Kim Jong-un Outlines Directions for Inter-Korean and Foreign Activities... Emphasizes 'Food Issues' Such as Agriculture and Fisheries

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, presented directions for inter-Korean and foreign affairs activities at the second plenary meeting held over two days, while also emphasizing improvements in various economic sectors such as agriculture and fisheries.

The Workers' Party organ, the Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 10th, "The General Secretary clearly outlined in his report the combat tasks that the People's Army and the military-industrial sector must carry out this year to implement the decisions of the 8th Party Congress, as well as the future directions for activities in the inter-Korean and foreign affairs sectors."

However, the Rodong Sinmun did not specify the exact directions for activities in the inter-Korean and foreign affairs sectors.

North Korea began the 2nd plenary meeting of the Central Committee to discuss issues from the 8th Party Congress on the 8th and continued the second day of meetings on the 9th. The Rodong Sinmun reported that Chairman Kim delivered a policy report, mentioning whether to strengthen the roles of state economic guidance organs to accomplish tasks across various sectors including the economy and culture.

In the fisheries sector, tasks to actively promote fishing activities, aquaculture, and mariculture were raised, and in the postal, land environment, and urban management sectors, projects to be implemented this year to provide convenient and civilized living conditions for the people were mentioned. Additionally, in the foreign economic sector, the execution of measures to protect the national economy and strengthen self-reliance was emphasized.

In particular, Chairman Kim stressed improvements in the agricultural sector. The Rodong Sinmun conveyed, "The General Secretary stated that elevating agriculture is a major national matter that must bear fruit at any cost to solve the people's food and eating problems and to successfully accelerate socialist construction. He analyzed the achievements and experiences made in the agricultural sector over recent years and raised tasks to consolidate these and develop agricultural production steadily and continuously."

Furthermore, issues related to establishing national measures to secure farming materials crucial for this year's agricultural success and systematically advancing projects to build the material and technical foundation of agricultural production to bring about decisive improvements in agriculture were also emphasized.

Besides this, efforts to solve scientific and technological problems for improving and enhancing people's lives, develop cutting-edge technologies, and build the capabilities of scientific research and scientific and technological talents were highlighted. At the same time, improvements and innovations in cultural construction fields such as education, health, literature and arts, publishing and reporting, and sports were mentioned to further demonstrate the superiority of "our-style socialism."

Measures to empower the Cabinet, such as the Cabinet-centered system and Cabinet responsibility system, were also discussed. The Rodong Sinmun pointed out in the report that the success of this year's economic work depends on the functions and roles of state economic guidance organs, and that issues related to restoring the inherent economic organizational and control functions of the Cabinet and state economic guidance organs to improve leadership and management over the entire economy were discussed. It also announced plans to strengthen the role of the Standing Economic Development Committee and ways to reinforce the Cabinet-centered system and Cabinet responsibility system.

The Rodong Sinmun stated, "The General Secretary said that the Party will fully support boldly and innovatively carrying out economic work, and repeatedly emphasized decisively raising the responsibility and role of economic leadership cadres in planning and directing this year's economic work."

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