North Korea called Monday for loyalty to its leader Kim Jong-un and touted the monolithic leadership system as it marked the 50th anniversary of the announcement of the country's key guiding principle.

In an editorial piece, the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, highlighted late leader Kim Jong-il's announcement in 1974 of the monolithic ideological principle of "Kimilsungism."

"The sole leadership system bolsters our revolution and is also the dignity and power of the nation," the newspaper said, calling on people to show their loyalty to the incumbent leader Kim Jong-un.

After being anointed as the successor to the nation's founder Kim Il-sung in 1974, Kim Jong-il announced in February that year the establishment of "Kimilsungism," a key guiding principle named after his father. It is based on the Juche ideology, the country's main guiding principle created by Kim Il-sung.

Kim Jong-un took over the communist country following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011. The late Kim inherited power from his father, the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994. (Yonhap)