Kim Jong Un thanks North Koreans for their support ‘in difficult times’ in his first New Years cards to the public

North Korean leader Kim Jong UnKim Jong UnOvernight Defense: Biden’s team expresses concern over “sudden end” of cooperation with the Pentagon | Defense chief pushes back | Lawmakers wonder if major cyberattack is an act of war North Korean power plant can build nuclear components, report says Barr comes out with ‘love letter’ to Trump MORE sent its first New Years cards to citizens on Friday, thanking them for their support “in difficult times.”

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim wrote that he “will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true.

“I thank people for having invariably trusted and supported our party even in difficult times,” he would have added. “I sincerely wish all families across the country greater happiness and loved ones good health.”

The news agency reported that the letter was written by Kim, although The Associated Press noted that, given the low-key nature of the North Korean government, it is almost impossible to independently confirm this, as well as whether all of the country’s 25 million citizens have received copies.

Although Kim typically delivers a televised speech to citizens on January 1, he was supposed to step down from that for 2021, as he plans to give a speech at the country’s Workers’ Party convention earlier this month.

According to the PA, Congress, which is the party’s main decision-making body, is the first since 2016, although many of the country’s decisions are made by Kim himself, as well as his close allies.

North Korea faces an economy further weakened by the coronavirus pandemic and US sanctions on the country’s nuclear program.

In November, South Korean lawmakers who were briefed by members of the country’s intelligence agency said the North Korean government had ordered the execution of at least two people, locked down the capital 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 United States, the United Kingdom and South Korea.

One of the companies targeted by the hackers was UK-based AstraZeneca, which UK health authorities approved this week for emergency use.

North Korea has continued to argue that it has not had a single case of COVID-19, although this has been disputed by several outside experts.