Kim calls for urgency in economic push
Source: Agencies |
January 2, 2013, Wednesday
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NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un yesterday called for improving the economy and living standards of his impoverished nation with the same urgency that scientists showed in successfully testing a long-range rocket recently.
North Korea has little arable land, is prone to natural disasters and struggles to grow enough food for its 24 million people. The New Year's Day message lays out North Korea's policy goals for the year. But Kim gave no indication whether he plans to introduce economic reforms or allow free enterprise, except to say the economy should be underpinned by science and technology.
"The industrial revolution in the new century is, in essence, a scientific and technological revolution, and breaking through the cutting edge is a shortcut to the building of an economic giant," he said.
He then pointed at the success of a long-range rocket that North Korea fired on December 12, carrying a satellite into space. "Let us bring about a radical turn in the building of an economic giant with the same spirit and mettle as were displayed in conquering space," he said.
Kim also called for an end to confrontation between the two Koreas.
"An important issue in putting an end to the division of the country and achieving its reunification is to remove confrontation between the north and the south," Kim said. "The past records of inter-Korean relations show that confrontation between fellow countrymen leads to nothing but war."
North Korea has little arable land, is prone to natural disasters and struggles to grow enough food for its 24 million people. The New Year's Day message lays out North Korea's policy goals for the year. But Kim gave no indication whether he plans to introduce economic reforms or allow free enterprise, except to say the economy should be underpinned by science and technology.
"The industrial revolution in the new century is, in essence, a scientific and technological revolution, and breaking through the cutting edge is a shortcut to the building of an economic giant," he said.
He then pointed at the success of a long-range rocket that North Korea fired on December 12, carrying a satellite into space. "Let us bring about a radical turn in the building of an economic giant with the same spirit and mettle as were displayed in conquering space," he said.
Kim also called for an end to confrontation between the two Koreas.
"An important issue in putting an end to the division of the country and achieving its reunification is to remove confrontation between the north and the south," Kim said. "The past records of inter-Korean relations show that confrontation between fellow countrymen leads to nothing but war."
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