North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, supervised a significant military parade showcasing a new intercontinental ballistic missile, as reported by state media KCNA on Saturday. The parade, which commenced late on Friday, marked the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the ruling Workers’ Party, following previous celebrations on Thursday.
International dignitaries present in Pyongyang for the anniversary included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, a Russian delegation led by former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam. In the military parade, North Korea exhibited its most advanced Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, described by KCNA as the country’s “strongest nuclear strategic weapon system.”
While the Hwasong series of ICBMs has granted North Korea the capability to target any location on the US mainland, uncertainties persist regarding the sophistication of its guidance system for precise targeting and the warhead’s ability to withstand re-entry into the atmosphere. Ankit Panda from the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace stated that the Hwasong-20 epitomizes North Korea’s aspirations for long-range nuclear delivery capabilities, with expectations of testing the system before the year concludes.
During the parade, Kim delivered a speech emphasizing support for North Korean troops engaged in overseas operations, asserting that the military’s heroism extends beyond defending North Korea to contributing to “outposts of socialist construction.” He stressed the need for the army to evolve into an invincible force capable of eliminating all threats. Additionally, Kim engaged in talks with Medvedev, where they discussed the dedication of North Korean soldiers supporting Russia in the Ukrainian military campaign, underscoring the strong ties between the two countries.
Kim expressed his desire to enhance cooperation with Russia and participate in various exchanges to achieve common objectives. The event concluded with a reinforcement of bilateral relations and aspirations for continued collaboration, as reported by KCNA.