Kim Jong-un inspects fishery stations, in first reported activity in 13 days

This photo released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Saturday, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting fishery processing plants in the country's eastern coastal region. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected fishery plants in the country's eastern coastal region in his first reported public activity in 13 days, according to state media, Saturday.

Kim visited three fishery processing factories run by the Korean People's Army (KPA) and carried out “field guidance,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The KCNA said Kim first visited the May 27 Fishery Station and was pleased that it had caught more than 60,000 tons of fish in a short period of time.

“Seeing the fish blocks filled at the freezing warehouse, he expressed great pleasure, saying they look like a treasure mountain and gold bars and the warehouse is almost filled with fish in a few days of the intensive fishing campaign,” the KCNA said in an English-language report.

Kim then inspected the August 25 Fishery Station where he looked around the processing shop, freezing warehouse and combined production control room.

This photo released by KCNA, Saturday, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting fishery processing plants in the country's eastern coastal region. Yonhap

"He expressed expectations and belief that the officials and employees of the August 25 Fishery Station would give a steady continuity to the history of big fish hauls in the future, too, as befits the pioneer and model which kindled a new torch in fishing," the KCNA said.

His final stop was the January 8 Fishery Station, which provides fish to neonatal hospitals, orphanages, primary and middle schools for orphans and elderly people's homes across the country. .

The latest “field guidance” was Kim's first reported public activity since his visit to the Taegwan Glass Factory, in North Pyongan Province, Nov. 18. The KCNA said Kim's latest inspection took place over two consecutive days.

The KCNA reported that Kim's visits to the processing plants stations showed his determination to solve food shortages in the country.

"He said that the food problems of the people and service personnel can be solved satisfactorily when agricultural production, animal husbandry and fishing are developed as the three main thrusts," the KCNA said.

North Korea's state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, also reported on Kim's visit to the fishery stations with 49 photos. On the trip, Kim was accompanied by Hwang Pyong-so, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Army General So Hong-chan, first vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces, among other officials. (Yonhap)

This photo released by the KCNA, Saturday, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting fishery processing plants in the country's eastern coastal region. Yonhap