SEOUL, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- North Korea called for all-out efforts Thursday to transform the famine-stricken nation into a "strong and prosperous state" in 2002 which marks the 60th birth anniversary of its leader, Kim Jong Il.
The reclusive communist country celebrates Kim's birthday in February as the most festive national holiday, along with the April birthday of his late father and national founder, Kim Il Sung.
To achieve the national goal, all North Koreans should accelerate an economic rehabilitation drive, called "Torchlight of Ranam," Pyongyang's state-run press said.
North Korea launched the Ranam initiative, another variation of its campaign for harder work, in November. Ranam refers to an industrial complex where workers allegedly achieved technical miracles despite a lack of raw materials and food.
Under the work-harder campaign, the North Korean people were urged to "turn out dynamically in the vigorous drive for prosperity, holding high the Torchlight of Ranam."
"All the people of the country are out to bring a new peak to production and construction, holding high the torchlight of Ranam, the first torchlight in the new century," the (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Station said.
It said that 2002 would be "a year of a new leap forward towards the building of a powerful nation," as it marks Kim Jong Il's 60th birth anniversary and his late father's 90th birthday.
North Korea said it would give priority to raising living standards this year, saying its economy has entered "a new phase of radical change" after several years of hardships.
