A spectacular sight of Juche-orientation was witnessed at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex, a grand metallurgical base of the DPRK, at a time when all the people of the country are proudly concluding this year for securing a clear practical guarantee for carrying out the five-year plan through their indomitable patriotic struggle, true to the idea of the great Workers’ Party of Korea on self-respect and self-support.

The successful construction of the Korean-style energy-saving oxygen blast furnace at the complex taking an important share in the country’s iron production is another progress in making the metallurgical industry Juche-based and providing a firm foundation for dynamically opening up a broad avenue for the self-supporting economy.

The proud edifice, which has been built in the new era of comprehensive national rejuvenation while demonstrating once again the might of the self-supporting metallurgical industry, is a clear proof of the dignity and greatness of our state and people who have grown strong with firm trust and confidence in their own might. It is also a gift of loyal labour presented to the 11th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Party Central Committee by the heroic Korean working class who firmly support the eternal history of a powerful country with their own efforts.

An inauguration ceremony of the energy-saving oxygen blast furnace took place at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex on December 19.

Present there were Kim Tok Hun, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, vice-president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, Jon Hyon Chol, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, Pak Chang Ho, chief secretary of the North Hwanghae Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Son Il, chairman of the North Hwanghae Provincial People’s Committee, officials and employees of the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex, officials concerned and working people.

An Kum Chol, minister of Metallurgical Industry, made an inaugural address.

Upon authorization of the WPK Central Committee and the DPRK government, the speaker extended warm congratulations to the working class of the complex, all the builders, scientists and technicians who made great contributions to the development of the country’s metallurgical industry by dint of the immense revolutionary enthusiasm, fighting spirit and extraordinary creative efforts as befitting the vanguard of the all-people grand advance of self-reliance.

He said that the gigantic entity built at the complex in this significant year shining with eye-opening events and victories is a proud creation the Korean workers provided by devotedly carrying out the decisions adopted at the plenary meetings of the Party Central Committee in the spirit of unconditional implementation.

He said that the Eighth Congress of the WPK set it as an important affair vital to the self-supporting economy to perfect the Juche-oriented iron production technology and unfolded a grand blueprint for vigorously promoting the development of the metallurgical industry.

He said that the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un set the metallurgical industry as Height 1211 in economic construction and specified the tasks and ways for establishing Juche orientation of the metallurgical industry by further perfecting iron- and steel-making technologies based on domestic raw materials and fuel.

He said with deep emotion that the success at the complex, which is of weighty significance in increasing the might of the self-supporting economy, is associated with the meticulous guidance of Kim Jong Un who instilled boundless wisdom and courage into the minds of the builders, personally examining the designs and layout of the new-type oxygen blast furnace and providing precious instructions on the scientific and technological problems arising in the project.

He said that the trust and love of Kim Jong Un , who showed special loving care for the workers of the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex while leading them in every aspect of their work in the face of manifold ordeals and difficulties and making them take part in a significant military parade on behalf of the metallurgical industry, were a great driving force that brought about the birth of another Juche-oriented metallurgical furnace.

He extended the warmest thanks to Kim Jong Un who is ushering in a fresh heyday of the development of the self-supporting economy with his outstanding idea and prominent leadership, reflecting the unanimous desire of all the builders and the working class across the country.

He said that the workers of the complex, who respond to the call of the Party Central Committee only with the spirit of absolute and unconditional implementation, have made valuable and precious success with a single mind of loyalty and patriotism.

It was a daunting task to push ahead with the construction of a new-type oxygen blast furnace while carrying out the high-set iron and steel production plan at a time when the people had to overcome ordeals and difficulties unprecedented in history, but the workers of the complex fully demonstrated the spirit and mettle of the Korean working class through their indomitable struggle, he noted.

He said that the workers, scientists and technicians supported the decisions adopted at the plenary meetings of the Party Central Committee with strenuous efforts and remarkable achievements and built a creation of the self-supporting economy with the immutable faith that the only way for the development of the metallurgical industry is to complete the Korean-style iron making method without use of cokes.

He went on:

The iron blast furnace of our style, which was built, demonstrating the spirit of dynamic advance of Juche Korea, is associated with the devotion and sincerity of officials and working people of ministries, national agencies, relevant units and North Hwanghae Province who provided necessary equipment and materials in a responsible manner and rendered material and moral assistance to the project with the viewpoint that they are participants in the honourable struggle to firmly lay the foundations for independent iron production.

He called upon the officials and workers of the complex to keep in mind the highest honour and pride of being steel producers living and working with the great trust of the Party and put the operation of the energy-saving oxygen blast furnace on a normal basis so as to unconditionally attain the target of iron and steel production.

He called on the metallurgical industry sector to further strengthen the country’s foundation of Juche-based iron production and definitely raise the metallurgical industry to the stage of sustainable development by dynamically conducting the work to expand the already-gained successes and experience.

He ardently called upon all the people to turn out in the sacred patriotic struggle for the overall development of socialism full of confidence in sure victory and optimism in the spirit of winning victory in implementing the Party’s decisions and thus fully display the heroic spirit of our generation, the greatest and most powerful in the history of the DPRK.

Then, Ri Song Ho, deputy general manager of the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex, and Yun Hyok Chol, deputy workshop head, made speeches.

Speakers said with excitement that another Korean-style energy-saving oxygen blast furnace, unprecedented in the metallurgical industry of the world, has been built thanks to the grand plan, strong will, bold decision and wise leadership of Kim Jong Un .

They expressed their determination to fully demonstrate the revolutionary spirit and mettle of the heroic working class of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the worthwhile struggle for strengthening the independence and Juche character of the metallurgical industry by redoubling their courage in the spirit of victors under the leadership of the great Party and to bring about a steady upswing in the iron and steel production.

At the end of the ceremony the participants went round the newly-built Juche-based iron production process.

KCNA