Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The metal industrial sector of the DPRK strives to decisively boost the iron and steel production.

Officials of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry have discussed the measures for perfecting the Juche-based system of making iron, pushing ahead with the readjustment and reinforcement project and giving precedence to the supply of raw materials and fuel.

Proposals are discussed to step up the projects envisaged for this year and modernize equipment and thus accelerate the work for putting the metal industry on a Juche basis.

Mounting is the fighting spirit of officials and workers in the metal industrial sector out in a drive for implementing the decisions of the plenary meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, in the wake of the workers at the Sangwon Cement Complex who raised high the torch of increased production.

Workers at the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex have over-fulfilled its iron and steel production plan from the outset of the year by putting the furnace maintenance and operation on a scientific and technological basis. And they continue putting spurs to the struggle for increased production.

The Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex is boosting the Juche iron output, paying attention to the normal operation of the newly-inaugurated energy-saving oxygen heat blast furnace.

Progress is being made in the construction of UHP electric arc furnace and electrode production base at the Chollima Steel Complex.

The Musan Mining Complex is concentrating its efforts on solving technical problems arising in securing mining areas with large deposits by giving priority to the removal of overburden, and in strengthening the maintenance shop.

Such progress is witnessed at other units of the metal industrial sector. -0-