North Korea's party daily on Thursday urged the country's economic officials to “wake up and put greater effort” into achieving the country's development goals, in an article warning top bureaucrats against laziness and defeatism.

The Korean-language editorial -- carried on the front page of Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) organ the Rodong Sinmun -- highlighted the role of “economic executives” in the country's growth and hinted at ongoing issues in the country's implementation of its five-year development plans.