A parade organized in Pyongyang Wednesday night to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country’s armed forces included fireworks, military bands and uniformed soldiers marching in unison, according to the official KCNA news agency.
| Fountain: AFP
The footage shows Kim on the red carpet, accompanied by his generals, inspecting the soldiers with hostility and greeting the passing troops and missile units.
| Fountain: AFP
The weapons on display included at least 10 Hwasong-17 intercontinental missiles (ICBMs), the most advanced in the country, and vehicles designed to carry solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles, the specialized website NK News reports.
| Fountain: AFP
The country regularly holds military parades to commemorate important dates and events, and they are closely watched for clues to the secret regime’s progress in its ballistics and nuclear programs.
| Fountain: AFP
Other analysts say that by displaying more Hwaseong-17 missiles than in the past, Pyongyang is sending a clear message. “This is North Korea trying to claim that it is a full-fledged nuclear power,” Leif-Erik Isley, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha University, told AFP.
| Fountain: AFP
The North Korean state press did not mention Kim’s children for years. However, last November, he showed up with Joo Ae during a ballistic missile launch. Since then, the 10-year-old girl has appeared with her father at various events, most notably on Tuesday at a banquet to mark the anniversary of the founding of the armed forces.
| Fountain: AFP
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un led a grand military parade that displayed a record number of intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported on Thursday.
| Fountain: AFP
“In the latest parade, they displayed more ICBMs than before, in line with Kim Jong-un’s longstanding directive to mass-produce nuclear weapons and delivery systems,” analyst Ankit Panda told AFP.
| Fountain: AFP
Analysts say the scale of the weapons on display is indicative of progress that poses a challenge to the United States.
| Fountain: AFP
“North Korea has already shown that its nuclear forces are far from limited,” said analyst Ankit Panda.
| Fountain: AFP
Satellite imagery taken by Maxar Technologies showed a large North Korean flag and thousands of people gathered in the square.
| Fountain: AFP
The public welcomed the appearance of the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) convoy in the square, the agency said, adding that “combat units of tactical nuclear weapons” also took part in the parade.
| Fountain: AFP
Columns of missiles passed through the square, including a “nuclear tactical unit” that demonstrated its “powerful deterrent and counterattack capabilities,” according to KCNA.
| Fountain: AFP
Pyongyang has vowed to expand and intensify its military exercises in preparation for war after a year in which it conducted a record number of weapons tests.
| Fountain: AFP
Wearing a black coat and fedora worn by his grandfather and founder Kim Il Sung, the leader attended the parade along with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Ju Ae, according to official photos.
| Fountain: AFP
North Korea has held four nighttime military parades in recent years, including on Wednesday.
| Fountain: AFP
Kim recently called for an “exponential” increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal, including the mass production of tactical nuclear weapons and the development of anti-nuclear missiles.
| Fountain: AFP
Source: RPP
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