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North Korea holds huge parades for 70th anniversary | North Korea holds huge parades for 70th anniversary |
(35 minutes later) | |
North Korea is holding what is expected to be one of its biggest celebrations ever, marking the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. | North Korea is holding what is expected to be one of its biggest celebrations ever, marking the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. |
A cavalcade of armoured vehicles and ballistic missiles rumbled through the capital Pyongyang, accompanied by marching troops. | A cavalcade of armoured vehicles and ballistic missiles rumbled through the capital Pyongyang, accompanied by marching troops. |
North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un presided over the ceremony, but no world leaders attended. | North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un presided over the ceremony, but no world leaders attended. |
He said that North Korea was ready to fight any war waged by the US. | He said that North Korea was ready to fight any war waged by the US. |
"The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists," Mr Kim said at Pyongyang's main Kim Il-sung Square. | "The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists," Mr Kim said at Pyongyang's main Kim Il-sung Square. |
The celebrations featured thousands of soldiers - many carrying red party flags or banners - in tight square formations goose-stepping to martial music. | The celebrations featured thousands of soldiers - many carrying red party flags or banners - in tight square formations goose-stepping to martial music. |
Tanks rolled past the podium where Mr Kim spoke, with an aircraft flypast forming the number 70. | |
The parade is the North Korean leader's message as much as his words - it is meant to send a signal that there is military force here, and that it is a united military force, says the BBC's Steve Evans in Pyongyang. | |
Read more: | |
BBC's Steve Evans in Pyongyang on changing face of North Korea | |
Strange history of North Korea's Communist Party | |
When it announced plans for the anniversary earlier this year, the government spoke of "cutting-edge" weaponry suitable for modern warfare, and the day's event will be closely watched for any new military hardware indicating the North's military development. | When it announced plans for the anniversary earlier this year, the government spoke of "cutting-edge" weaponry suitable for modern warfare, and the day's event will be closely watched for any new military hardware indicating the North's military development. |
China, North Korea's closest ally, sent a senior Communist Party official to the anniversary - a signal of the closeness between Beijing and Pyongyang, our correspondent says. | China, North Korea's closest ally, sent a senior Communist Party official to the anniversary - a signal of the closeness between Beijing and Pyongyang, our correspondent says. |
The North Korean leader began the day by paying respects to his late father and grandfather at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, official media reported. | The North Korean leader began the day by paying respects to his late father and grandfather at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, official media reported. |
Officials did not divulge details of the day's celebrations, although thousands of Pyongyang citizens have been seen in public squares across the city practising for a torchlight parade to be held in the evening. | Officials did not divulge details of the day's celebrations, although thousands of Pyongyang citizens have been seen in public squares across the city practising for a torchlight parade to be held in the evening. |
A stage has also been set up on a river for a late-night concert featuring the all-female Moranbong Band - North Korea's most popular musical group. | A stage has also been set up on a river for a late-night concert featuring the all-female Moranbong Band - North Korea's most popular musical group. |
North Korea's nuclear programme has long been a cause for alarm in the region. | North Korea's nuclear programme has long been a cause for alarm in the region. |
Pyongyang is believed to have conducted three underground nuclear tests and is threatening a fourth, despite international condemnation and sanctions. | Pyongyang is believed to have conducted three underground nuclear tests and is threatening a fourth, despite international condemnation and sanctions. |
Last month, it announced it was restarting its main nuclear facility Yongbyon and that it was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity". | Last month, it announced it was restarting its main nuclear facility Yongbyon and that it was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity". |
The North claims it has made a nuclear device small enough to fit into the warhead of a missile. | The North claims it has made a nuclear device small enough to fit into the warhead of a missile. |
US officials, however, have cast doubt on this claim and experts say it is difficult to assess the progress North Korea has made on miniaturisation. | US officials, however, have cast doubt on this claim and experts say it is difficult to assess the progress North Korea has made on miniaturisation. |
North and South Korea remain technically at war because the 1950-1953 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. | North and South Korea remain technically at war because the 1950-1953 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. |