North Korea’s largest newspaper on Friday urged for a “thorough eradication” of corruption and irregularities, using a rare commentary on domestic social ills to describe the issues as “acts benefiting an enemy”.

The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), said the approach and attitude of North Korean officials to implementing policies can play an obstacle to the “general advance that has been vigorously pushed forward” by the entire people.

It is unusual for North Korean state media to admit to problems with its own bureaucrats in such a public way, with the Rodongsaying that as