[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korea Shows Provocative Moves Instead of Military Parade Ahead of Party Founding Anniversary

North Shows No Parade Activity Ahead of October 10 WPK Founding Anniversary
May Strengthen Internal Unity Through High-Intensity Provocations Like SLBM and ICBM Tests

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea is unlikely to hold a military parade on the 10th, the "largest political holiday," the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party.

On the 8th, a military official said, "North Korea, which held a midnight military parade on the Workers' Party founding day, is not showing any signs of a parade this year," adding, "It is likely to restrain the festive atmosphere and possibly carry out additional military provocations."

North Korea designates and commemorates October 10, 1945, when Chairman Kim Il-sung gave the keynote speech at the Conference of Party Officials and Enthusiasts of the Northwest Five Provinces of the Korean Communist Party, as the founding day of the Party.

Two years ago, on the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding, North Korea held its first midnight military parade, celebrating noisily with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. It also publicly showcased strategic weapons such as a new 22-wheel super-large intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), seemingly to flaunt them in front of the United States.

However, this year marks the 77th anniversary of the Workers' Party founding, which is not a milestone anniversary ending in 5 or 10 years, so it is interpreted that there will be no large-scale military parade.

However, since the visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are enshrined, has been held every year on the Party founding day, it is highly likely that this schedule will proceed this year as well. There is also interest in whether Chairman Kim will deliver a speech. Last year, he repeatedly emphasized internal unity by highlighting the Party's important tasks through a lecture speech.

Instead of a military parade, additional provocations may occur. Following recent consecutive launches of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), there is growing speculation that test launches of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and new liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which raise the level of provocation, are imminent.

On the same day, North Korea strongly opposed the adoption of a "resolution" at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting, which stated that missile launches violated United Nations Security Council resolutions. In particular, it claimed that recent missile launches were self-defensive measures to protect safety from direct military threats by the United States.

In a statement released to the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, a spokesperson for the North Korean State Aviation Administration said, "Our missile test launches are normal and planned self-defensive measures to protect the country's safety and regional peace from the direct military threats of the United States that have continued for over half a century."

The Ministry of National Defense also stated at the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit report held at the Yongsan office on the 4th, "North Korea is maintaining a state capable of nuclear testing and is preparing test launches of new liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)."