At a time when North Korea is urging South Korea to implement past inter-Korean summit declarations, the reclusive nation is signaling its willingness to start afresh with the United States.

In a joint newspaper editorial that summed up policy goals for 2009, Pyongyang on Thursday continued its strong criticism of Seoul but made no hostile mention of Washington, just three weeks before the inauguration of a new U.S. administration.

The editorial even called on South Korean citizens to overthrow their conservative government.

In an apparent gesture to the U.S., the editorial said North Korea "is willing to develop relations with countries friendly toward us."

This year's editorial showed the North's increased focus on the economy, particularly on its ever-increasing food shortage, by saying the nation should concentrate all efforts on hitting this year's grain production targets.