[News Today] Kim Jong-un comforts troops’ families

[LEAD]
North Korea staged a large-scale New Year celebration with Kim Jong-un in attendance.

The event was used to reinforce internal unity, with special attention given to the families of troops deployed to Russia.

No public message was delivered to the outside world.

Meanwhile, state media also revealed Kim's daughter, Ju-ae, appearing publicly at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun for the first time.

[REPORT]
North Korea held New Year celebrations at the 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-un attended with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Ju-ae.

The North Korean leader also delivered a public speech.

He did not deliver any message for the outside world and instead mentioned the contributions each sector made over the past year.

He stressed achievements in promoting balanced development in the capital and provincial areas.

Kim Jong-un / North Korean leader
Regional transformation promotes capital development. All regions, sectors, and units can grow competitively and simultaneously, in a balanced way.

Families of troops deployed to Russia received special invitations to the event.

Kim met with the families of the deployed commanders and took commemorative photos with them.

It was an apparent effort to comfort the families of the deployed troops and emphasize Pyongyang's close alliance with Moscow.

Prof. Lim Eul-chul / Institute for Far Eastern Studies, Kyungnam University
It appears to be an effort to comfort the families by stressing what he called sacred service for the country's prosperity and security.

After the Ninth Party Congress, military and economic cooperation with Russia will be very important.

Meanwhile, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency showed Kim's daughter, Ju-ae, visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in public for the first time to pay her respects to the regime's deceased leaders.

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