Ministry of National Defense "North Korea Preparing October Military Parade"
North Repeatedly Mentions 'Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence'
Possibility of Revealing ICBMs and SLBMs
North Korea successfully test-fired the new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) "Pukguksong-3" on October 2 last year, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd. The photo shows the launch of the Pukguksong-3, released on the KCNA website.
North Korea, which declared the breakdown of inter-Korean relations and the end of North Korea-US talks, is increasingly likely to deploy strategic weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
On the 22nd, the Ministry of National Defense stated in the 'Work Report' submitted to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, "The North Korean military continues preparations for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Party," adding, "They are preparing for a military parade event, including the construction of new equipment storage facilities around Pyongyang Mirim Airfield and repairs to Kim Il-sung Square." This is the first time the military authorities have revealed North Korea's preparations for the 75th anniversary military parade.
It is assessed that the possibility of the appearance of strategic weapons such as ICBMs and SLBMs is increasing, as several new equipment storage buildings are being constructed around Pyongyang Mirim Airfield, where troops and equipment participating in the parade are gathering.
A professor at Chosun University affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) claimed that North Korea will test-fire SLBMs using a new submarine.
Professor Ri Byong-hwi of the Chosun University Chosun Issues Research Center mentioned at the '20th Anniversary Joint Forum on the June 15 Joint Declaration' held at the Bunkyo Ward Community Center in Tokyo on the 20th that North Korea, having announced new strategic weapons at the end of last December and reiterated its 'nuclear deterrence' on the 24th of last month, has a sufficient possibility of launching SLBMs from the sea.
The Chongryon organ newspaper Choson Sinbo, which represents North Korea's position, also claimed that the conclusion reached on the 2nd anniversary of the Singapore North Korea-US summit was to strengthen 'nuclear war deterrence' in response to the US military threat.
Choson Sinbo mentioned that at the Workers' Party plenary meeting held at the end of last year, Chairman Kim Jong-un stated, "If the US continues its hostile policy toward North Korea to the end, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will never happen," and predicted 'shocking actual actions' and 'new strategic weapons.'
There is also analysis that North Korea's 'Christmas gift' announced last year may arrive belatedly.
Professor Lee Jeong-cheol of Soongsil University warned at the 66th Unification Strategy Forum hosted by the Kyungnam University Far East Issues Research Institute on the 18th, "Last year, North Korea set a year-end deadline against the US and talked about a 'Christmas gift.' Although North Korea's actions were somewhat delayed due to the submission of resolutions to ease sanctions against North Korea by China and Russia, if the current situation continues, the Christmas gift may materialize by the end of the year."
In a statement issued in December last year under the name of the Vice Minister for US Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, North Korea pressured the US by saying, "What is selected as the Christmas gift depends entirely on the US decision." However, the US maintains its stance of pre-denuclearization and post-reward by extending economic sanctions against North Korea for another year.
On the 12th, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon released a statement saying, "The hope for improved North Korea-US relations, which was greatly inflated two years ago, has today turned into despair due to deterioration, and even a glimmer of optimism for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula has faded into a pessimistic nightmare." On the 13th, Kwon Jung-geun, Director of the US Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, went as far as to say in a statement, "Stop the nonsense about denuclearization."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense recently reported on North Korea's movements, stating, "The Yongbyon 5MWe reactor remains in a long-term shutdown state, and no unusual activity has been identified around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site."
It also revealed, "The North Korean military is conducting repair and construction activities around its garrison areas," implying that repair work is underway on guard posts (GPs) and concealed shelters within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as well as coastal outposts.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the military is preparing for provocations by strengthening the close South Korea-US joint surveillance and information-sharing system, increasing and operating surveillance assets by unit for focused monitoring of key areas, and enhancing core forces for immediate and decisive responses, including aerial patrol forces and artillery on standby.
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