North Korea to stick to military-first policy

North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-un has called upon his country to stick to the Songun or military-first policy.

He also called for efforts to develop the national defence industry and boost the army's combat capability, Xinhua reported.

Kim made the remarks in an article published Sunday on Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and Choson Inmingun, the military's newspaper, to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Kim Jong-il's Songun revolutionary leadership.

The national defence sectors should concentrate their efforts on producing precise, lightweight, unmanned and intelligent weaponry to make greater progress in building up the country into a military power, Kim said.

He called for positive efforts to open up a new prospect for a reunified country, prevent aggression and war, and safeguard world peace and security.

The Central Military Commission has convened a meeting on issues of increasing the combat capability of North Korea's armed forces and the defence capability of the country, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday.

Kim made a concluding speech which would "serve as guidelines for firmly protecting the sovereignty and security of the country and promoting the cause of the Songun revolution of the party", the KCNA said.

Kim Jong-il, father of Kim Jong-un, "provided field guidance" to a tank division of the Korean People's Army Aug 25, 1960.

North Korea counts the day as the start of Kim Jong-il's Songun policy, which gives top priority to military power and national defence of the country.