New year message from DPRK: Missile test launch is coming

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Leaders from across the world have delivered their New Year speech, but none of them have caught the global attention like Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong Un's year-end message.

DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un gives a New Year address for 2017 in this undated picture provided by KCNA in Pyongyang on January 1, 2017. /CFP Photo‍

"Research and development of cutting edge arms equipment is actively progressing, and the test launch preparations for an intercontinental ballistic missile rocket is in its last stage."

- - Kim Jong Un

DPRK has broadcast Kim's new-year speeches since 2013. In previous speeches, Kim never has specifically mentioned the country's new progress on military developments, until 2016. In his speech, Kim also explained the reason why DPRK hasn't stop building nuclear weapons: to protect itself.

"Unless the United States and its vassal forces stop nuclear threat and blackmail and unless they stop the war exercises which they stage right at our noses under the pretext of annual exercises, the DPRK would keep increasing the military capabilities for self-defense and preemptive striking capacity with nuclear force as a pivot."

- - Kim Jong Un

Meanwhile, there are speculations that DPRK wants to invade its neighbor in the south, the Republic of Korea (ROK). But in Kim's speech, he called for taking active measures to improve relationship with ROK and defuse military conflict and the danger of a war between the two Koreas.

People in DPRK celebrate New Year's Day in this photo released by KCNA in Pyongyang January 1, 2017. /CFP Photo

And ending his message, Kim stressed that efforts should be concentrated on electricity, metal and chemical industrial fields, and that DPRK should focus on self-reliance.