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At Military Parade, a Rare Public Speech by North Korea’s Leader At Military Parade, a Rare Public Speech by North Korea’s Leader
(about 3 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Long columns of goose-stepping soldiers, accompanied by tanks and missiles, marched through central Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Saturday, as the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, gave his first public speech in three years to emphasize his “love for the people” and declare his readiness to “fight any form of war” with the United States. SEOUL, South Korea — Long columns of goose-stepping soldiers, accompanied by what North Korea claimed were nuclear-tipped missiles, marched through central Pyongyang, its capital, on Saturday, as the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, gave his first public speech in three years to emphasize his “love for the people” and declare his readiness to “fight any form of war” with the United States.
A smiling and confident Mr. Kim celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday by inspecting what appeared to be one of the largest military parades his country had ever organized. As warplanes flew overhead, the large plaza at the center of Pyongyang — named after Mr. Kim’s grandfather, the North’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung — was filled with soldiers and citizens chanting slogans of loyalty to the Kim family and waving pink and red artificial flowers in perfectly synchronized moves.A smiling and confident Mr. Kim celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday by inspecting what appeared to be one of the largest military parades his country had ever organized. As warplanes flew overhead, the large plaza at the center of Pyongyang — named after Mr. Kim’s grandfather, the North’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung — was filled with soldiers and citizens chanting slogans of loyalty to the Kim family and waving pink and red artificial flowers in perfectly synchronized moves.
The anniversary and the parade provided Mr. Kim with an opportunity to show off his leadership and his country’s military might, to his people and the outside world. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians spent weeks rehearsing the highly choreographed display of power and allegiance. The parade provided Mr. Kim with an opportunity to show off his leadership and his country’s military might. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians spent weeks rehearsing the highly choreographed display of power and allegiance.
Throughout a 25-minute speech before the parade began on Saturday, Mr. Kim repeatedly spoke of his “love” and “dedication to the people,” before whom he said he “bowed deeply” to thank them for staying with his party through decades of American-led economic sanctions and blockades.Throughout a 25-minute speech before the parade began on Saturday, Mr. Kim repeatedly spoke of his “love” and “dedication to the people,” before whom he said he “bowed deeply” to thank them for staying with his party through decades of American-led economic sanctions and blockades.
In his first public speech in 2012, before a similar military parade, Mr. Kim promised that North Koreans would “never have to tighten their belt again.” Pyongyang, the showpiece capital, where the people most loyal to the regime are allowed to live, has since gone through a major face-lift, with new buildings and amusement parks built. But economic conditions for people in the rest of North Korea remained dire, according to international human rights groups.In his first public speech in 2012, before a similar military parade, Mr. Kim promised that North Koreans would “never have to tighten their belt again.” Pyongyang, the showpiece capital, where the people most loyal to the regime are allowed to live, has since gone through a major face-lift, with new buildings and amusement parks built. But economic conditions for people in the rest of North Korea remained dire, according to international human rights groups.
Mr. Kim’s efforts to reinvigorate the economy were hampered by United Nations sanctions prompted by his country’s nuclear and long-range missile programs. His government also spends lavishly to maintain the personality cult surrounding his family, building monuments to his father, Kim Jong-il, and organizing national political events like Saturday’s parade.Mr. Kim’s efforts to reinvigorate the economy were hampered by United Nations sanctions prompted by his country’s nuclear and long-range missile programs. His government also spends lavishly to maintain the personality cult surrounding his family, building monuments to his father, Kim Jong-il, and organizing national political events like Saturday’s parade.
On Saturday, Mr. Kim did not mention his nuclear or missile programs but vowed to continue his “byeongjin,” or parallel, policy of pursuing a nuclear arsenal and economic development simultaneously. The parade included a unit of soldiers hugging packs with radioactive symbols in what appeared to be an attempt to show off the North’s nuclear capacity.On Saturday, Mr. Kim did not mention his nuclear or missile programs but vowed to continue his “byeongjin,” or parallel, policy of pursuing a nuclear arsenal and economic development simultaneously. The parade included a unit of soldiers hugging packs with radioactive symbols in what appeared to be an attempt to show off the North’s nuclear capacity.
“Our revolutionary armed forces are ready to fight any form of war the American imperialists want,” Mr. Kim said during his speech, while the only prominent foreign guest — Liu Yunshan, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China, the North’s wartime ally — stood alongside him on the podium. “Our revolutionary armed forces are ready to fight any form of war the American imperialists want,” Mr. Kim said in his speech.
The North’s state-run Korean Central Television frequently showed Mr. Kim and Mr. Liu smiling and chatting together through a translator as they watched columns of rocket tubes, military drones and missiles, including what South Korean officials said appeared to be a new version of KN-08 long-range missiles. The North’s state-run Korean Central Television showed columns of tanks, military drones and rocket tubes. South Korean officials said that the tubes included a new model with a range long enough to target key South Korean and United States military bases south of Seoul. The highlight was what South Korean officials said appeared to be a new version of KN-08 long-range missiles.
The KN-08, carried on a 16-wheeled vehicle, is widely believed to have been designed as the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile. But it has never been flight-tested, so when it was first shown in public during military parades in 2012 and 2013, some outside analysts said it might be a mock-up of a system still under development. The version displayed Saturday had a more rounded tip than those earlier versions. The KN-08, carried on a 16-wheeled vehicle, is widely believed to have been designed as the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile. But it has never been flight-tested, so when it was first shown in public during military parades in 2012 and 2013, some outside analysts said it might be a mock-up of a system still under development. Last month, North Korea warned that it was preparing to put more scientific satellites into orbit using rockets that are widely seen as an intercontinental ballistic missile in the making. It also said its main nuclear complex, including its only disclosed uranium-enrichment plant, was in full operation, warning that the country “is fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons any time.”
Last month, North Korea warned that it was preparing to put more scientific satellites into orbit using rockets that are widely seen as an intercontinental ballistic missile in the making. It also said its main nuclear complex, including its only disclosed uranium-enrichment plant, was in full operation, warning that the country “is fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons any time.”
Though it is believed to have several nuclear weapons, North Korea has never tested a missile that could deliver one beyond its home region. Some analysts have doubted whether the North has the ability to build a warhead that could survive re-entry from space or one small enough to mount on a long-range missile.Though it is believed to have several nuclear weapons, North Korea has never tested a missile that could deliver one beyond its home region. Some analysts have doubted whether the North has the ability to build a warhead that could survive re-entry from space or one small enough to mount on a long-range missile.