Kim Jong Un vows to improve relations with South Korea

Pyongyang, Jan 1: North Korea's top leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday vowed to improve inter-Korean relations and strengthen military forces against any provocation.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will "create atmosphere to ameliorate the relations between the DPRK and South Korea" by following previous inter-Korean joint declarations, said Kim in a televised New Year address.

Last month, the DPRK threatened to attack South Korea without any notice in response to anti-Pyongyang rallies on the second anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong Il.

He warned that a massive nuclear disaster would be brought if an all-out war broke out on the peninsula, in which the US would not be safe either.

KIm: Will strengthen military forces against any provocation

He also urged the whole party, military and people to unite in the "single-minded" spirit known as "following nobody, but only loyal to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il," after the execution of Jang Song Thaek, once a powerful senior official in the party, for his "anti-party and counter-revolutionary" crimes.

In the 30-minute televised message, Kim set forth tasks for 2014.

He emphasised on agriculture, light industries, coal-mining, electricity, rail transport, and metallurgical industries, with a view to increasing output of quality consumer goods and promoting agricultural productivity.

IANS