PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should expand its iron production and use modern technology to build a self-supporting national economy, the official KCNA cited Kim Jong-il, top leader of the DPRK, as saying Thursday.

According to the KCNA, Kim paid an inspection visit to the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex recently and said he was satisfied with the workers' contribution to putting the iron and steel industry on a Juche-oriented and modern basis.

Kim said the most important task for the complex is to expand the iron production and put it on a CNC basis ahead of schedule, so that it could adequately supply different standards of iron and steel required by various sectors of the economy.

He also asked related enterprises such as power stations and mining companies to support the iron production by supplying sufficient electricity, raw materials or fuel.

The KCNA did not say the exact date of Kim's inspection tour.