Kim Jong-un Sends Restrained New Year Greeting to Xi Jinping on Jan. 18, 2026
Updated (3 articles)
Kim Delivers New Year Message to Xi North Korean state media KCNA reported that Kim Jong‑un sent a New Year greeting to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 18, 2026, referring to Xi only by his official title and omitting any mention of Xi’s wife; the content of the message was not disclosed [1]. The same dispatch noted that Kim also sent greetings to leaders of Vietnam, Singapore, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, but the focus remained on the China outreach [1]. KCNA’s brief phrasing underscores a diplomatic tone aimed at maintaining stable bilateral ties [1].
Reciprocal Greetings Include Xi’s Wife KCNA added that earlier in the month Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, sent a New Year message to Kim Jong‑un, again without revealing the text [1]. The reciprocal exchange highlights a mutual courtesy ritual common among the two nations’ leaderships [1]. Both sides appear to emphasize formal respect while keeping substantive policy discussions out of public statements [1].
Contrast With Russia Communications Highlights Shift The article points out that Pyongyang’s restrained coverage of the China greeting contrasts sharply with the more extensive reporting on Russia in December, when Kim and President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters [1]. In that earlier exchange, KCNA quoted Kim describing Russia as a “precious common asset,” and Putin praising North Korea’s military involvement in Ukraine [1]. The differing media tones suggest North Korea is calibrating its public messaging to reflect the relative strategic importance of each partner [1].
Timeline
Sep 2025: A documentary airs on KC Television about Kim Jong‑un’s visit to China, highlighting the leader’s diplomatic outreach and reinforcing the strategic partnership between Pyongyang and Beijing [1].
Dec 2025: Kim Jong‑un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange letters, signaling deepening ties and coordinated messaging between the two regimes [1].
Dec 2025: Kim describes Russia as a “precious common asset” in a KCNA statement, underscoring the regime’s view of Moscow as a vital security partner [1].
Dec 18, 2025: Putin sends a New Year’s message to Kim, praising North Korea’s “heroic” deployment of troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and KCNA publishes the full quotation, showcasing the alliance’s military cooperation [3].
Dec 28, 2025: Kim logs his most public appearances in nine years, culminating in a ceremony marking the adoption of a new North Korean constitution, a display meant to project internal stability and continuity [2].
Dec 29, 2025: Kim oversees the launch of long‑range strategic cruise missiles, signaling ongoing weapons development and reinforcing deterrence messaging amid regional tensions [2].
Dec 30, 2025: Kim inspects a factory that produces rocket launchers while observers note that license‑plate markings reveal the regime’s internal power hierarchy, emphasizing both industrial capability and control [2].
Dec 31, 2025: A Russian official exchanges New Year’s gifts with Kim’s sister, highlighting sustained high‑level Moscow‑Pyongyang exchanges at the year’s end [2].
Jan 1, 2026: Kim hails Russian troops and declares that his visit “cements an invincible alliance” with Moscow, reinforcing the narrative of a growing security partnership [2].
Jan 1, 2026: KCNA briefly notes that Xi Jinping and his wife sent New Year’s greetings to Kim, but provides no details, signaling continued diplomatic contact while maintaining tight information control [3].
Jan 2, 2026: Kim visits his family mausoleum with his daughter for the first time, marking a rare personal appearance amid a week of high‑profile state activities [2].
Jan 18, 2026: Kim sends a New Year’s greeting to Chinese President Xi Jinping, referring to Xi only by title and omitting any mention of Xi’s wife, reflecting a restrained diplomatic tone compared with earlier Russia coverage [1].