June 2 (UPI) — Kim Jong Un visited the Kangso Yaksu Spring Water Factory in the North Korean city of Nampo, according to state media on Saturday.
Kim, who was most recently seen watching the firing of a short-range ballistic missile, may be turning his attention on the North Korean economy after engaging in a series of provocations that have earned him condemnations and more United Nations Security Council sanctions on Friday.
“By making good use of spring water, we must actively contribute to advancements in the people’s health,” Kim said, according to state news agency KCNA. “As we maintain high levels of production we must allow the flow of the fountain of love the Great Leader [Kim Il Sung] had for the people.”
According to KCNA, the factory was built in 1973 under the supervision of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, but Kim Jong Il and the current leader were able to “transform the factory into a modern production base.”
Kim said normalizing production at the Kangso plant is an “important project that demonstrates the superiority of our socialist system, driven by enhancing the welfare of all people in society,” before he sampled the water and praised the plant for bottling the “best tasting water” in North Korea.
Deputies of the Korean Workers’ Party, including An Jong Su and Kim Yong Su, accompanied Kim on his visit, according to Pyongyang.
North Korea tested missiles on a weekly basis in May in violation of U.N. Security Council sanction resolutions. The U.N. group expanded embargoes against the country on Friday.
New measures include a travel ban, an asset freeze on four entities and 14 North Korean officials, including the chief of North Korea’s overseas espionage operations, the BBC reported.
The Council’s unanimous vote comes after weeks of negotiations between China and the United States.
