North Korea marks year-end home stretch with closer ties to Russia



State Media Review North Korea marks year-end home stretch with closer ties to Russia An in-depth analysis of the North Korean leader’s year-end inspections, buddying ties with Russia and nuclear worries Seung-Yeon Chung December 26, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Jong Un at the inauguration ceremony in Jongphyong County \| Image: KCTV (Dec. 25, 2025) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and close officials made another appearance at an inauguration ceremony of a rural development project, this time at Jongphyong County, where new factories and leisure facilities were opened. The leader’s Russian counterpart sent greetings ahead of the new year and reaffirmed his intent to continue their close relationship. Notably, state media released this letter on Christmas Day alongside reports of Kim Jong Un’s military-related activities — likely a signal to the international community about its deepening ties with Russia. A director from the DPRK Foreign Ministry’s Institute Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 02Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 03Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 04Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions 05North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data 06North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command 07North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials 08The bureaucracy test: Signs to look for before a Trump-Kim summit

State Media Review

North Korea marks year-end home stretch with closer ties to Russia

An in-depth analysis of the North Korean leader’s year-end inspections, buddying ties with Russia and nuclear worries

Seung-Yeon Chung December 26, 2025

North Korea marks year-end home stretch with closer ties to Russia

Kim Jong Un at the inauguration ceremony in Jongphyong County | Image: KCTV (Dec. 25, 2025)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and close officials made another appearance at an inauguration ceremony of a rural development project, this time at Jongphyong County, where new factories and leisure facilities were opened.

The leader’s Russian counterpart sent greetings ahead of the new year and reaffirmed his intent to continue their close relationship. Notably, state media released this letter on Christmas Day alongside reports of Kim Jong Un’s military-related activities — likely a signal to the international community about its deepening ties with Russia.

A director from the DPRK Foreign Ministry’s Institute

01A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
02Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records
03Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May
04Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions
05North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data
06North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command
07North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials
08The bureaucracy test: Signs to look for before a Trump-Kim summit

North Korea marks year-end home stretch with closer ties to Russia

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Seung-Yeon Chung