Thousands of soldiers took part in a spectacular parade through Pyongyang as the country displayed its military hardware to the world.
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But the attendance of just one Chinese official reflects North Korea’s diplomatic isolation.
(Takuro Yabe/Kyodo News via AP). The country is preparing for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the…
North Korea has launched a major military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ party, presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, live TV footage showed.
Kim, clothed in black, walked down a red carpet & saluted his honor guard.
“The party’s revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the USA imperialists”, said Mr Kim, wearing his trademark navy-blue Mao suit as he appeared on a balcony overlooking the massive square. Planes flew over the reviewing stand, forming a large number of “70”.
In the past North Korea has been suspected of parading dummy models of missiles and rockets, which has aroused suspicions in South Korea that much on this occasion may also have been fabricated.
A battery of the North’s intercontinental ballistic missiles was the highlight of the weapons display, although they are not known to have been successfully tested.
In his first public speech for three years, Kim struck a far more belligerent tone than in previous addresses, with a special message for the North’s traditional enemy.
The guest list is shaping up to be less impressive.
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. Satellite images released this week by 38 North, a North Korean affairs website affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, showed that organizers have been gathering troops and equipment for the parade at an airbase near Pyongyang for the past six months.
The finale was a concert on a special stage set up on a river running through central Pyongyang.
In a 25-minute speech before the parade, Kim spoke of his “love” and “dedication to the people”, whom he thanked for staying with his party through decades of U.S.-led economic sanctions and blockades.
China is impoverished North Korea’s chief ally and its main trading partner, although ties have been strained over the North’s nuclear programme.
The event was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the country’s ruling party.
Though Kim’s leadership and both institutions are strong, the power balance among various government organs in North Korea is a delicate one and maintaining that balance is a key to keeping Kim’s regime solid and unchallenged.
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North and South Korea technically remain at war because their conflict between 1950 and 1953 ended in a truce, but not a treaty.
