Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

North Korea Prioritizes Putin Over Xi in New Year’s Greetings, Reflecting Strained China Ties

Daniel Kim Views  

KCTV
KCTV

North Korean media recently only briefly mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping’s New Year’s greeting card, in contrast to their detailed publication of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s congratulatory letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Analysts suggest this disparity reflects the strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia, possibly due to troop deployments, while highlighting the cooling relations between North Korea and China.

On Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency reported receiving New Year’s greeting cards from several world leaders, including Xi Jinping and his wife, as well as the presidents of Vietnam, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus. However, Xi’s greeting was grouped with others, and its content was not disclosed.

In stark contrast, North Korea extensively covered Putin’s exchange of New Year’s greetings. Last week, the Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published the full text of Putin’s greeting card to Kim on its front page. On New Year’s Eve, the newspaper reported Kim’s reciprocal greeting to Putin on its second page. Last year, North Korea mentioned Putin after Xi when reporting on received greetings, but this year, Putin seems to be given much greater prominence.

The shift in North Korea-China relations was also evident during last year’s 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, which North Korea had declared the “Year of North Korea-China Friendship.” North Korean media have not reported any closing ceremony for this friendship year. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to answer reporters’ questions about the absence of a closing ceremony. This has led some to speculate that the anniversary year concluded without a formal closing event.

Kim also congratulated Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. This is Kim’s first time publicly acknowledged sending such a message to the Cuban president since Cuba established diplomatic relations with South Korea. Notably, this year’s message omitted phrases like “brotherly Cuban people,” “traditional and comradely friendly cooperation,” and “full support and solidarity,” which were present in last year’s message. North Korea has shown signs of discomfort since Cuba and South Korea established diplomatic ties in February of last year.

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[ASIA] Latest Stories

  • North Korea Buried in April Snow—Experts Warn of Major Crop Damage After Climate Shock
  • North Korea’s Smartest Teens Are Being Dragged Into the Military—Here’s Why
  • North Korea Opens Its First Internet Café—and Kim Jong Un Brings His Daughter
  • Vietnam Cracks Down on Imports to Avoid U.S. Tariff Backlash
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy
  • North Korea Sends Young Volunteers to Dangerous Jobs Under the Guise of Voluntary Participation

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Your Morning Coffee Might Actually Be Helping Your Bones

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Managing Carbohydrates: What to Know Before You Cut

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    An Apple a Day? Only If You Follow These Simple Rules

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Doctor Breaks Down Why Meat-Only Diets Might Not Be So Healthy After All

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    THIS Simple Morning Habit Helped Jane Lose Weight

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is Cucumber Lemon Water the Easiest Health Habit Ever?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Why Ignoring Your Eye Pressure Could Cost You Your Vision

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Your Cooking Oil Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    How Many Calories You Burn While You Sleep Might Surprise You

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Researchers Say This One Policy Shift Could Save Millions of Lives

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Your Morning Coffee Might Actually Be Helping Your Bones

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Managing Carbohydrates: What to Know Before You Cut

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    An Apple a Day? Only If You Follow These Simple Rules

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Doctor Breaks Down Why Meat-Only Diets Might Not Be So Healthy After All

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    THIS Simple Morning Habit Helped Jane Lose Weight

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is Cucumber Lemon Water the Easiest Health Habit Ever?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Why Ignoring Your Eye Pressure Could Cost You Your Vision

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Your Cooking Oil Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    How Many Calories You Burn While You Sleep Might Surprise You

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Researchers Say This One Policy Shift Could Save Millions of Lives

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...