This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34493672
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| North Korea 'ready to defend itself against US' | North Korea 'ready to defend itself against US' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has said his country could defend itself in any war started by the US. | North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has said his country could defend itself in any war started by the US. |
| He was making a rare public speech as part of mass celebrations involving troops, and military vehicles in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. | He was making a rare public speech as part of mass celebrations involving troops, and military vehicles in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. |
| Thousands of soldiers - many with red banners - marched past him through the city's main square in tight formation. | Thousands of soldiers - many with red banners - marched past him through the city's main square in tight formation. |
| An aircraft flypast forming the number 70 flew over the square. | An aircraft flypast forming the number 70 flew over the square. |
| Tanks and missile carriers rolled past the podium where Mr Kim spoke. | Tanks and missile carriers rolled past the podium where Mr Kim spoke. |
| "Iron spirit and the united forces of our army and people have enabled us to break through the imperialists' sanctions and isolation, are forcing the enemies to extreme anxiety and fear," he said. | "Iron spirit and the united forces of our army and people have enabled us to break through the imperialists' sanctions and isolation, are forcing the enemies to extreme anxiety and fear," he said. |
| "The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists." | "The party's revolutionary armament means we are ready to fight any kind of war waged by the US imperialists." |
| Later, as the parade continued, tens of thousands of civilians, including school-children, danced and waved coloured pom-poms. | Later, as the parade continued, tens of thousands of civilians, including school-children, danced and waved coloured pom-poms. |
| State television carried the events live, adding an emotional commentary. | State television carried the events live, adding an emotional commentary. |
| 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 Stephen Evans in Pyongyang. | |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| BBC's Stephen Evans in Pyongyang on the changing face of North Korea | |
| Strange history of North Korea's Communist Party | 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. |
| No world leaders attended but China, North Korea's closest ally, sent a senior Communist Party official to the anniversary. | No world leaders attended but China, North Korea's closest ally, sent a senior Communist Party official to the anniversary. |
| 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. |
| The celebrations are due to continue - thousands of Pyongyang citizens have been seen in public squares across the city practising for a torchlight parade to be held in the evening. | The celebrations are due to continue - 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. |