Putin, New Year's card to Kim Jong Un..."New level of bilateral relations"

North Korea's state-run radio, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, introduced the details, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year's card to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The KCNA said Putin had assessed that the summit in Pyongyang in June had brought the relationship between the two countries to a new level and stressed that the partnership would continue in the new year.

He added that the treaty concluded following the outcome of the talks provided conditions for fundamentally expanding reciprocal bilateral cooperation, adding that he was confident that the new year would bring together efforts to tackle threats and challenges.

North Korea has introduced Putin's holiday cards along with those of other leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, but this year, it seems to have expressed its intention to show off the changed relationship between North Korea and Russia by introducing Putin's holiday cards separately.