Recorded Broadcast the Day After Night Military Parade
Possible to Confirm Whether New Weapons Were Revealed
[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea is expected to release the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on the 9th. Until now, North Korea has disclosed photos and recorded broadcasts of nighttime military parades the following day.
A military official said on the day, "Considering that North Korea releases nighttime parade footage late, it is highly likely that the nighttime parade held on the 8th will also be released late in the afternoon on the 9th."
It is reported that North Korea began the pre-parade event at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang around 8:30 PM the previous day, followed by the main event. This is the fifth time North Korea has held a nighttime military parade.
In the past, parades were usually held in the morning, but the last four nighttime parades were held on October 10, 2020, for the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party founding (parade time at midnight), January 14, 2021, for the 8th Party Congress (evening), September 9, 2021, for the 73rd anniversary of regime establishment (midnight), and April 25, 2022, for the 90th anniversary of the 'Anti-Japanese Partisan' founding (evening). The videos of these four nighttime parades were all released after 3 PM the next day. Last year's 90th anniversary event was broadcast only at 8 PM.
At the parade held in April last year, which mobilized about 20,000 troops, North Korea unveiled a large number of new weapons, including the new ICBM 'Hwasong-17,' the hypersonic missile 'Hwasong-8,' and new tactical guided weapons. Earlier, at the parade commemorating the 8th Party Congress in January 2021, North Korea showcased the new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) 'Pukguksong-5' and the KN-23, known as the North Korean version of the Iskander missile.
North Korea tends to hold large-scale events on milestone anniversaries that fall on 5- or 10-year intervals. Since this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, it is expected that a large-scale military parade will be held, featuring many newly developed weapons. Satellite images have revealed objects the size of the Hwasong-17, suggesting the possibility of unveiling a new ICBM equipped with a new solid-fuel engine. However, accurate analysis is expected only after North Korea releases the parade footage.
February 8 marks the founding day of the Korean People's Army, which was established in 1948 at Pyongyang Station Square, and is called Geon-gun-jeol (Armed Forces Day) in North Korea. Valuing milestone anniversaries that fall on 5- or 10-year intervals, North Korea is interpreted as demonstrating its intention to strengthen military power by holding the Armed Forces Day parade again this year, the 75th anniversary, following the 70th anniversary.
It is not confirmed whether Chairman Kim Jong-un attended, but considering that he has attended 11 out of 12 parades since coming to power, it is highly likely he attended. If Chairman Kim gave a speech, it is believed to have contained messages directed at South Korea and the United States.
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