North Korea's light industry sector has been encouraged to increase production by the country's ‘beloved leader’, Kim Jong-il, according to North Korean newspaper Nodong Sinmun.

The leader said: "Currently, the important task that has emerged before the light-industry sector is to produce a large amount of consumer goods for the people in order to fulfil the demands of the people for such products."

The newspaper said that workers at factories producing textiles and footwear are "filled with the resolve to delight the general with high production results" to mark his recent visit to the Russian Federation, and are now beating targets by up to 20%.