Top DPRK leader delivers New Year address, emphasizing economic development
Xinhua, January 1, 2016 Adjust font size:
Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), delivered his 2016 New Year address on Friday, underscoring efforts to develop the economy and improve the people's livelihood.
"Efforts should be focused on building an economically strong country to bring about a turning point in national economic growth and improvement of people's livelihood," Kim said in the nationally televised address.
Kim noted that of all state affairs, those concerns relating to the people's lives are taken as top priority, and that innovations are encouraged in agriculture, husbandry and fishery to advance the people's living standards.
In the address, Kim also underscored the strengthening of political and military power in all ways, noting that the socialist moral front should be further cemented and that more diversified military weapons should be produced to contain the enemies.
On national reunification, Kim asid, "let's meet the challenges of anti-reunification forces within and without, and usher in a new era of independent reunification."
He emphasized that despite challenges from hostile forces and still tense situations, the DPRK will continue to press ahead along the road of independence, Songun (military-first) and socialism to defend peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
On foreign relations, Kim said the DPRK stands ready to further strengthen friendly and cooperative ties with all countries that respect the DPRK's sovereignty and treat the DPRK kindly.
Kim also reviewed achievements made in the year 2015, calling 2015 "a year of victory and glory" with "eye-opening successes" under the wise leadership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Endi