SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a nationwide drive to boost the ailing economy ahead of a key party congress in January, state media reported Tuesday .
"We have performed historical feats with our costly efforts, boldly overcoming unprecedentedly grave trials and difficulties this year, but we should not rest on our laurels," it said."We still face the challenges that cannot be overlooked and there are many goals we have to attain within this year."
North Korea's ruling party is due to lay out a new economic plan at its January congress - the first such meeting in five years.The North has suffered from chronic economic mismanagement and a previous plan was quietly scrapped earlier this year, with a party meeting in August concluding that"goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed".