SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Thursday urged the mobilization of the nationwide workforce and all available resources for rice planting, citing precarious weather conditions during the ongoing spring farming season.
"With a vow to repay comrade general secretary (Kim Jong-un's) immense favors with rice, sweat and passion should be made with industrious dedication," the Rodong Sinmun, the country's main newspaper, said in an editorial as the peak spring rice farming season approaches.
"Whether professionally involved in farming or not ... every citizen should make substantive contributions toward achieving this year's grain production goal and advancing agricultural output not through words, but through action," it said.
The article noted this year marks both the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea and the final year of the party's five-year national economic development plan, adding the country should strive toward a higher goal by securing a good harvest this year.
North Korea typically begins rice planting in early May, mobilizing students, general workers and soldiers each year as part of the agricultural workforce.
Last year, North Korean media reported on May 1 that rice planting had begun in some parts of the country, but no such reports have been published so far this year.
The Rodong Sinmun editorial said precarious spring weather conditions were unfavorably affecting agricultural operations, suggesting that this year's rice planting may be delayed due to weather conditions.
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