N. Korea`s Kim stresses military power to guarantee economic success: report

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea needs "mighty" armed forces to back
efforts to rebuild its economy and raise living standards for its people, leader
Kim Jong-il was quoted Friday as saying in official media.
The comments carried in the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper published by the ruling
Workers' Party, indicate Pyongyang continues to put the greatest emphasis on its
military even though it has professed economic revival as its top national goal
this year.
"Mighty military power is essential in guaranteeing efforts to build a strong
economy and improve people's living standards when enemies are watching for an
opportunity" to attack North Korea, Kim was quoted as saying while inspecting a
tank drill last month.
The drill, during which Kim added that he seeks to strengthen his country
"through the might of songun," or the military-first policy, according to the
paper, raised tension on the Korean Peninsula as the North reportedly erected
traffic signs on the range that simulated those found in the South.
The two countries remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in
a truce rather than a peace treaty. Plagued with a deepening food crisis and a
moribund economy, North Korea has lured aid through international talks on its
nuclear arms development while maintaining that its heavy investment in armed
power is a self-defensive measure against what it calls U.S. attempts to topple
its regime.
"I visited the tank division so early this year because the goals of building the
economy and improving people's living standards will turn out empty if our
military power weakens amid rampaging invasion forces," Kim was quoted as saying.
North Korea, which drew tougher U.N. sanctions for its nuclear test in May last
year, operates a 1.2-million-strong military, a figure analysts say may obscure
the reality of forces troubled by outdated equipment and fuel shortages.
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