North Korea’s leader: county to focus on economy in 2022

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has said the faltering economy will be the national priority this year as the country faces a “great life-and-death struggle”.

He was speaking at the end of a key ruling party meeting, which coincides with him being in power for 10 years.

A self-imposed coronavirus blockade has left North Korea struggling with food shortages.

There was no direct mention of the US or South Korea in his speech.

Mr Kim said increasing development and improving people’s living standards was the main task.

He acknowledged the “harsh situation” in 2021 and and set “an important task for making radical progress in solving the food, clothing and housing problem for the people”, an official news agency reported.

But he also said Pyongyang would continue to strengthen its defence capabilities because of an increasingly unstable military environment on the Korean peninsula.

Agencies