North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has rolled out the red carpet for a group of foreign dignitaries, treating them to a vibrant display of color and dance. All indications point to a grand showcase of the country’s latest military technology, set to take place during a lavish parade.
In typical fashion, North Korea has kept details about the 80th anniversary celebration of the Workers’ Party of Korea under wraps, maintaining the secrecy that defines the isolated nation’s approach to significant events.
Images released by state media show a massive celebration at Pyongyang’s iconic May Stadium on Thursday, but the highlight of the festivities is expected to be a grand parade in the capital, possibly taking place on Friday night. Tens of thousands of participants are predicted to take part, according to estimates from the South Korean military.
This anniversary event follows a diplomatic win for Kim Jong Un just a month ago, when he attended China’s military parade in Beijing. There, he had the rare opportunity to stand alongside two major political figures—Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin—on the world stage. Kim’s visit not only strengthened North Korea’s strategic ties with China, its long-time political and economic ally, but also invigorated his ambitions to advance his missile and nuclear weapons programs.
North Korea and its new military ally, Russia, have consistently reinforced their growing ties since signing a mutual defense pact last year. Kim Jong Un has sent thousands of troops, missiles, and munitions to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, further solidifying the alliance.
In a display of this strengthened relationship, China and Russia sent high-ranking delegations to Pyongyang’s celebrations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnam’s Communist Party leader To Lam were all seen in the front row as Kim launched the festivities on Thursday, which included mass games and artistic performances.
In a speech to mark the occasion, Kim declared, “Today our people are standing in front of the world as powerful beings who know no insurmountable difficulties and no unachievable cause,” according to the North Korean state news agency KCNA.
Massive, meticulously choreographed propaganda spectacles—featuring huge crowds and rehearsed performances—have long been a hallmark of North Korea’s regime, particularly during major anniversaries.
The Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea’s only ruling party, blends communism with the ideals and teachings of the Kim dynasty, which has held an authoritarian grip on the country for three generations.Over the weekend, Kim Jong Un attended an exhibition showcasing some of North Korea’s latest military advancements, including a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) equipped with a hypersonic warhead, identified as the “Hwasong-11Ma,” based on images released by KCNA.
The Hwasong-11 series, a North Korean version of Russia’s Iskander missile, is estimated to have a maximum range of around 800 kilometers (497 miles).
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, speculated that North Korea might also unveil more sophisticated weaponry during the upcoming parade, potentially including AI-powered systems and various unmanned vehicles.
“The weapons displayed in the parade will likely be on an unprecedented scale,” Hong remarked. “Rather than just showcasing large quantities, North Korea appears focused on revealing systems with significant operational capability.”
However, Hong noted that it remains unclear whether the much-anticipated Hwasong-20 missile will make an appearance, as it has yet to undergo a full launch test.
Observers are keeping a close eye on the possibility of test-launches of new, next-generation weapons around the October celebrations, according to Hong Min.
North Korea’s illegal nuclear weapons program has made it the most heavily sanctioned country in the world. Over the past few years, the regime has significantly ramped up its weapons development, with a particular focus on enhancing its nuclear capability. This includes the construction of a secret missile base near the northern border with China, which experts warn could pose a “potential nuclear threat” to much of East Asia and even the United States.
Secrecy and Security
Secrecy is a key feature of North Korean parades, especially when Kim Jong Un is present. CNN correspondent Will Ripley, who attended the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party a decade ago, recalled the unpredictable nature of events in North Korea: “No one seemed to know when it would actually begin—not even our government minders. That’s how things work in North Korea: you wait for hours until someone finally tells you to move.”
Foreign journalists were confined to the Yanggakdo Hotel, located on an island in the middle of Pyongyang’s Taedong River. The hotel’s isolated location made it easier for authorities to monitor and control access to the outside world. Ripley noted, “You can look out the windows and see Pyongyang on all sides, but it might as well be another world.”
Once journalists were escorted to the parade grounds, they had to go through multiple layers of security checks. Phones and laptops were left behind. When the parade began, the vast square was filled with tens of thousands of people, and columns of soldiers marched in perfect formation, their boots striking the pavement in a sharp, rhythmic snap—the signature “goose step.”
A Warning to US Bases in South Korea
Relations between North Korea, the United States, and South Korea have been particularly strained, with Kim Jong Un frequently criticizing both countries. Last weekend, Kim announced that he had assigned “special assets to the major targets of our concern” and pledged to adopt further military measures in response to the U.S. military’s growing presence in South Korea.
“In direct proportion to the U.S. military’s arms buildup in… (South Korea), our strategic concern about this region has also grown,” Kim stated. “The enemy, I think, will have to worry about which direction their security environment is moving in.”
Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at South Korea’s Kyungnam University, speculated that the “special assets” Kim referred to likely include advanced strategic weapons, such as tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, and possibly AI-powered drones and cyber capabilities. Lim said Kim’s remarks, which focused on South Korean security and criticized U.S. military buildup, suggested these weapons are meant to directly target U.S. and South Korean assets in the region.
“This is an explicit warning that U.S. bases and key facilities in South Korea could become potential targets of North Korean strikes,” Lim explained.
In contrast to his usual anti-U.S. rhetoric, Kim recently expressed “fond memories” of former President Donald Trump and indicated that North Korea would be open to dialogue with Washington, but only if the U.S. stops demanding the country abandon its nuclear weapons.
Potential Trump-Kim Meeting
South Korea is set to host a major summit of regional leaders later this month, with Trump expected to attend. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is seen as a significant opportunity for Trump to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. However, his presence in the region could also bring him into close proximity with Kim Jong Un, six years after the collapse of talks during Trump’s last administration.
Trump recently signaled that he would be open to meeting with Kim again, although some speculate that a meeting may be unlikely. “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” Trump stated. “We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better.”
