N. Korea steadfastly defiant
Show of strength comes on eve of Winter Olympics in rival South
SEOuL: North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, in a show of strength just a day before the Winter Olympics open in the South.
The nuclear-armed North is on an Olympics-linked charm offensive – sending a troupe of performers, hundreds of female cheerleaders, and the sister of leader Kim Jong-un to South Korea.
But regiments of soldiers goosestepped in formation through Kim Il-sung Square yesterday, followed by increasingly heavy weapons.
Unlike the North’s last parade in April 2017 its state television did not show the event live, instead airing it hours later.
Fireworks went off as leader Kim took his place on the rostrum to watch the display, along with his wife Ri Sol-ju and ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam – who will head Pyongyang’s delegation to the Olympics today.
Tanks and armoured vehicles stood waiting to drive through the streets leading towards the square, along with missile transporters – usually the highlight of the parades for Pyongyang-watchers – who examine them closely for clues about the nation’s technological progress.
Analysts say that with the dual approach, the North is looking to normalise its status as a “de facto nuclear state”, and could be trying to weaken sanctions against it or drive a wedge between the South and its ally the US.
North Korea is under multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have seen it deve- lop rockets capable of reaching the US mainland.
North Korea normally invites hundreds of foreign journalists to show off the spectacle to the world but did not do so this time, possibly an indication that it wanted to control how the display is seen – which would be in keeping with the absence of live coverage.
The Winter Olympics have triggered a rapid rapprochement on the peninsula, although analysts warn that warmer relations may not last long beyond the Games. — AFP