The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday highlighted the improvement of food production as the main task of the national economy in 2006.

Cabinet Premier Pak Pong-ju made the point in a report to the fourth session of the 11th Supreme People's Assembly (parliament).

"The main task in the economy this year is to fully solve the food problem of the people by decisively increasing agricultural production," the premier said in a report reviewing the cabinet's work of last year and setting targets for 2006.

The report added that food production has always been the most important issue in the country's economic plan in recent years.

According to the 2006 financial budget, the government will invest 12.2 percent more than last year in agriculture. But the premier did not say how much funding would be used in agriculture this year.

"Military First" is another top priority in the national economy, he added.

"The Cabinet will hold fast to the principle of giving top priority to the increase of military capabilities in all fields of socialist construction," he said.

That would "ensure with a sense of responsibility, material supplies for the development of the defense industry as required by the line of economic construction," the premier told the session.

Source: Xinhua