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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il made a four-day "on-spot guidance" tour of key factories and other industrial facilities in North Pyongan Province, beginning Jan. 25, the (North) Korean Central News Agency said on Jan. 30.

The report said the places Kim visited this time were the Rakwon Machine Plant, the Kusong Tool Plant, the December 5 Youth Mine, the Ryangchaek Bearings Plant, the Shinuiju Shoemaking Plant, and the Shinuiju Textile Mill.

Speaking to senior officials there, Kim said: "Epoch-making industrial development in North Pyongan Province, where many gigantic hydraulic power stations, machine plants and light-industry factories are located, is of great significance in further strengthening the nation's economic power." Kim asked the officials to use the potentials of the facilities to the maximum to keep production going at a steady and high rate.

"For meeting the ever-increasing needs for electricity, machines and light industrial goods, it is necessary to push ahead with technical reconstruction without let-up to increase production capacity and build more power stations and modern factories," the KCNA quoted him as saying.

He also called for their efforts to improve the quality of the products, increase the output of daily necessities for citizens, and imbue the workers there with the "revolutionary spirit of self-reliance," as well as improve their working and living conditions.

Senior officials accompanying Kim were Kim Pyong-hae, head of the province's Workers' Party chapter; Kim Guk-tae and Kim Yong-sun, both secretaries of the Workers' Party Central Committee; Pak Song-bong, Chang Song-taek and Choe Chun-hwang, all first deputy chiefs of departments of the Party Central Committee.

On Jan. 31, the KCBS reported that Kim Jong-il made an inspection tour of People's Army Unit No. 667. But the date of his visit was not revealed.