DPRK vows to improve people’s living standard

PYONGYANG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) said on Tuesday that improving the people’s living standard is one of the country’s main tasks at present.    

    “We (the ruling Workers’ Party) should step up the building of an economic power by adhering to the principle of technically modernizing the economy while preserving the specific features of our economic structure,” said the new year editorial carried by three major official newspapers, Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi.

    The annual joint new year editorial described the year 2006 as “a year of proud victories”, and claimed that the year 2007 will be “a year of gigantic struggle and jubilation in the national history.”

    “We should make this year (2008), which marks the 60th anniversary of the DPRK, a worthwhile and delightful year which sees a substantial change in improving the people’s standard of living,” it said.

    “A great change will be brought about in the history of our country and our revolution” in 2008, it added.

    The editorial also said the country will make efforts to develop the infrastructure industries of national economy.

    “Everything should be subordinated to shoring up the power, coal and metal industries and railway transport,” said the editorial.

    But the editorial still emphasized the importance of the defense industry, adding that “priority should be given to the development of the defence industry” as required by the Songun policy (army first policy).

    As a tradition, DPRK always issued a joint editorial by the three major newspapers on the first day of the New Year to announce its important policy on politics, defense and economy.

* Source: Xinhuanet, 2008-01-01 15:43:40

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/01/content_7348271.htm