DPRK to defend new leader

Joint editorial calls on army, people to protect Kim Jong-un to the death

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued a joint New Year editorial on Sunday, calling on its army and people to defend DPRK Leader Kim Jong-un to the death, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

People in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea bow in front of a portrait of the late leader Kim Jong-il outside a stadium in Pyongyang as a crowd paid respects to him on New Year's Day. [Photo/Agencies]

The editorial, which was titled "Glorify This Year 2012 As A Year of Proud Victory, A Year When An Era of Prosperity Is Unfolding, True to The Instructions of The Great General Kim Jong-il", was published by three prominent newspapers and said the whole party, the entire army and all the people should believe firmly that they will "become human bulwarks and human shields" in defending Kim Jong-un to the death.

The entire army should place absolute trust in and follow Kim Jong-un and "become human rifles and bombs" to defend him to the death, holding high the slogan "Let us defend with our very lives the Party Central Committee headed by the dear respected Comrade Kim Jong-un", the editorial said.

Significant achievements were made in improving the people's standard of living this past year, the editorial said.

The political and ideological might and the might of the DPRK's unity should be increased to the maximum and "an all-out drive" should be begun in pursuit of the Party's grand plan to achieve prosperity, it said.

More great innovations should be made in light industry and agriculture, the most important industries for the establishment of a thriving country, the editorial said.

The editorial also called for innovation in the electric-power industry, coal-mining industry and for the construction of a powerful country with a knowledge-based economy and for ensuring that the country is highly civilized and socialist.

The country's national defenses should be consolidated in every way. The Korean People's Army should demonstrate its "heroic mettle and invincible combat efficiency" as the army for the leader and the Party, the editorial said.

"To achieve victory in general advance for this year, it is necessary to strengthen the Party and push its leadership role to the maximum," the editorial stressed.

It also called for a decisive turn in the cause of national reunification and for the maintenance of the priority placed on national independence and putting the nation above everything else.

"National reconciliation and unity should be achieved and the war moves of the bellicose forces at home and abroad should be checked and frustrated," the editorial said.

The editorial was the first joint New Year's editorial to be published following the death of leader Kim Jong-il, who died on Dec 17. Such an editorial is issued by three leading papers in the DPRK - Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi - on Jan 1 every year and is considered to be a guideline for the country's work for the whole year.

Also on Sunday, Kim Jong-un visited a tank division to congratulate the soldiers on receiving a military honor, the state news agency reported.

Xinhua-AFP