N Korea begins 200-day battle to boost economy

North Korea has begun a 200-day battle to boost the country’s sanctions-hit economy as part of a five-year economic plan.

According to Press TV, the move started on Wednesday right after a 70-day campaign to increase production in the country ended.

"All party officials, military officers and people .... have broken loose and stepped forward with 100-times the normal courage and vigor, fully-charged for the 200-day battle," the North’s Rodong Sinmun daily said in an editorial.

The newspaper linked the new campaign to the five-year economic plan declared by the country's leader Kim Jong-un at the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) congress last month.

"The 200-day battle is a safeguard for the party policy that will open up a breakthrough for carrying out the five-year strategy for economic growth," the paper said.

The country has come under the most crippling sanctions by the UN and the West recently over its missile tests.

The UN sanctions have imposed trade restrictions on the North, required all UN members to inspect all cargo to and from the country and barred vessels suspected of carrying illegal goods for North Korea from ports.

ME