The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) releases a joint editorial in its leading newspapers at the beginning of every year, detailing its objectives for the year. This year, the eyes of the rest of the world were focused on the DPRK especially because Kim Jong-un, a young new leader, has assumed office in Pyongyang after the sudden death of Kim Jong-il.

On Jan 1, the DPRK published a joint editorial in Rodong Sinmun (Labor News), Joson Inmingun (Korea People's Army Daily) and Chongnyon Jonwi (Youth Pioneers), in which Kim Jong-un's name appeared 16 times as "the supreme leader of our (Workers') Party and our people", "the banner of victory and glory of Songun (military first) Korea".

It seems the blow that the sudden death of Kim Jong-il dealt to the DPRK is gradually easing. Three weeks after his father's death, Kim Jong-un has taken over the country's leadership with other senior Workers' Party and military officials. He is already the supreme commander of the military, and leader of the party and the country.

Unlike Kim Jong-il, who maintained a low profile for the first three years after taking over the DPRK's leadership in 1994, Kim Jong-un has already inspected the army as the supreme commander, signifying that he will stick to the "military first" policy.

Judging from the joint editorial, the possibility of drastic policy change in the short term can be ruled out. Despite being officially proclaimed the supreme leader, Kim Jong-un still faces some challenges given his young age and inadequate preparation before assuming the country's leadership. The priority of Kim Jong-un and other senior DPRK officials is to achieve a smooth transition of power, for which they have to prove the young leader's competence.

DPRK television stations, however, broadcast a program recently that said Kim Jong-un showed military prowess at a very young age, which may help consolidate his authority. Besides, this year's editorial also mentioned that "US aggressor forces" should pull out of the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the first time the joint editorial has done so after 2007, which in a way shows the new leadership's strength simply because it is a mission impossible as of now.

Importantly, the DPRK may increase the supply of food, daily necessities and housing, too, to improve its people's livelihood, which should be welcomed by one and all.

This year's joint editorial, however, didn't mention its nuclear plan, which shows it may be considering China's concerns. China-DPRK ties have deepened at this crucial juncture and both countries should make efforts to take them to a higher level.

Moreover, with the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung and the 70th of Kim Jong-il approaching, there will be a series of celebrations in the DPRK. And King Jong-un may formally assume the post of chief secretary of the Workers' Party and chairman of the national defense commission.

The joint editorial bestowed on Kim Jong-un titles such as "the dear respected Kim Jong-un is precisely the great Kim Jong-il", "the brilliant commander born of Mount Paektu", "peerless patriot", "peerless brilliant commander", "the supreme leader of our party, our state and our army", and said the DPRK people have "become human bulwarks and human shields to defend Kim Jong-un unto death", and they will "defend with our very lives the party central committee headed by the dear respected Comrade Kim Jong-un" and "thoroughly establish the unified command system of Kim Jong-un, supreme commander of our revolutionary armed forces".

The titles and words of praise must have been thoroughly discussed by party and military leaders, and hence reflect a political tendency. The joint editorial, in fact, defined Kim Jong-un as the legal heir to Kim Jong-il, excellent leader of the party, military genius and patriot of the DPRK.

Apart from glorifying 2012 as "a year of grand general march for inheriting the history of great upsurge generation after generation under the leadership of the great guide, the Workers' Party of Korea", the editorial also prepared the way for Kim Jong-un to become the Workers' Party chief secretary.

The joint editorial also shows economic objectives will remain the same, barring minor changes. As it has done before, the editorial advocated the development of light industry and agriculture (or an increase in supply of grains).

The priority of different sectors, too, remains almost the same, with the only difference being the acceleration of infrastructure construction in Pyongyang for the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung and relatively modest strengthening of national defense capabilities.

The minor difference nevertheless reflects the emphasis on economic development instead of strengthening of the military, which could very well signal the country's return to the international political and economic community in the long run after years of isolation.

That could be an opportunity for China, too, to share its own experiences of reform and opening-up with a close friend and neighbor to help it emerge from isolation.

The author is director of Border Area Research Institute, affiliated to the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 01/12/2012 page9)