North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met young ethnic Koreans from Japan who performed in a New Year’s concert this week, seeking to nurture future leaders of the pro-DPRK Chongryon group amid declining youth interest.

Kim sent New Year’s greetings to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on behalf of the North Korean army, language that appears to implicitly acknowledge the DPRK troop deployment to fight against Ukraine. 

The newly appointed Pak Thae Song officially began carrying out duties as North Korea’s premier, visiting a seafood farm with the leader and sending condolences