True to the decisions of the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the key industrial sectors in the DPRK have set higher production targets than last year and turned out in the struggle for increased production from the beginning of the new year.

On January 1, the first tappings in the new year started at large metallurgical bases.

Amid ever-growing production competition between two oxygen blast furnaces of blast furnace workshops Nos. 1 and 2, the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex increased production from the first day of the year, and the following day it produced well over a hundred tons of more molten iron by the Juche-based production method than the first day. Now it carries out its daily production plan without fail.

The blast furnace workshop of the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex increases the production of molten iron per charge while directing efforts to mastering the technical specifications of the energy-saving oxygen blast furnace.

The smelters of the steel workshop of the Chollima Steel Complex successfully did the first tapping while managing cooling water and heating the steel ladle in a scientific and technical way and taking measures in advance to ensure continuity between processes.

The February 8 Vinalon Complex strives to attain a higher goal than last year.

Carbide workshops Nos. 1 and 2 overfulfil their daily production plan. The technicians and workers of the synthesis workshop are registering good results in the production of intermediates including aldehyde, displaying the collectivist spirit with which shifts and workteams help one another.

According to data available, thermal and hydro-power stations across the country carried out their daily power production plans higher than last year on the first two days.

The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex produced millions of kilowatts of more electricity than planned in the first three days of the year. The Pyongyang, Chongchongang, East Pyongyang and Sunchon thermal power stations have increased the operation rate of boilers, thus increasing steam production and ensuring the efficiency of generating equipment.

The Suphung, Hochongang, Kanggye Youth and Sodusu power stations are pushing ahead with production while taking economic and technical measures to raise the scientific level of water conservation and improve the operational efficiency of generating equipment. Meanwhile, the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station and the Thaechon, Jangjingang, Pujongang and other hydroelectric power stations are directing efforts to ensuring high water level and high-efficiency operation of generators, thus expanding achievements in power production.

The machine-building industry sector is concentrating efforts on the production of custom-built equipment.

The Ryongsong Machine Complex has started the production of custom-built equipment for the chemical industry.

The Taean Heavy Machine Complex has organized a competition according to occupations to fire the employees with the zeal for competition and introduced valuable technical innovation plans to raise work efficiency and machining accuracy.

The Anju Pump Factory is spurring pump production while giving definite precedence to the supply of raw materials and strengthening cooperation among units. The Kusong Machine Tool Factory is directing efforts to the normal operation of newly-built processes, thus flawlessly producing equipment needed for rail transport, chemical industry and other sectors.

Workers of the Ranam Coal Mining Machine Factory are making remarkable achievements in production by concentrating on improving the quality of alloy steel. The Pyongyang General Electric Cable Factory 326, Songchongang Electrical Appliances Factory, Munchon Valve Factory and others are making collective innovations in production by vigorously conducting mass movements.

The coal industry sector took the first vigorous stride in the new year.

The workers of the February 8 Jiktong Youth Coal Mine and Chonsong Youth Coal Mine under the Sunchon Area Youth Coal-mining Complex have achieved good results by introducing efficient blasting methods and increasing the operation rate of compressors, winches and so on.

The Namdok Youth Coal Mine, Inpho Youth Coal Mine and Songnam Youth Coal Mine under the Pukchang Area Youth Coal-mining Complex have expanded tunnelling successes with continuous drilling and blasting and improved transport capacity, thus contributing to the complex’s production of over 100 tons of more coal than planned on the first day alone.

Thanks to the responsible and strenuous efforts of the officials and workers in the rail transport sector, the first-day transport plan of the Ministry of Railways was overfulfilled and innovations are being made every day.