DPRK top leader raps local party leaders for failure to implement new policy

PYONGYANG - The top leader of the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong-un, criticized local officials of Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) during an inspection for failing to implement the new policy of concentrating all efforts on economic construction to improve people's livelihood, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.

During an inspection of factories, a shipyard, a holiday camp, a farm and an army institution in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong bordering China and Russia, Kim said the provincial party committee was "working in a perfunctory manner, disregarding an important policy" it should have given priority to.

During a spa camp inspection, he said the bathtubs for hot spring therapy were "dirty, gloomy and unsanitary" due to poor management.

During a full session of the WPK in April, it was decided that all efforts would be concentrated on economic construction to improve people's livelihood.