriving socialist nation full of national pride and self-esteem” and he “expressed expectation and belief that the relevant fields would successfully remodel the stadium as a football stadium to be impeccable in any aspect.”

Kim Jong Un (3) attends the men’s premier league football finals for the Mangyongdae Prize at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013. Also watching the game with are Jang Song Taek (1), Ri Sol Ju (2) and Choe Tae Bok) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Su later attended the  men’s football (soccer) finals for the Mangyo’ngdae Prize National Sports Festival at Kim Il Sung Stadium.  Also in attendance at the football game were VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Kim Ki Nam (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe Tae Bok (KWP Secretary and SPA Chairman), Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Kim Yong Il (KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres’ Affairs), Kwak Pom Gi (KWP Secretary and Director of the Planning and Finance Department), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ju Kyu Chang (Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department), Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il (Minister of the People’s Security), Kim Tong Il (Deputy [vice] Director of the KWP Workers’ Organizations Department) and “members of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, officials of the party and armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, those in the sports field, sportspersons, fans and Pyongyangites.”

The men’s football premier league finals for the Mangyongdae Prize between the Rimyongsu Sports Group and the Amnokgang Sports Group at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013. The Rimyongsu Team beat the Amnokgang Team 2-1. (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

The match was played between two of the DPRK’s premier league teams, Rimyongsu and Amnokgang.  KCNA reported the two teams “advanced into the finals after proving successful at the men’s premier soccer league matches. They played good games, displaying high technique they have cultivated in day-to-day trainings” and that “Rimyongsu Team took the initiative from the beginning according to its tactics and made hot attacks.”  Rimyongsu led Amnokgang 2-0 in the first half and went onto win the game 2-1.  At the end of the match, Kim Jong Un “congratulated the footballers of both teams on playing a good match, expressing great satisfaction with their high technique.”

Kim Jong Un (1) greets DPRK athletes who received gold medals or placed in the top of their categories at international competitions held between February and April 2013. Also in attendance at the event held at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013 are DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (2), Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (3), and Minister of People’s Security Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il (4) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

KJU also met with DPRK athletes who successfully participated in recent international competitions including long-distance runner Kim Kum Ok (who placed first in the 14th Asian Marathon Championship held in Hong Kong on 25 February 2013), wrestler Yang Kyong Il (who placed second in the men’s 55 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championship), gymnast Ri Se Gwang (who placed first in the vault event at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series in Doha in March 2013), wrestler Hwang Ryong Hak (who placed first in the men’s 60 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships), Pak Yong Mi (who placed first in the women’s 48 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships), judoka Hong Kuk Hyon (who placed first in the women’s 73 kg weight class at the Asian Judo Championships of 2013 in Bangkok in April 2013), weightlifter Ri Su Hyon (who won three gold medals in the women’s 44 kg competition at the 2013 International Weightlifting Federation’s Youth World Championships in Tashkent in April 2013), Kwon Yong Gwang (who won three gold medals in the men’s 62 kg competition at 2013 IWF Youth World Championships in Tashkent) and weightlifter Pak Jong Ju (who came in second overall and won two medals in the men’s 50 kg competition at the IWF Youth World Championships in Tashkent), along with “a coach and physical culture and sports guidance officials.”

Kim Jong Un shook hands with the DPRK athletes and, according to KCNA, “highly praised them for proving successful at the recent international games and instilling the conviction of victory and optimism into the service personnel and people of the DPRK dynamically pushing forward the building of a thriving socialist nation despite harsh sanctions and strong pressure of the enemies.”  KJU also “expressed his belief that sports persons and coaches would undergo more intensive trainings to consolidate the successes achieved and fully demonstrate the honor of the country with gold medals at international games.”  Also attending KJU’s meet-and-greet were DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju, VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Tae Bok, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Yong Il, Kim P’yo’ng-hae, Kwak Pom Gi, Mun Kyong Dok, Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il and members of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission.

DPRK Premier Visits Coal Mine

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) looks at a piece of equipment during a tour of the Sunchon Area Coal Mining Complex in South Pyongan Province (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 29 April (Monday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Sunch’o'n Area Youth Coal Mining Complex.  Pak was briefed about coal production at the 8 February Jikdong Youth Coal Mine and learned about the deposit and yield of other coal mines in the area.  Pak held a meeting with local officials and managers of the coal mines at which he “underscored the importance of the coal production in stepping up the building of an economic power and carrying out the new strategic line of the Workers’ Party of Korea on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force,” according to KCNA.  The meeting also addressed  ”issues of working out a correct business strategy as required by the socialist economic management in the new century and rationally and scrupulously managing enterprise and manpower” and “underscored the need for the relevant units to work out plans in line with the production capacity of coal mines and put the supply of materials on a par with production as immediate tasks.”  Pak Pong Ju also toured others areas of the Sunchon coal mining complex and “discussed matters for combining production with technology. “

Pak’s predecessor, Choe Yong Rim, last visited the Sunch’o'n coal mining complex and the 8 February Jikdong Youth Coal Mine in January 2013.

Overview of the Sunch’o'n Area Coal Mining Complex (Photo: Google image)

KJU Visits Health Complex

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (R) visit a teppanyaki griddle in the restaurant of the Haedanghwa Health Complex in east Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 27 April (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the recently constructed Haedanghwa Health Complex in Pyongyang.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his attendance at a banquet commemorating the 81st anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army [KPA].  He was joined by his wife, Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu).  Madame Ri’s last reported public appearance was in late February, when she watched a basketball game and attended a banquet with Dennis Rodman.

Also attending the visit were DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju,  VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department),  Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Kyong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Kim Kyong Hui (KWP Secretary and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe Tae Bok (KWP Secretary and SPA Chairman), Kang Sok Ju (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier), Kim Yong Il (KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department),  Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department),  Kim P’yo’ng-hae (KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres’ Affairs), Kwak Pom Gi (KWP Secretary and Director of the Planning and Finance Department), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Col. Gen. O Il Jong (Director of the KWP Military Affairs Department), Han Kwang Sang (Deputy Director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department) Paek Kye Ryong (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Kim Kyong Ok (Senior Deputy [first vice] Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department), Gen. Kim Yong Chol (Chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau and Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff) and Jon Il Chun (Deputy Director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department), among others.

Kim Jong Un began his visit at Haedanghwa Health Complex’s basement garage.  According to KCNA, KJU “was pleased to see the completed complex, adding that he appreciated its design and construction after examining the information on it presented to him by the relevant field.”  He also visited the store and dining rooms on the complex’s first two levels.  He “highly praised the builders for constructing not only the shop but the dining rooms to suit their nature and meet the requirements of formative art,” according to KCNA.  KJU visited the restaurant where he remarked that “cooking is a science and art, [he urged] the cookers to steadily improve their skills and display creative ingenuity to serve customers with varieties of tasty and highly nutritive dishes” and had a commemorative photograph taken with the chefs.  KJU then went to the second and third levels of the Haedanghwa Health Complex where he visited the public baths, saunas a barber shop, hair salon skin treatment center, workout room, billiard room and other recreational facilities.  KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un “personally checked the temperature of water at the bath and learnt about service provided at a face treatment room” and “was pleased to see the wading pool. He was also pleased to go round various saunas built with peculiar building materials such as halite, agate and yellow earth.”  KJU also “learnt in detail about what kinds of sports apparatuses are there in the fitness hall and table-tennis hall” and whilst “watching the clock in the shape of billiard balls and billiard table on a wall of the billiard room, he praised the builders for having constructed the room in such a perfect manner that everything there is impeccable.”

KJU then visited the health complex’s e-library and, according to KCNA, said “a relevant field should systematically send various data and videos on cooking to the e-reading room” and he “stressed the need to supply a sufficient quantity of foodstuff necessary for cooking practice so that apprentices may acquire workable knowledge, saying that theory is not enough to acquire cooking skill.”  He also visited a coffee shop on the complex’s fifth floor.  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un said that “it is the firm resolution of the WPK to enable the Korean people, the best in the world, to fully enjoy wealth and glory under socialism, without tightening their belts again, he noted, underlining the need to build more modern service centers such as the Haedanghwa Health Complex impeccable in any aspect.”