Time for new beginning on Peninsula

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has always been a common concern of China and the United States. The Peninsula situation somewhat eased at the end of 2011, with the relationship between the US and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) gradually improving and the Republic of Korea (ROK) lowering its threshold to hold dialogue with the DPRK. But the unexpected death of the DPRK's leader Kim Jong-il has created new riddles.

Though Pyongyang will continue to follow the guidelines of Kim Jong-il and stick to the Juche Idea (which means the DPRK people are the masters of the country's development) and songun (or military-first policy), its short-term focus on economic construction will not change.

The New Year's joint editorial in the DPRK's leading newspapers put light industries on the front lines of an all-out offense, laying emphasis on solving the food problem to improve the lives of the people. The Cabinet plenary meeting in January also set development of the light industry and agriculture as the priority for 2012. Besides, this year marks the 100th birth anniversary of the DPRK's late leader Kim Il-sung and 70th birthday of Kim Jong-il, and is also the most crucial for building a powerful and prosperous nation.