North Korea showcased its “most powerful” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a massive military parade in Pyongyang, state media reported Saturday. The event marked the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and was attended by top officials from Russia and China, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Vietnam’s leader To Lam.
The parade highlighted North Korea’s advanced nuclear arsenal, featuring the new Hwasong-20 ICBM, which the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described as its “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system,” along with long-range strategic cruise missiles, drone launch vehicles, and other ground-to-air and ground-to-ground missiles.
Thousands of spectators in brightly colored traditional attire filled Kim Il Sung Square, waving flags and cheering as military vehicles paraded through the streets.
Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, emphasized the strength of his armed forces in a speech, saying, “The heroic fighting spirit displayed, and the victory achieved, by our revolutionary armed forces on the foreign battlefields for international justice ... demonstrated the ideological and spiritual perfection,” referencing North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in Ukraine.
According to Seoul, around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded fighting alongside Russian forces. Experts note that the presence of foreign dignitaries, particularly from Russia and China, reflects Kim’s increasing diplomatic leverage.
Seong-Hyon Lee, visiting scholar at the Harvard University Asia Center, said: “It is crucial to see this parade not as an isolated event, but as the culmination of a deliberate, structural shift in regional geopolitics. It serves as a stark warning that Seoul's strengthened alliance with Washington will be met with a consolidated and powerful trilateral bloc on its doorstep.”
Advanced weapons on display
Among the featured weaponry were:
- Hwasong-20 ICBM, a new and yet-to-be-tested nuclear-capable missile
- Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic glide vehicle with a maneuverable warhead
- Shorter-range ballistic, cruise, and supersonic missiles are reportedly capable of targeting South Korea
Kim emphasized the continued evolution of North Korea’s armed forces, stating they “must continue to evolve into an invincible force that eliminates all threats,” according to KCNA.
The Hwasong-11Ma and other hypersonic weapons were previously tested in January 2024 using solid-fueled booster rockets, which are easier to transport and can be launched more quickly than liquid-fueled versions, making them more difficult to defend against. North Korea may have incorporated lessons learned from Russia’s use of air-launched Iskander-Kinzhal missiles in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un’s growing diplomatic footing
The parade came a month after Kim attended a major military event in Beijing, standing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. North Korea has strengthened strategic ties with both countries, particularly Russia, by sending troops, weapons, and ballistic missiles to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
KCNA reported that the parade included North Korean units described as the “invincible overseas operations unit,” referencing troops deployed to foreign battlefields. The optics of the parade were aimed at demonstrating Pyongyang’s assertive foreign policy and signaling its readiness to act as a key player in a new Cold War-style bloc against the US-led West.
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