NORTH KOREA VOWS TO STRENGTHEN MILITARY-FIRST POLICY.

SEOUL, Jan. 2 Asia Pulse - North Korea vowed Sunday to strengthen its military-first policy in 2006 while trying to rebuild its dilapidated economy with emphasis on agriculture.

In a joint editorial by its official press, North Korea also said it will expand cooperative ties with South Korea in its fight against U.S. attempts to topple its socialist system.

But the joint editorial by its three major newspapers representing the party, military and youth force, the communist country made no mention of the ongoing international tension over its nuclear weapons program.

The joint editorial by Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi has replaced the North's traditional New Year's message since 1995, a year after its founding leader, Kim Il-sung, died. His son, Kim Jong-il, took over in communism's first hereditary power succession.

"We should confidently build an economic power in the 21st century through a high-pitched drive for effecting a great Songun revolutionary surge," said the joint editorial, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Songun, or the military-first policy, is North Korea's ruling guidelines. The country's 1.1-million military, the world's fifth largest, is believed to be armed with nuclear weapons.

North Korea, one of the poorest countries in the world, is in confrontation with the U.S. and other major world powers over its nuclear program.