The commander of Norad says North Korea’s Military may be capable of extending far past its borders, and into the U.S. Analysts say Kim Jong Un already has ballistic missiles that can send a warhead to states like Alaska or Washington.
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Liu Yunshan, fifth in China’s Communist Party hierarchy, told the North Korean leader Beijing is willing to work together with Kim to restart the six-party talks, a move that could help better maintain stability between the two Koreas, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday.
The guest list is shaping up to be less impressive.
Relations between North Korea and China began to fray after Pyongyang conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013.
Right up to the last minute, North Korean officials refused to divulge details of the day’s plans.
The website 38 North, which specializes in North Korean affairs and is run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced global Studies (SAIS), noted recent satellite imagery taken Tuesday which shows that Pyongyang has mobilized “approximately 800 tents, 700 trucks and 200 armored fighting and military vehicles” in preparation for the parade this weekend. Masses of Pyongyang citizens have for weeks been out in public plazas across the city practicing their roles for a torchlight parade in the evening.
Kim Jong-un, carrying forward the will of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, has led the WPK and the Korean people to achieve positive progress in developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood, among others, Xi added.
For the finale, a stage has been set up on a river running through central Pyongyang for a late-night concert featuring North Korea’s most popular all-female Moranbong Band.
Whether China can play any meaningful role in persuading Kim’s regime to refrain from taking any other provocative action is being widely watched.
10 anniversary, using the occasion to stress loyalty to the leader as well as the ruling Kim family.
While no world leaders will be attending, China is sending a senior Communist Party official.
The North, it said, appeared to be preparing for “one of the largest military parades” in its history.
North Korean watchers are paying attention to see if the four-day visit starting Friday by Liu, who sits on the Chinese ruling party’s seven-member standing committee, will pave the way for a dramatic improvement in bilateral relations.
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The projects include new hydropower plants and high-rise apartments, but it is unclear how much of North Korea’s limited financial resources have been put into improving the lot of the majority of its citizens who are not fortunate enough to live in the relatively developed and affluent capital.
