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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned on Saturday that his country would “fully mobilize” its nuclear force if threatened, as he took center stage in a military parade in which the country unveiled what appeared to be a new ballistic missile. intercontinental and other additions to its growth. arsenal of weapons.
Kim, however, avoided direct criticism of Washington during the event, which marked the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party and took place less than four weeks before the US presidential election.
Instead, he focused on a national message urging his people to stand firm in the face of the “tremendous challenges” posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the crippling US-led sanctions on its nuclear program.
Kim described North Korea’s continued efforts to develop its nuclear deterrent as necessary for its defense and said it was not targeting any specific country with its military force. But “if any force damages the security of our nation, we will fully mobilize the strongest offensive power in a preventive manner to punish them,” he said.
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Kim’s speech was marked by thousands of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers and a wide range of ballistic missiles deployed in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square.
In this image made from a video broadcast by North Korea’s KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un salutes during a ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party in Pyongyang.
The weapons included what was possibly the largest ICBM in the North, which was mounted on an 11-axis launch vehicle that was also seen for the first time. North Korea also showcased a variety of solid-fuel weapon systems, including what could be an advanced version of its family of Pukguksong missiles designed to be fired from submarines or land mobile launchers.
The missiles highlighted how North Korea has continued to expand its military capabilities amid a stalemate in nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.
Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images
North Korea held a nightly military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party, state television showed on Saturday.
Kim had previously expressed frustration at slow diplomacy, vowing in December that he would continue to strengthen his nuclear arsenal in the face of pressure from the United States and would soon reveal a “new strategic weapon for the world.” He then said North Korea was no longer obligated to maintain a self-imposed suspension of nuclear weapons and ICBM tests, which US President Donald Trump touted as a major foreign policy achievement.
The likely ICBM that was on display Saturday was clearly the new strategic weapon Kim had promised to showcase, said Melissa Hanham, deputy director of the Austria-based Open Nuclear Network.
Tens of thousands of spectators watched the soldiers march in formation during the military parade.
North Korea had already demonstrated a potential capability to penetrate deep into the continental US with a flight test of its Hwasong-15 ICBM in 2017, and the development of a larger missile possibly means that the country he’s trying to arm his long-range weapons with more warheads. she said.
“North Korea is pressing ahead with its nuclear strategy despite the difficult year it has had regarding diplomatic talks, flooding from typhoons and Covid-19,” Hanham said in a telephone interview. “I also think this is a message to the United States: it has already stated that it is no longer sticking to the moratorium and that it also has something new that it may want to try.
The celebratory event, which began Friday night, was not broadcast on North Korean state television until Saturday night, when it aired a recorded broadcast. Goose-step troops were seen marching through the streets in front of a brightly lit Kim Il Sung Square, as a military band performed as it moved in formation, shaping “10.10”, “1945” and “2020” in honor. to the anniversary of the party. .
Performers and tens of thousands of spectators roared as Kim, dressed in a gray suit and tie, appeared from a building as the clock struck midnight. Kim, flanked by senior officials and smiling broadly, greeted the crowd and kissed the children who gifted him flowers before taking his place on a balcony.
Cha Song Ho / AP
People visit Mansu Hill to lay flowers on the bronze statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea, on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country’s Workers Party.
During his speech, Kim appeared to cry at a time when he repeatedly thanked his “great people” and military for overcoming “unexpected” burdens and carrying out anti-virus measures imposed by the ruling party and the government to keep the country Covid-19 – free, a claim that has been widely questioned by outside observers.
It also extended an olive branch to rival South Korea, expressing hope that countries can mend bilateral ties once the threat of the pandemic ends. The North had suspended virtually all cooperation with the South amid stalemate in broader nuclear negotiations with the United States.
After the speech, Kim waved and watched with binoculars as military equipment spread out in the square. He waved as the fighter jets flew in formation overhead, using fireworks to form the Workers’ Party symbol – a hammer, brush and sickle – and the number 75 in the sky. Earlier Saturday, masked citizens lined up to lay flowers at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the father of the current ruler, on Pyongyang’s Mansu Hill.
A huge sign on the street read “The best glory for our big party.” North Korea’s official central news agency said residents of Kaesong and other regions who had lost their homes to recent natural disasters marked the anniversary of the party by moving into newly built houses and praised Kim Jong Un for looking after them. like his father”.
This year’s anniversary comes amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration and deepening economic woes that analysts say are shaping up to be one of the biggest tests of Kim’s leadership since he took office in 2011. But many analysts believe that North Korea will avoid serious negotiations or provocations. before the US presidential election due to the possibility of the US government changing.
Authoritarian North Korea is keen on anniversaries, and this week’s festivities were designated years in advance as a major event to glorify Kim’s accomplishments as a leader. But there hasn’t been much to celebrate lately as Kim struggles to keep afloat an economy crippled by years of strict U.S.-led sanctions on its nuclear program and further devastated this year by border closures amid the Covid pandemic. 19 and devastating summer floods and typhoons that are likely to exacerbate chronic food shortages.
The problems, combined with the depletion of North Korea’s foreign exchange reserves, are possibly setting the stage for a “perfect storm” to shake up food prices and exchange rates and trigger economic panic in the coming months. said Lim Soo-ho, an analyst at the Seoul Institute for National Security Strategy.
Kim and Trump have met three times since they embarked on high-risk nuclear diplomacy in 2018. But the talks have failed because of disagreements over disarmament measures and the removal of sanctions imposed on North Korea.
