ID :
80949
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 17:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/80949
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea extends labor drive by 100 days
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea touted its just-ended 150-day labor campaign a "shining success" but ordered its citizens to continue their efforts for another 100 days, an extension that outside watchers believe indicates unsatisfactory results.
The "150-day Battle," launched on April 20, urged North Koreans to work harder
and put in longer hours to resolve food shortages and rebuild the country's
antiquated infrastructure. The drive ended last Wednesday, but the hard work will
carry on, said the Rodong Sinmun, the main mouthpiece of the ruling Workers'
Party.
The party "calls on all people to launch a 100-day campaign," the paper said in a
piece carried by the Korean Central News Agency. The new drive will stretch to
the end of December.
North Korea has made use of human labor and domestic material resources to try to
build its economy, as its access to international assistance is strictly limited
by sanctions. It launched a similar drive, the "Chollima" movement named after a
mythical winged horse that can travel far and quickly, in 1958 to rebuild the
country after being reduced to rubble during the 1950-53 Korean War, and carried
out other labor campaigns in the 70s and 80s.
The latest drives are part of the country's larger goal of building a "great,
prosperous and powerful" nation by 2012, the birth centennial of its late founder
Kim Il-sung and the year when current leader Kim Jong-il turns 70.
Apparently as part of the drive, Kim Jong-il, who is reportedly recovering from a
stroke he suffered last year, has been visiting the country's industrial sites
more frequently than in past years.
"This campaign is the final charge," the paper said, adding it will lay "a
springboard from which to achieve greater success next year, the 65th anniversary
of the founding of the party," and lead the country through "the gate to a great
prosperous and powerful nation in 2012."
Aside from economic aims, the labor drive is also believed to be directed at
boosting internal unity in the North, where a power transfer process from Kim to
his youngest son, Jong-un, is reportedly underway. The country also now faces
mounting outside pressure from U.N. sanctions imposed after its nuclear test in
May that limit its cash flows and arms trade.
"The leader believes in the people and they absolutely trust and follow their
leader. This is the most shining success achieved in the 150-day campaign," the
paper said.
"Through the above-said triumphant campaign the Korean people clearly showed the
world that no force on earth can break the indomitable faith (of the regime)...
and no 'sanctions' on the part of the imperialists can affect us."
North Korea believes it has already become a political and military powerhouse,
and economic growth is its "last goal to be attained for building a thriving
nation."
Rodong Sinmun earlier reported that electricity output increased by "hundreds of
millions" of kilowatt hours compared with the same period last year, coal
production rose 1.4 times and cargo transportation volume surged by 1 million
tons over the 150 days.
The country is also building 100,000 new homes in Pyongyang, it said.
Despite the upbeat reports, many watchers in South Korea were skeptical of the
North's success.
"I think North Korea may have failed to achieve the goals of the 150-day Battle
and felt a need to extend it," South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In-taek
said last week.
According to the Bank of Korea, South Korea's central bank, North Korea's per
capita income last year was 1.17 million won, which converts roughly to US$1,065.
The amount was 5.5 percent of South Korea's per capita income.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea touted its just-ended 150-day labor campaign a "shining success" but ordered its citizens to continue their efforts for another 100 days, an extension that outside watchers believe indicates unsatisfactory results.
The "150-day Battle," launched on April 20, urged North Koreans to work harder
and put in longer hours to resolve food shortages and rebuild the country's
antiquated infrastructure. The drive ended last Wednesday, but the hard work will
carry on, said the Rodong Sinmun, the main mouthpiece of the ruling Workers'
Party.
The party "calls on all people to launch a 100-day campaign," the paper said in a
piece carried by the Korean Central News Agency. The new drive will stretch to
the end of December.
North Korea has made use of human labor and domestic material resources to try to
build its economy, as its access to international assistance is strictly limited
by sanctions. It launched a similar drive, the "Chollima" movement named after a
mythical winged horse that can travel far and quickly, in 1958 to rebuild the
country after being reduced to rubble during the 1950-53 Korean War, and carried
out other labor campaigns in the 70s and 80s.
The latest drives are part of the country's larger goal of building a "great,
prosperous and powerful" nation by 2012, the birth centennial of its late founder
Kim Il-sung and the year when current leader Kim Jong-il turns 70.
Apparently as part of the drive, Kim Jong-il, who is reportedly recovering from a
stroke he suffered last year, has been visiting the country's industrial sites
more frequently than in past years.
"This campaign is the final charge," the paper said, adding it will lay "a
springboard from which to achieve greater success next year, the 65th anniversary
of the founding of the party," and lead the country through "the gate to a great
prosperous and powerful nation in 2012."
Aside from economic aims, the labor drive is also believed to be directed at
boosting internal unity in the North, where a power transfer process from Kim to
his youngest son, Jong-un, is reportedly underway. The country also now faces
mounting outside pressure from U.N. sanctions imposed after its nuclear test in
May that limit its cash flows and arms trade.
"The leader believes in the people and they absolutely trust and follow their
leader. This is the most shining success achieved in the 150-day campaign," the
paper said.
"Through the above-said triumphant campaign the Korean people clearly showed the
world that no force on earth can break the indomitable faith (of the regime)...
and no 'sanctions' on the part of the imperialists can affect us."
North Korea believes it has already become a political and military powerhouse,
and economic growth is its "last goal to be attained for building a thriving
nation."
Rodong Sinmun earlier reported that electricity output increased by "hundreds of
millions" of kilowatt hours compared with the same period last year, coal
production rose 1.4 times and cargo transportation volume surged by 1 million
tons over the 150 days.
The country is also building 100,000 new homes in Pyongyang, it said.
Despite the upbeat reports, many watchers in South Korea were skeptical of the
North's success.
"I think North Korea may have failed to achieve the goals of the 150-day Battle
and felt a need to extend it," South Korean Unification Minister Hyun In-taek
said last week.
According to the Bank of Korea, South Korea's central bank, North Korea's per
capita income last year was 1.17 million won, which converts roughly to US$1,065.
The amount was 5.5 percent of South Korea's per capita income.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
