Kim attended the parade, but it appears that the leader did not address the event. Defense Minister Kim Jong-gwan delivered a speech, according to state media. (Photo from The New York Times) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] North Korea held a military parade Thursday evening in central Pyongyang to celebrate the recently concluded party congress, showing off its state-of-the-art weapons, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), state media reported Friday.
The parade held in Kim Il-sung square came after Pyongyang wrapped up its eight-day congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, at which leader Kim Jong-un pledged to bolster the nuclear arsenal of the country. North Korea appears to aim at upping the ante ahead of next week's inauguration of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States amid uncertainty over Washington's policy direction on currently stalled denuclearization talks.
Armored vehicles led the parade, followed by state-of-the-art tactical missiles, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Fighter jets flew in formation and drew "eight" in the sky with fireworks in celebration of the eighth party congress. KCNA boasted of the North's military power, stressing that it is a "nuclear-weapon state." The North's defense scientists and high-tech weapons have proven its military power as a "nuclear-weapon state and the world's greatest defense power," it said. Kim attended the parade, but it appears that the leader did not address the event. Defense Minister Kim Jong-gwan delivered a speech, according to state media.