SEOUL: North Korea has briefly acknowledged the receipt of a New Year's greeting from Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, omitting further details and highlighting the strained nature of its relationship with Beijing. The terse report on Wednesday stands in stark contrast to North Korea's recent detailed accounts of New Year's exchanges with Russia, reflecting a shift in diplomatic focus towards Moscow.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) mentioned that various heads of state and political leaders had sent New Year's greetings to Kim, with Xi being specifically noted among them. However, the report did not indicate whether Kim had reciprocated with a New Year's message to Xi, adding to the ambiguity surrounding the current state of diplomatic ties between North Korea and China.

In contrast, North Korea has openly reported on the exchange of New Year's letters between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The letters, which were exchanged last month, included commitments to enhance bilateral cooperation under a defense treaty signed in June. These exchanges were prominently featured in the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's main newspaper, with detailed coverage on the front and second pages.

The cooling relations with China, North Korea's traditional ally and primary economic supporter, are notable, especially as Pyongyang appears to be deepening its military cooperation with Moscow. Last year, despite marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, the two countries did not hold significant celebratory events, further indicating a shift in their bilateral dynamics.