North Korea's Kim hails 'devoted effort' of troops in New Year's address

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed the devotion of his troops and the "patriotic spirit" of his people in a New Year's address during a lavish celebration to ring in 2026 at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang.

As the whole country was enveloped in a festive atmosphere welcoming the New Year, he said that he missed even more those who were fighting bravely on the battlefields in a foreign land at that very moment,” according to Korean Central News Agency.

The North Korean leader praised soldiers for strengthening the "invincible alliance" with Russia, calling on them to fight "for the fraternal Russian people".