北韓官媒《朝中社》（KCNA）1日報導，北韓領導人金正恩感謝民眾，即使在「艱難」的時期仍然願意信任並支持執政黨。

金正恩在信中提到：「新的一年中，我也將為人民的理想與願望早日實現而努力」，並拜訪了其父金正日、祖父金日成在錦繡山太陽宮陵墓。

內憂外患夾殺　挑戰領導力

金正恩將於1月初召開北韓勞動黨代表大會，預計將制定5年期的經濟計畫，並發表有關政治的聲明，將是「北韓勞動黨的發展與改革的分水嶺」。

北韓面臨許多內憂外患。隨著核武的不斷發展，北韓在軍事上有更多談判籌碼，卻在經濟上受到國際社會的制裁，2020年更受到梅莎、巴威等颱風搗亂，四處淹水，部分地區還出現海嘯來襲。為了防疫更封鎖與中國的邊境，貿易額下降75%。

比起美國現任總統川普，第46屆的當選總統拜登將對北韓採取更強硬的措施。若北韓不願讓步，美國的制裁也不會放寬。

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule ahead of next month’s ruling party congress. His country’s fragile economy has been battered by pandemic-related border closings and natural disasters. https://t.co/tHd8gZxlNI

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 28, 2020

在新年前夕，北韓首都平壤的廣場舉行音樂會與煙火表演，配戴口罩的人群迎接著新的一年的到來。

Personally I think this is another indicator of an upcoming military parade, since we only saw similar formations in the Oct 10 military parade but not in the civilian parade or torch march, in the available footage (I didn't review past years' military parades) https://t.co/IaTD37cfum pic.twitter.com/6VKKjWaDkU

— Colin Zwirko (@ColinZwirko) January 1, 2021

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked the public for their trust and support “in the difficult times” and wished them happiness and good health in his first New Year’s Day cards sent to his people. https://t.co/YX5ioePBZd

— ABC News (@ABC) January 1, 2021

Kim Jong Un thanks North Koreans for supporting his leadership in "difficult times" in a rare hand-written New Year letterhttps://t.co/xMg5B337Dg pic.twitter.com/X2KCEUoPCx

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 1, 2021

疫情封鎖、國際制裁重創經濟

儘管北韓尚未通報新冠肺炎確診案例，外界評估與中國接壤的北韓境內不太可能零確診。

為了防疫而採取的邊境封鎖措施，也加劇原本就因國際制裁而搖搖欲墜的經濟，人民生活陷入水深火熱之中。

此前金正恩才因未能兌現改善經濟的承諾，罕見向人民道歉。

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un will likely seek fresh impetus for driving growth at a ruling party congress in January https://t.co/sm4TwM1BYZ

— Bloomberg Economics (@economics) January 1, 2021