Night Military Parade Held on the 14th
SLBM Unveiled "World's Strongest Weapon"
On the 14th, a military parade commemorating the 8th Party Congress was held in Pyongyang, North Korea, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 15th. The parade featured a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) bearing the inscription "Pukguksong-5ㅅ." The SLBM unveiled this time appears to be a new model with a larger warhead compared to the "Pukguksong-4ㅅ" revealed at the military parade on October 10th last year, marking the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding. It has been confirmed that North Korea held a military parade commemorating the 8th Party Congress on the evening of the 14th, attended by Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party.
On the 15th, Korean Central Broadcasting reported, "The military parade commemorating the 8th Party Congress was grandly held on the evening of January 14 at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital, Pyongyang," adding, "Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the parade." Following celebratory salutes marking the parade, fighter jets flew overhead, and lines of missiles and armored vehicles entered the square.
The broadcast stated, "The revolutionary strong army, firmly holding overwhelming military-technical superiority over the world, powerfully demonstrated its might with the world's strongest underwater strategic ballistic weapon," indicating that submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) were also unveiled.
It further introduced, "Our reliable rocket units, equipped with strong striking power capable of thoroughly annihilating any enemy preemptively outside our territory, shook the ground with their thunderous roar," suggesting that intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) such as the Hwasong-15 also appeared in the parade.
In particular, it showcased its status as a 'nuclear-armed state.'
The broadcast said, "The crowd gave enthusiastic cheers to the strategic forces, the Party's reliable nuclear armament force that makes hostile powers tremble just by hearing its name," and added, "The mechanized units, led by armored vehicle units, began their parade march."
It continued, "The advanced weapons confirmed our country's status as a nuclear-armed state and the might of our military, which possesses the world's strongest military power," and reiterated, "The crowd cheered the strategic forces, the Party's reliable nuclear armament force that makes hostile powers tremble just by hearing its name."
On the 14th, a parade commemorating the 8th Party Congress was held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 15th.
Additionally, mountain infantry units, reconnaissance units, electronic warfare operation units, social security armed mobile units, the latest self-propelled artillery units, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th corps units, followed by anti-aircraft artillery corps defending Pyongyang, the 91st corps, and the 3rd corps units appeared in sequence.
On the presidium were Chairman Kim, along with Choe Ryong Hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, Jo Yong Won, Party Secretary, Ri Pyong Chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, and Kim Tok Hun, Premier of the Cabinet.
Also named were Politburo members and alternate members including Pak Tae Song, Jong Sang Hak, Ri Il Hwan, Kim Du Il, Choe Sang Gun, Kim Jae Ryong, O Il Jong, Kim Yong Chol, O Su Yong, Jong Kyong Taek, Ri Yong Gil, Pak Tae Dok, Huh Chol Man, Kim Hyong Sik, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Tae Hyong Chol, Kim Yong Hwan, Pak Jong Gun, Yang Seung Ho, Jong Hyun Chol, and Ri Son Gwon. Former Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Pak Pong Ju appeared in the elders' seats.
Chief of the General Staff Pak Jong Chon reported the parade preparation inspection to Vice Chairman Ri Pyong Chol, who then reported to Chairman Kim.
After the parade, a ball and fireworks display were held.
This is the first time North Korea has held a military parade to commemorate a Party Congress.
The 'evening parade' is also the second of its kind, following the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party in October last year, unusually holding another parade within a short period of three months to showcase its defense capabilities both domestically and internationally.
Through the entire process of the 8th Party Congress, North Korea clearly set the goal of strengthening its defense capabilities. It amended the Party charter to specify the enhancement of defense power, and in Kim Jong Un's three-day 'Report on the Summary of the Party Central Committee's Work,' a significant portion was devoted to concrete tasks in the defense sector.
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