North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong UnOvernight Defense: Biden team expresses concern about ‘abrupt stop’ in Pentagon cooperation | Defense chief steps back | Lawmakers question whether a major cyber attack in an act of war at a North Korean plant could be building nuclear components, the report reveals that Barr comes out with a ‘love letter’ to Trump MORE sent his first New Year’s Day cards to citizens on Friday, thanking him for his support “in difficult times”.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim wrote that he “will work hard to bring the new era to an earlier age in which the ideals and desires of our people come true. ”
“I thank people for invariably trusting and supporting our party, even in difficult times,” he added. “I sincerely wish all families in the country more happiness and, dear people, good health.”
The news agency reported that the letter was handwritten by Kim, although The Associated Press noted that, given the silent nature of the North Korean government, it is almost impossible to confirm this independently, as well as whether or not all of the country’s 25 million citizens have received copies.
Although Kim usually gives a televised speech to citizens on January 1, he was expected to choose not to participate in 2021, as he plans to deliver a speech at the country’s Workers Party congress earlier this month.
According to the AP, the congress, which acts as the party’s highest decision-making body, is the first since 2016, although many of the country’s decisions are made by Kim himself, as well as by his close allies.
North Korea faces an economy further weakened by the coronavirus pandemic and United States-led sanctions on the country’s nuclear program.
In November, South Korean lawmakers informed by members of the country’s intelligence agency said the North Korean government had ordered the execution of at least two people, blocked the capital of Pyongyang and implemented other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Wall Street Journal reported in early December that North Korean actors tried to hack in at least six pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 treatments in the USA, UK and South Korea.
One of the companies targeted by the hackers was AstraZeneca, based in the United Kingdom, which the UK health authorities approved this week for emergency use.
North Korea continued to argue that it did not have a single COVID-19 case, although this has been contested by several outside experts.