PYONGYANG – On Saturday, Kim Jong-un, the president of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), conveyed heartfelt New Year greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the onset of 2026. The message, reported by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), expressed Kim’s “warmest and sincerest greetings” to both Putin and the Russian populace.
In his address, Kim emphasized that he, along with the DPRK government and its citizens, will stand in solidarity with Putin and the Russian people. He reflected on the previous year, calling 2025 a significant period filled with “immortal events” that strengthened the ties between the two nations. Describing the DPRK-Russia partnership as a “sincere alliance of sharing blood, life, and death in the same trench,” Kim underscored a deep commitment to the alliance that has weathered the trials of history.
The KCNA also reported that on December 18, Putin had sent his greetings to Kim, acknowledging the past year as pivotal for the Moscow-Pyongyang relationship. Notably, the participation of the Korean People’s Army soldiers in operations in Russia’s Kursk region, along with their engineering units’ endeavors, was cited as evidence of the strong friendship and military cooperation between the two countries.
As both nations look to the future, this enduring alliance may foster further collaboration and resilience amid evolving global dynamics. The friendship established through shared struggles continues to be portrayed as a strategic asset, promising to carry forward their mutual support into the new year and beyond.