North Korea: soldiers in hazmat suits march in military parade marking nation’s 73rd anniversary
North Korea paraded goose-stepping soldiers but no ballistic missiles in its capital overnight, in a celebration of the nation’s 73rd anniversary that was overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported on Thursday.
The Korean Central News Agency said fighter jets flew in formation above the midnight parade at Kim Ilsung Square in Pyongyang and some conventional weapons were on display, including multiple rocket launchers and tractors carrying anti-tank missiles.
But no ballistic missiles were seen or mentioned in the reports, and Kim did not deliver any speech, unlike last October when he boasted of the country’s nuclear capabilities and showcased previously unseen intercontinental ballistic missiles during a predawn military parade.
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper published a photo of Kim, wearing a cream suit, waving from a balcony towards the assembled troops and spectators.
North Korea often celebrates major state anniversaries by displaying thousands of goose-stepping troops and its most advanced military hardware in parades at Kim Il-sung Square, named after Kim’s state-founding grandfather.
State television had not broadcast footage of the parade, which included marchers wearing orange hazmat suits. Previous nighttime parades have not not been aired live, but taped broadcasts were shown on state TV hours later.
KCNA’s report came hours after South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said they were closely monitoring the North after detecting signs of a military parade.
The network later reported that members of the 5.7 million strong Worker-Peasant Red Guards took part in the march. It was the first time since 2013 that North Korea has staged a parade with the force, which was launched as a reserve after the 1950-53 Korean war.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the perceived absence of strategic weapons and the focus on public security forces showed Kim is focused on domestic issues such as Covid-19 and the economy.
“The parade seems to be strictly designed as a domestic festival aimed at promoting national unity and solidarity of the regime,” Yang said.
“There were no nuclear weapons and Kim didn’t give a message while being there, which could be meant to keep the event low-key and leave room for manoeuvre for future talks with the United States and South Korea.”
Amid a stalemate in diplomacy with the US, Kim and his powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, have emphasised North Korea will boost its nuclear deterrent and preemptive strike capabilities while demanding that Washington abandon its “hostile” policies – a reference to the US maintaining sanctions and refusing to accept North Korea as a nuclear power.
Experts say Kim is facing perhaps his toughest moment as he approaches a decade in rule, with North Korea maintaining a border lockdown indefinitely to keep out the coronavirus and no end in sight to international sanctions.
Last month, Kim Yo-jong berated the US and South Korea for continuing their combined military exercises, which she said were the “most vivid expression of the US hostile policy”.
She and another senior North Korean official threatened unspecified countermeasures that would leave the allies facing a “security crisis”.
The allies say the drills are defensive in nature, but they have cancelled or downsized them in recent years to create space for diplomacy or in response to Covid-19.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report