The North Korean leader has voiced confidence that his country will become a "thriving" nation, Pyongyang's state-run news agency reported Tuesday.

Kim Jong-il made such remarks during his visits to the modernized machine manufacturing complexes in Pukjung, North Pyongan Province, which borders China, two days after he inspected a maneuver of a naval unit.

Kim said that "we have to modernize the machine complex and also turn to latest science and technology to set up a technological footing for machinery production suited for information industry," the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The Pukjung complex originally started as a heavy oil engine manufacturer after the 1950-53 Korean War, but "has turned into a large machine-building center making a great contribution to the nation's shipbuilding industry and the development of economy," the report said.

Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the workers of the complex produced efficient machines as required by the new century," it said.

Kim also praised workers at the Rakwon complex who have newly manufactured a "modern" oxygen plant.

Kim was accompanied by Kim Phyong-hae, chief secretary of the North Phyongan provincial committee of the Workers' Party, Kim Ki-nam, a secretary of the party's central committee, and party department directors, Pak Nam-gi and Jang Song-thaek, the KCNA said. Kim had a photo session with the workers, it added.

Kim's latest trip was his 105th this year. He made 74 trips during the same period last year and 54 trips two years before, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry.