Seoul: North Korea seems to have held a military parade in Pyongyang in early morning, the Southern Defense Ministry said, in what would be the third show armed by nuclear in less than a year.
Pyongyang continues to pursue nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs – which are internationally approved – during diplomatic involvement in recent years and use set-piece to show off its newest development.
In the last parade in January – the day of the night of the night before Joe Biden’s inauguration as US president – the ballistic missile launched the submarine rolled through Kim Il Sunge Square in front of Kim Jong UN, with the official KCNA news agency who described them as ” The most powerful weapon in the world “.
“There were northern signs after doing a parade” on Thursday, a South Korean Ministry of Defense official told AFP.
Not immediately clear the military system was included in the parade, or whether Kim was present.
“We really monitor the situation,” added the official.
“More details require further analysis.” NK News specialist website quoted sources in Pyongyang said that fireworks went to the city center around midnight and again at 1 morning, and the jet was heard flying over the head, both of them were consistent with the parade that occurred.
Thursday is a 73-year anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Democratic People’s Republic, because the north is officially known.
The North Korean state media has not released a parade image in the morning, also does not confirm that it has happened.
Three parades within 12 months – the January parade marked the five-year congress from the powerful workers’ party, and after one in October for the 75th anniversary of the organization – very often for North Korea.
It hasn’t done a nuclear test or launch of ballistic missiles between all 2017.
Instead, it wants to use a parade to send “messages to the international community” without risking escalation, said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea National Unification Institute in Seoul.
“The only other way to show off their strategic weapons is launching it, which brings the risk of triggering further international protests and sanctions,” he told AFP.
“North must feel the need to put pressure on the US to come to the negotiation table” with its provisions, he added.
Even so, it was never sure whether Pyongyang featured missiles or actual models at the set-piece event.
Nuclear talks with the United States have been jammed since the collapse of the Hanoi Summit between Kim and then President Donald Trump for sanction assistance and what North Korea will be connected.
North Korean envoy Biden Sung Kim has repeatedly stated his willingness to meet with North Korean colleagues “anywhere, anytime”.
The Biden government has promised “practical and calibrary approaches”, including diplomatic efforts, to persuade North North to submit a forbidden weapons program.
But Pyongyang never showed any indication, he would be willing to give up his nuclear arsenal, and had rebelled South Korea’s efforts to revive dialogue.
Last month, the UN atomic body (IAEA) said Pyongyang seemed to have started a reprocessing reactor that produces plutonium in Yongbyon, called it a “very disturbing” development, and Kim’s sister and Kim Yo Jong’s key advisor demanded the withdrawal of US troops from the peninsula.
At the same time, North Korea was under the Coronavirus blockade forced himself, after closing his borders to protect against Coronavirus who first appeared in Chinese neighbors, adding pressure on the moribund economy.
Domestic parade is an opportunity to support moral and “mass solidarity for the regime”, Hong Min added.
“It takes place in the middle of the night, it gives the public something to enjoy and watch with fireworks, air shows and displays sophisticated weapons.”