North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reflected on 2025 in a New Year's address, highlighting the strengthened alliance with Russia, which provided an economic lifeline and a testing ground for Pyongyang's weapons. Kim praised troops for their contributions to the Russia-North Korea fraternity and mentioned domestic achievements in construction and agriculture. He also emphasized continued military buildup, including inspecting a nuclear-powered submarine and overseeing missile drills, while North Korea exported munitions to Russia. Kim did not mention policy toward the U.S.