North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un sent a New Year’s greeting to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Saturday that in his message, Kim addressed President Putin as “my dear comrade” and said that as the New Year 2026 begins, he extends his warmest and most heartfelt greetings on behalf of the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Korean people to Putin and, through him, to the government of the Russian Federation and the fraternal Russian people.
Kim stressed that no force can sever the ties between the two nations, which he said are united by a strong will and determination to uphold what he described as the righteous course of history and to rectify past injustices.
On page two, the newspaper reported on the inauguration ceremony of a local industrial factory and a comprehensive service center in Kaepung District of Kaesong City. The event was attended by Prime Minister Park Tae-sung, local officials, workers, and military construction personnel.
The third page highlighted the opening of a local industrial factory in Yomju County, North Pyeongan Province. Choe Ryung Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, attended the ceremony along with provincial and county officials, employees, and military construction units.
On page four, the paper reported that youth league officials and students held a commemorative lecture at the Central Youth Hall to mark the 53rd anniversary of the North Korean Constitution. It said more than 2,400 units nationwide were recognized this year as exemplary law-abiding entities, reflecting growing momentum in the public movement to establish a culture of lawfulness.
The fifth page reported that more than 700,000 high-quality trees and flowering shrubs were planted this year in newly developed rural villages.
The newspaper said that actively developing and utilizing abundant natural energy resources that contribute to ecological protection has become a global trend. It called on officials to strategically design, scientifically plan, and consistently implement development initiatives to harness natural energy sources.
On the sixth page, an article titled “Whose Law Is It For?” argued that laws in capitalist societies, while claiming to serve the people, ultimately benefit the capitalist and exploiting classes. It also claimed that elections in capitalist systems illustrate how laws can undermine the political rights of the people.