ID :
39102
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 15:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39102
The shortlink copeid
N. Korean leader visits power plant in New Year economic drive
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited a
newly-built hydroelectric power plant, the North's news agency said Tuesday,
following a mass rally in Pyongyang to support his New Year economic blueprint.
Kim called for greater energy production during his visit to Wonsan Youth Power
Station on North Korea's southeast side, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
said, giving no date for the visit as usual.
"It is one of the most important issues of achieving rapid progress of the
national economy to give definite priority to the electricity production," Kim
was quoted as telling the plant workers.
Kim also praised the constructors' "single-minded patriotic desire to accomplish
the cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation as early as possible."
The plant was completed in 2008 in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, with 60,000 kilowatt
capacity.
Kim's latest public activity -- the third this year -- appeared to follow up on
his New Year message last week which called for "opening the gate to a great,
prosperous and powerful nation" by 2012, the 100th anniversary of his father and
North Korean founder Kim Il-sung's birth.
Kim's first two visits were to military units.
On Monday, about 100,000 citizens rallied in Pyongyang's major square to support
Kim's military and economic projects, North Korean media said. Kim did not appear
at the rally in Kimilsung Square.
South Korea's Unification Ministry said North Korea customarily holds a series of
mass rallies across the country after rolling out New Year policies.
"North Korea claims it has already became a powerful nation in its ideology and
its military. It now has the economic goals to achieve," Unification Ministry
spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said.
North Korean media has yet to release video footage of Kim since rumors of his
ill health circulated from summer. He remained out of the public eye for more
than 50 days until early October. Seoul and Washington officials say he suffered
a stroke in mid-August and is now recovering.
His public activities have been so far reported through print articles and photos.
The Seoul ministry spokesman said there was "no unusual activity yet" in North
Korea following its New Year message.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited a
newly-built hydroelectric power plant, the North's news agency said Tuesday,
following a mass rally in Pyongyang to support his New Year economic blueprint.
Kim called for greater energy production during his visit to Wonsan Youth Power
Station on North Korea's southeast side, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
said, giving no date for the visit as usual.
"It is one of the most important issues of achieving rapid progress of the
national economy to give definite priority to the electricity production," Kim
was quoted as telling the plant workers.
Kim also praised the constructors' "single-minded patriotic desire to accomplish
the cause of building a great prosperous powerful nation as early as possible."
The plant was completed in 2008 in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, with 60,000 kilowatt
capacity.
Kim's latest public activity -- the third this year -- appeared to follow up on
his New Year message last week which called for "opening the gate to a great,
prosperous and powerful nation" by 2012, the 100th anniversary of his father and
North Korean founder Kim Il-sung's birth.
Kim's first two visits were to military units.
On Monday, about 100,000 citizens rallied in Pyongyang's major square to support
Kim's military and economic projects, North Korean media said. Kim did not appear
at the rally in Kimilsung Square.
South Korea's Unification Ministry said North Korea customarily holds a series of
mass rallies across the country after rolling out New Year policies.
"North Korea claims it has already became a powerful nation in its ideology and
its military. It now has the economic goals to achieve," Unification Ministry
spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said.
North Korean media has yet to release video footage of Kim since rumors of his
ill health circulated from summer. He remained out of the public eye for more
than 50 days until early October. Seoul and Washington officials say he suffered
a stroke in mid-August and is now recovering.
His public activities have been so far reported through print articles and photos.
The Seoul ministry spokesman said there was "no unusual activity yet" in North
Korea following its New Year message.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
