Putin Sends "Special" New Year Message to Kim Jong Un, Hails "Invincible Friendship"

• Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on December 18, reported by KCNA on December 25.
• Putin stated 2025 holds "special meaning" for Moscow-Pyongyang relations, expecting strengthened political, military, and economic ties.
• The message praised "heroic" North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, highlighting "invincible friendship" and deepening military alignment.
• The exchange underscores growing strategic cooperation and a shared struggle against external pressures amid the Ukraine conflict.
• Both nations continue to bolster diplomatic and defense ties, facing increased isolation since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Why It Matters: Putin's New Year message to Kim signals deepening Russia-North Korea strategic and military cooperation.