Rodong Sinmun Saturday says this in a by-lined article.

It goes on:

The validity of the idea of the foreign policy of the WPK and the DPRK government to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and defend peace and security of the Northeast Asia and other parts of the world was more fully demonstrated last year.

The DPRK's high international prestige and dignity are the shining fruition of the correct idea of the foreign policy of the party and the government put forward by General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

The DPRK has firmly upheld socialism, boosted unity and solidarity with the anti-imperialist independent forces and put strong impetus to the human cause of independence despite the vicious offensive of the imperialist reactionaries against the DPRK as it has pursued independent politics.

The most powerful strength guaranteeing peace lies in bolstering up the army and national defense capability.

The DPRK more strikingly demonstrated the might of the Songun politics and armed forces last year.

Had the DPRK not bolstered up its armed forces, the imperialists would have ignited the second Korean war long ago and, consequently, the peace and security of the world would have been disturbed, to say nothing of the peace of the Korean Peninsula.

The imperialists are now invariably pursuing their wild ambition to expand the sphere of their domination worldwide. To this end, they are seeking to stifle those countries and nations desirous of independence and socialism through collusion and by the strategy of destroying one by one.

Under this situation the world progressive countries and nations can frustrate the imperialists' hegemonic policy and build a free new world only through their united efforts.

The DPRK is boosting international solidarity and developing the friendly and cooperative relations with all countries of the world desirous of independence and conducting multi-faceted exchanges with all countries of the world friendly toward it on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, guided by the idea of independence, peace and friendship.

Unchangeable and steadfast are the stand and will of the WPK and the DPRK government to consistently embody the above-said idea of the foreign policy, concludes the article.