Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has urged officials to focus on improving citizens' lives in the face of a "grim" economic situation, reported the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday.

Kim made the remarks at an event marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Sunday.

According to KCNA, Kim said the WPK was determined to boost the national economy and solve food, clothing and housing problems, as set out in a five-year plan at the 8th Congress of the Party.

He added that five years of innovation will bring about great change in the country, and vowed to "build a powerful socialist nation envied by the world by successively unfolding a great project of the next stage."