SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ushered in 2026 by hailing an “invincible alliance” with Russia and saluting his troops deployed to Russian battlefields—invoking a partnership that has fueled his growing defiance and confidence on the global stage.

Kim praised North Korean troops fighting in the Ukraine war for their unwavering bravery for the sake of ‘the brotherly Russian people’.

Russia on Sunday denied South Korean media reports that its Foreign Ministry had held official talks with South Korean counterparts on North Korea’s nuclear program.

Pyongyang’s outreach to Moscow and cautious reset with Beijing narrows US options and sidelines denuclearisation

Analysts in Seoul say suspicions of Russian assistance are difficult to dismiss. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised his troops fighting abroad as forging an "invincible alliance" with Russia in a new year's message, state media said Thursday.

Current political and economic issues succinctly explained. In the more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, North Korea has emerged as a significant ally for Moscow. By first providing ammunition and weapons, then sending thousands of its own ...

North Korea is also expected to further bolster its defence capabilities in the upcoming years. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The prospect of a US-North Korea summit in 2026 is considered feasible, while the possibility of resuming inter-Korean dialogue remains limited due to the regional security context and the strategic calculations of the parties involved.