N. Korea urges timely rice harvest to meet economic targets

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is urging its citizens to finish the rice harvest on schedule as part of its five-year national economic plan, according to the Rodong Sinmun, the country's most widely read state newspaper.

The newspaper highlighted the agriculture sector as the "first sector that shows the results of the year's business," asserting that a successful harvest would instill confidence and optimism in the people and boost the nation's economy. The paper emphasized that there is no more critical and urgent task than the fall harvest, calling on citizens to fully commit to the effort.

The article also expressed optimism about this year's harvest, praising the progress made in agricultural mechanization. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unveiled the country's new five-year economic plan during a significant party congress in February, emphasizing the importance of agricultural mechanization to boost crop yields.