



North Korea's Kim wants better living standards

Speech ... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Speech ... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: AP

Making his first New Year's speech, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on his country to focus on economic improvements with the same urgency that scientists put into the launch of a long-range rocket last month.

Kim, shown speaking on state TV, said raising the standard of living was the new year's most important task. He also pushed for the development of more advanced weapons, a "revolution" in science and technology and reunification with "compatriots" in South Korea.

The speech was the first televised New Year's Day message by a North Korean leader in 19 years. North Korea founder Kim Il-sung routinely addressed his people on New Year's Day, but Kim Jong-il never gave a TV address during his 17-year rule. During his leadership, the new year's message was published as a joint editorial in the nation's three major newspapers.

North Korea also had its first grand New Year's Eve celebration, including the boom of cannons and fireworks at midnight in Pyongyang.

The speech was a clear acknowledgement that North Koreans want improvement in an economy that has long lagged behind the rest of northeast Asia. North Korea has little arable land, is prone to natural disasters and struggles to grow enough food for its 24 million people.

The speech itself was also a signal that Kim will continue with a leadership style more in line with his gregarious grandfather, national founder Kim Il-sung, than with his father, Kim Jong-il, who avoided making public speeches.

Kim Jong-un took power after his father's death in December 2011. Early in his first year, Pyongyang negotiated a deal with Washington for food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze, but it collapsed after North Korea attempted to shoot a rocket into space in April.

The rocket failed shortly after lift-off, but a successful second attempt on December 12 helped Kim gain crucial political and popular support in his country.

North Korea hailed the launch as a big step in peaceful space exploration. Washington and others called the launch a banned test of ballistic missile technology.

The annual New Year's Day message lays out North Korea's policy goals for the year. The need for a better economy and improvements in science and technology were major elements.

Kim made no mention of North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons, the issue that most worries Washington, but he did seek to glorify - and link to the economy - the successful rocket launch.

North Korea's slogan for the year, Kim said, should be: "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!"

Kim Jong-un tried in his speech to tap into North Koreans' fond memories of Kim Il-sung, said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in South Korea.

The rocket launch boosted morale, Koh said. "Now people are expecting him to improve the economy and help them live better economically," Koh said. "Kim Jong-un knows that and feels the pressure of meeting that demand."


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