N. Koreans urged to rebuild economy on anniversary

By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged citizens on Friday to rebuild their
lackluster economy by uniting under North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who has yet
to appear publicly as the nation celebrates the founding anniversary of its
ruling party.

"We, with the great power of unity, must exert an all-out struggle to achieve the
great goal of building an economic power that was put forward by the party,"
announced the Rodong Sinmun, the North's most influential newspaper, in an
editorial commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Workers' Party.
Experts say Kim, 66, who is reportedly recovering from a stroke after undergoing
brain surgery last month, may still show up at events to mark the anniversary to
prove he is still in control.
"We should launch an aggressive struggle and make a storm of leaps in all fields
of the socialist construction with a strong belief and optimism in the future of
a strong and prosperous country," the report said.
North Korea has vowed since late last year to rebuild its economy by 2012 on the
100th birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.
The newspaper of the Workers' Party claimed a breakthrough in efforts to become
an economic power this year, as it strived to mark the 60th anniversary of the
communist regime with increased industrial output.
Other state media have reported that high-ranking officials of the North Korean
government and military visited Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the
embalmed body of the late leader is laid in state, to pay tribute in celebration
of the the anniversary.
The officials laid a flower basket before a stature of the elder Kim, with a
ribbon saying "The Great Leader, Comrade Kim Il-sung will be immortal," the
North's official Korean Central News Agency said.
Recalling the 63-year-long history of the party, the Rodong Shinmun also said the
watertight unity between the party, military and the people under the "energetic"
leadership of "Great General" Kim Jong-il made it possible for the country to
survive the collapse of the Soviet Union.
North Korea "firmly defended socialism and opened a grand era of the construction
of a strong and prosperous country amid vicious anti-DPRK schemes by the U.S.
imperialists and their allies and a huge economic difficulty," the daily claimed.
It is a "miracle" only achieved by the country's "Beloved General," it stressed.
The North Korean leader is believed to have attended a student football match
last Saturday after disappearing from the pubic view for some 50 days, according
to the North's state media. No photos or video footage, however, has been
released.
Kim's conspicuous absence from a parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the
regime last month fueled speculation on his health.