North Koreans enthusiastically celebrated the New Year throughout Pyongyang on 1 January 2026, decorating the capital with New Year symbols amid strict government control.
On 1 January 2026, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported a lively atmosphere welcoming the New Year in North Korea on Thursday, 1 January 2026, with many citizens coming out to celebrate and take commemorative photos at key locations across Pyongyang.
The report stated that the North Korean capital was adorned with signs and symbols welcoming the New Year, while large crowds gathered at Kim Il Sung Square, a central landmark, to participate in events and celebrate the start of the new era.
Images from Pyongyang showed people of all ages joining the celebrations amid government measures tightly regulating public activities, reflecting the regime's efforts to foster a sense of unity and festivity at the start of the New Year.
Source: AFP