"The only thing we can rely on is the power of science and technology," Kim said during the visit, according to the KCNA, stressing the importance of training scientists and technicians and taking good care of them.

"He called on all the units in every field to establish the viewpoint and work attitude of giving priority to science and technology to carry out their tasks with their own efforts as social customs, holding fast to science and technology," the KCNA said.

Kim also "underscored the need for the agricultural scientific research sector to study farming methods for increased production in intermediate and mountainous areas and low-yielding areas and thus provide sci-tech guarantee for attaining the goal for grain production," it said.

The weekend nuclear talks, the first since February's no-deal summit between US President Donald Trump and the North's leader, broke off due to wide differences over the scope of Pyongyang's denuclearization measures and Washington's sanctions relief.

After the talks, the North accused the US of coming to the talks "empty-handed" without a new proposal and said it would be up to the US as to whether the communist nation would maintain its moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. (Yonhap)