North Koreans wearing medical masks have gathered in the capital of Pyongyang, state media reported this week, ahead of what is expected to be a big military parade on Saturday, possibly featuring the country’s latest ballistic missiles.
The holiday marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, and events include concerts, art and industry exhibitions, a light show, visits to monuments and ceremonies to mark the completion of construction projects.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency cited unnamed sources as saying there were signs that the North’s state TV station was preparing to broadcast a parade live for the first time since 2017, and that leader Kim Jong Un could deliver an address during the event.
Officials in South Korea and the United States say that North Korea could use the parade to show off a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
“There is a possibility that North Korea will unveil new strategic weapons, such as new intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarine-launched ballistic missiles, to draw attention at a time when its economic achievements have been sluggish,” the South’s Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said on Thursday.
Unification Minister Lee In-young told lawmakers that displaying a new missile could be a “low-intensity demonstration of force” ahead of the U.S. presidential election that would be less provocative than a launch or nuclear test.
Kim has not displayed ICBMs at a parade since he first met U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018, but their talks on unwinding the North’s nuclear and missile programmes have stalled and Pyongyang has signalled increasing impatience with Washington.