The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently inspected a steel plant in Jagang province, state media said Thursday.

This undated photo released on Dec. 17, 2008 by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shows Kim Jong Il (L, back), top leader of DPRK, inspects an electronics institute in Kanggye city of Jagang province of DPRK. Developing information technology (IT) should be the most important task for DPRK, the official Rodong Sinmun daily quoted Kim Jong Il as saying Wednesday.[Xinhuanet.com]

In a front page article accompanied by photos, the DPRK's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim Jong-il "gave field guidance to the February General Steel Enterprise". It was the second report in two days of visits to the northern province by the top leader.

During his inspection tour of the plant, Kim said the master key to increased production lay in technological progress.

The steel industry is essential to the national economy, he emphasized.

State media reported Wednesday that Kim had inspected an information center, a library and a pharmaceutical factory in Kanggye city of Jagang province, without giving the date of the visits.

This undated photo released on Dec. 17, 2008 by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shows Kim Jong Il (front), top leader of DPRK, inspects a library in Kanggye city of Jagang province of DPRK. [Xinhuanet.com]

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2008)