DPRK top leader praises scientists for improving economic development

PYONGYANG, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has praised the country's scientists for achieving great success in improving the country's economic development and raising the living standard of its citizens, official media said Friday.

During an inspection of the State Academy of Sciences here, Kim said that "the fruits of our scientists' brains are very great," calling the academy "a treasure house of self-reliance and self-development," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said without specifying the date of the event.

DPRK media usually report Kim's activities one day after they take place.

"Though they are hard pressed for everything under the difficult conditions, our scientists do a great work in the struggle for developing our national economy and improving the people's standard of living," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

Kim this time did not mention the nuclear and missile programs as he previously did when inspecting scientific institutions.

The DPRK concentrated all its scientific research efforts on nuclear and missile programs over the past decade to empower itself with a nuclear deterrence force, which Pyongyang says is purely in self-defense against threats from the United States.

Kim announced the success of the country's nuclear and missile program in his New Year's speech, saying the "nuclear button is on my desk," capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

The United Nations Security Council has imposed a raft of economic sanctions on the DPRK to curb its nuclear and missile programs. Enditem