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SEOUL: North Korea showcased never-before-seen intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in an unprecedented pre-dawn military parade on Saturday (October 10) that showcased the country’s long-range missiles for the first time in two years.
Analysts said the missile, which was displayed on an 11-axis carrier vehicle, would be one of the world’s largest road mobile ICBMs if operational.
Also on display was the Hwasong-15, which is the longest-range missile North Korea ever tested, and what appeared to be a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
Ahead of the parade, which was held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party, officials from South Korea and the United States said Kim Jong Un could use the event to unveil a new “strategic weapon. “as previously promised. this year.
The parade featured North Korea’s ballistic missiles for the first time since Kim began meeting with international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in 2018.
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“We will continue to build our national defense power and self-defense war deterrent,” Kim said, but promised that the country’s military power will not be used preemptively. He made no direct mention of the United States or the now stalled denuclearization talks.
The state news agency KCNA said North Korea’s authority and security depended on “the huge strategic nuclear forces” displayed at the parade.
Kim blamed international sanctions, typhoons and the coronavirus for preventing him from fulfilling his promises of economic progress.
“I am ashamed that I could not properly reward them for their enormous confidence,” he said. “My efforts and devotion were not enough to lift our people out of difficult livelihoods.”
In this image taken from a video broadcast by North Korea’s KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the military parade during a ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party in Pyongyang. (Photo: KRT via AP)
The parade was highly choreographed, with thousands of troops marching in formation, displays of new conventional military equipment, including tanks and fighter jets firing flares and fireworks.
Chad O’Carroll, chief executive of the Korea Risk Group, which monitors North Korea, said more new military equipment was on display at this event than at almost any previous parade.
