North Korea parades military hardware
NORTH Korea paraded goosestepping soldiers and military hardware in its capital overnight in a celebration of the nation’s 73rd anniversary overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported yesterday.
The Korean Central News Agency also said fighter jets flew in formation above Kim Il Sung Square, named after Kim Jong Un’s state-founding grandfather.
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper published a photo of Mr Kim, wearing a cream suit, waving from a balcony toward the assembled troops and spectators. The reports did not say if Mr Kim made a speech.
North Korea often celebrates major state anniversaries by displaying thousands of goosestepping troops and its most advanced military hardware in parades at Kim Il Sung Square.
State television had not broadcast footage of the parade and it was not immediately clear what kinds of weapons systems were displayed. Previous nighttime parades were not aired live but a taped broadcast was 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.
Amid a stalemate in diplomacy with the US, Mr Kim and his powerful sister Kim Yo Jong have emphasised North Korea will boost its nuclear deterrent and pre-emptive 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.