TEHRAN (Iran News) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for his military and diplomats to prepare unspecified “offensive measures” to protect the North Korea sovereignty, the North’s state media said on Monday, before his end-of-year deadline for the US to make major concessions to salvage fragile nuclear diplomacy. Kim during a ruling Workers’ Party […]
TEHRAN (Iran News) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for his military and diplomats to prepare unspecified “offensive measures” to protect the North Korea sovereignty, the North’s state media said on Monday, before his end-of-year deadline for the US to make major concessions to salvage fragile nuclear diplomacy.
Kim during a ruling Workers’ Party meeting Sunday also “comprehensively and anatomically analyzed” problems arising in efforts to rebuild the North’s moribund economy and presented tasks for “urgently correcting the grave situation of the major industrial sectors,” the Korean Central News Agency said, according to AP.
The plenary meeting of the party’s Central Committee, which began on Saturday, is being closely watched amid concerns that Kim could suspend his deadlocked nuclear negotiations with the United States and take a more confrontational approach by lifting a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.
The North has said the plenary meeting of the party’s Central Committee, which began on Saturday, is intended for discussions on overcoming “manifold and harsh trials and difficulties.”
Kim, who has said the North would pursue a “new path” if Washington persists with sanctions and pressure, is expected to announce major policy changes during his New Year’s address on Wednesday.
“Emphasizing the need to take positive and offensive measures to fully protect the sovereignty and security of the North Korea as required by the present situation, Kim indicated the duties of the fields of foreign affairs, munitions industry and armed forces of the DPRK,” the agency said in its English report, referring to North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
KCNA’s Korean-language report said Kim called for “active and offensive” measures.
Kim also “comprehensively and anatomically analyzed the problems arising in the overall state-building including the state management and economic construction in the present time,” the agency said.
“He stressed the need to reasonably straighten the country’s economic work system and order and establish a strong discipline and presented the tasks for urgently correcting the grave situation of the major industrial sectors of the national economy,” the report said.
It added that Kim stressed the need for a “decisive” increase in agricultural production and gave out instructions for improving science, education and public health standards.
- source : Iran Daily, Irannews
