DPRK calls for new revolutionary offensive

A new year editorial published on January 1 by the three 
newspapers in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 
calls for a "revolutionary offensive on all fronts and the 
building of a great prosperous and powerful nation".

During last year, says the editorial, "the single-hearted unity 
with the headquarters of the revolution and our own style state 
political system were consolidated, our self-supporting national 
economic potential grew stronger while the socialist cultural 
life was brought into fuller bloom."

"Our army and people demonstrated heroic stamina by waging a life 
and death struggle for independence and justice."

The editorial outlines tasks for 2004 to build a great, 
prosperous and powerful nation on the three fronts of politics 
and ideology; anti-imperialism and military affairs; and in the 
economy and science.

Speaking of socialism the editorial says the present situation 
dictates the necessity to intensify education in socialism. If 
all Party members and other working people defend socialism they 
will win and if they abandon it they will fail. They should put 
the interests of society and the collective above their own and 
work to establish the traits of collectivism, of helping one 
another forward in the whole of society.

The editorial calls for a vigorous struggle to "make rapid 
progress in the economy and science and technology and thus 
increase national power in every way!"

Main efforts are to be given to the power, coal and metal 
industries. Railway transportation is to be revitalised. In light 
industry, technological upgrading is to be stepped up to increase 
the output of consumer goods and improve their quality. The 
reorganisation of farm lands will continue.

We must quickly raise the country's science and technology to 
world levels, says the editorial.

In a strong rejection of US threats and interference, the 
editorial calls for top priority to be given to increasing the 
country's military muscle. The enemies will suffer inescapable 
blows if they impose a war of any form upon the DPRK anytime, it 
warns.

"Last year world peace was severely infringed in the 
international arena due to the imperialists' high-handedness and 
aggressive moves. This tragic development has shown that unless 
the American 'logic of power' is countered with power and 
national sovereignty, world peace cannot be protected.

"Today, the situation on the Korean peninsula has reached a grave 
stage due to the Bush administration's hostile policy towards the 
DPRK. Our principled stand to solve the nuclear issue between the 
DPRK and the US through negotiations in a peaceful way remains 
unchanged. But we will meet the tough stance of the US negating 
and threatening the dignified idea and system of our own fashion 
with a tougher stance.

"This is a just option of self-defence to defend the country's 
own sovereignty and right to existence and to ensure peace and 
stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region."

Last year witnessed tremendous progress in the movement for 
national reunification says the editorial. "The whole nation 
should work together to frustrate the anti-peace and anti-
reunification moves of the US and the flunkeys and traitors in 
South Korea who side with the US."

Last August a National Rally for Peace and Reunification was held 
in Pyongyang and the railways and roads on the east and west 
coasts were relinked (between the north and south). "This is a 
noteworthy event in the history of the reunification movement", 
says the editorial.

"Inter-Korean co-operation and exchange went on without let-up in 
the face of the interference of outside forces and the vicious 
obstructive moves of the anti-reunification elements.

"No outside forces can split our nation and anti-Americanism, 
independence and national co-operation and exchange are the 
irreversible trends of the times", says the editorial.

"In the future, too, we will develop relations with foreign 
countries with the ideal of independence, peace and friendship 
and make vigorous efforts to build a new peaceful and independent 
world."