Vice Premier Tu Chol Ro of Korea, North

was last reported in September, visiting Mongolia.

Ro was slightly more forthcoming on targets for 2006.

enterprises; he did not elaborate.

Ro said the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and China have entered a new stage of development.

Ro said the additional funding helped North Korea produce modern weapons needed to block the United States' efforts to dismantle Pyongyang's "nuclear deterrent.

5 percent more than originally budgeted, Ro was quoted as saying by North Korea's KCNA news agency.