South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported, without reference to sources, that at 8 p.m. local time (14:00 Moscow time) a major military parade began in Pyongyang, which is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. An hour and a half later, the same agency noted that the parade was in full swing, showing photos of the event.
It should be noted that until 2018 in the DPRK, military parades were held in the morning, but since 2020 they have been held in the dark, in the afternoon or even in the evening. According to observers, this is done to give the show a greater effect.
Experts expect that this time the DPRK will show a significant number of new types of weapons. NK News, citing satellite photos, counted “12 or more” transports and launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that DPRK authorities placed near Pyongyang’s central square, where the parade takes place. ICBMs will most likely participate in the parade. Ballistic missiles for submarines, strategic cruise missiles “Hwasal-1”, “Hwasal-2”, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, underwater nuclear drones “Heil”, etc. will also be shown. DPRK chief Kim Jong-un is also expected to deliver a speech at the parade.
Two foreign delegations are watching the parade as guests of honor: Russia, headed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and China, headed by a member of the Central Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Li Hongzhong.
Before the parade, the Russian delegation managed to visit the arms exhibition currently taking place in Pyongyang. The guiding role for the Russians was taken over by DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, who personally showed off new models of North Korean weapons. Experts drew attention to North Korea’s new models of ballistic missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles.
