North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his country’s close strategic partnership with Russia by sending a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the missive, Kim expressed unconditional respect and support for all of Putin’s policies and decisions.
On January 9, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on its front page that Kim’s letter to Putin emphasized the sincere comradely relationship between the two leaders. It stated that cooperation between North Korea and Russia would continue in line with their comprehensive strategic partnership. Additionally, Kim congratulated Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith on his re-election, asserting that the friendly ties between their parties and nations would strengthen across all sectors, building on agreements from their Pyongyang summit last October.
The second page announced the opening of a photo exhibition showcasing the achievements of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party. The display, which has drawn large crowds in various provinces and cities, highlighted major meetings, local development initiatives, disaster recovery efforts, and significant construction projects since the 8th Party Congress. These included developments in Songhwa Street, Hwasong District, Samjiyon, and Wonsan-Galma, all aimed at underscoring Kim’s leadership.
Page 3 featured a statement claiming that regional development would proceed smoothly if Party policies were followed faithfully. It attributed the positive changes in various regions over the past five years to the successful implementation of Party decisions.
The fourth page reported that the completion of local industrial factories, hospitals, and comprehensive service centers last year had stirred up patriotic fervor across the nation. However, it emphasized that the key challenge now is to normalize operations, noting that maintaining steady production and meeting demand hinges entirely on the competence of city and county officials.
The fifth page described widespread preparations for the new year’s farming season, reflecting an atmosphere of public mobilization. The newspaper declared that farmers are the backbone of agriculture, and the key to success lies in boosting their enthusiasm for production. It stressed the importance of mobilizing propaganda efforts and implementing scientific farming methods.
On the sixth page, the newspaper published an interview with educators from Kim Hyong Jik University of Education about children’s education during vacation periods. The article advised parents to create detailed schedules for their children, diversify activities through extracurricular programs, sports, and travel, while also addressing academic weaknesses and correcting any behavioral issues promptly.