DPRK vows to push forward military-first policy

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has called on his country to stick to the Songun or military-first policy, develop national defense industry and boost army's combat capability. Kim made the remarks in an article published Sunday on Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) and Choson Inmingun, the military's newspaper, to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Songun revolutionary leadership. National defense sectors should concentrate their efforts on producing precise, lightweight, unmanned and intelligent weaponry to make greater progress in building up the DPRK into a military power, Kim said. He called for positive efforts to open up a new prospect for a reunified country, prevent aggression and war, and safeguard world peace and security. The WPK Central Military Commission has convened an enlarged meeting on issues of increasing the combat capability of the DPRK armed forces and the defense capability of the country, the official KCNA news agency reported Sunday. Kim made a concluding speech which would "serve as guidelines for firmly protecting the sovereignty and security of the country and promoting the cause of the Songun revolution of the party," the KCNA said. Kim Jong Il, father of Kim Jong Un, "provided field guidance" to a tank division of the Korean People's Army on Aug. 25, 1960. The DPRK counts the day as the start of the deceased top leader's Songun policy, which gives top priority to military power and national defense of the country.