Rodong Sinmun Thursday says this in a signed article.

Only when a strong independent national economy is built and the economic potential is increased, is it possible for any country to solve all the problems arising in its internal and external affairs in conformity with its specific conditions and its people's requirements and interests and establish and develop good neighborly friendly relations with other countries on the principle of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefits, the article notes, and goes on:

Only when a country boosts its defence capability on the basis of its independent national economy can it reliably protect its sovereignty from foreign aggression.

What is important in building the said economy is to adhere to the principle of self-reliance and strengthen the south-south cooperation on the principle of collective self-reliance.

Self-reliance is the basic way of building a self-supporting economy. This is the way out for the developing countries and the way for them to achieve independent development and national prosperity.

The achievements made by the developing countries in the fields of science and technology at present serve as a driving force propelling the development of independent national economy and social progress in those countries.

The developing countries have rich natural resources and good experience and technology gained in the building of a new society. They are sure to achieve socio-economic development and progress without the help of the developed countries if they tap their human and economic and technical potentials to the maximum and boost the south-south cooperation.

The drive of the developing countries for accelerating the building of an independent national economy, a sure guarantee for defending the sovereignty, will get intensified as the days go by along with the trend of independence in the 21st century.