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North Korea Shows Military Might at Mass Rally North Korea Showcases Its Military Might at a Mass Rally
(about 3 hours later)
Columns of rocket tubes, goose-stepping paratroopers and possible intercontinental ballistic missiles paraded through the center of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, on Saturday, as North Korea observed the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War by brandishing its military hardware to the outside world. SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea observed the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War by showing off its military might to the outside world in a parade through the center of the capital, Pyongyang, that featured columns of rocket tubes, goose-stepping paratroopers and intercontinental ballistic missiles, or at least mock-ups of the weapons.
When Kim Jong-un, the young leader in his trademark Mao suit, sauntered onto the reviewing stand, a sea of spectators roared with cheers and waved flags and paper flowers as they filled a square named after his grandfather, the North Korean founder Kim Il-sung. As fighter jets screamed overhead and helicopters carried large streamers bearing his name, Mr. Kim clapped and chatted with Li Yuanchao, the visiting vice president of China, North Korea’s wartime ally. When Kim Jong-un, the young leader, sauntered onto the reviewing stand in his trademark Mao suit, a sea of spectators cheered and waved flags and paper flowers as they filled a square named after his grandfather, the North Korean founder Kim Il-sung. As fighter jets screamed overhead, Mr. Kim clapped and chatted with Li Yuanchao, the visiting vice president of China, North Korea’s wartime ally.
The North Korean military has traditionally used massive parades to swear its loyalty to the Kim family. But the spectacle was also closely monitored by regional analysts and policy makers for displays of weapons. The North Korean military has traditionally used large parades to swear its loyalty to the Kim family. But the spectacles have also been closely monitored by regional analysts and policy makers for clues about the state of the Kim dynasty’s arsenal.
On Saturday, mobile launchers rumbled before Mr. Kim and a crowd of foreign visitors and international journalists, carrying the KN-08, widely believed to have been designed as the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile. Some analysts suspect that the KN-08, first unveiled during a military parade in Pyongyang in April last year, was still in a developmental stage and the missiles displayed might be mock-ups. Mr. Kim appeared to be eager to feed that hunger and display his country’s latest military hardware just months after a serious flare in tensions on the divided peninsula that included threats to stage nuclear attacks. As with other celebrations in the police state, this one was highly choreographed, and North Korea invited some international journalists to cover the events.
The Saturday parade also featured truckloads of baleful-looking soldiers hugging packs with radioactive warning symbols. With such a display, North Korea appeared to suggest that it may have created suitcase nukes or radioactive “dirty bombs,” said Shin In-kyun, a military expert who runs Korea Defense Network, a civic group specializing in military affairs. Mobile launchers rumbled before Mr. Kim and a crowd of journalists and other foreign visitors carrying the KN-08, widely believed to have been designed as the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile. Some analysts suspect that the KN-08, first unveiled during a military parade in Pyongyang in April of last year, is still in a developmental stage and the missiles displayed might be mock-ups.
The North would need such missiles to be able to deliver nuclear weapons to the United States, but it also remains unclear if the country has been able to miniaturize bombs so they could fit on a long-range missile. The North says its missiles are a deterrent against American hostilities.
The Saturday parade also featured truckloads of baleful-looking soldiers hugging packs with radioactive warning symbols. With such a display, North Korea appeared to suggest that it may have created radioactive “dirty bombs,” said Shin In-kyun, a military expert who runs Korea Defense Network, a civic group specializing in military affairs.
“North Korea is exaggerating and showing off its nuclear and missile threats,” Mr. Shin said.“North Korea is exaggerating and showing off its nuclear and missile threats,” Mr. Shin said.
North Korea staged its last military parade in Pyongyang in April this year during the height of military tensions triggered by its Feb. 12 nuclear test and ensuing United Nations sanctions. At the time, North Korean generals warned that their forces were ready to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as kamikaze-like nuclear attacks, at the United States. They said that North Korean pilots would “load nuclear bombs, instead of fuel for return, and storm enemy strongholds.” Fears of North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities have increased since it successfully launched a three-stage rocket in December — which the West considers a test of its missile technology — and claimed to have “smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means” after a nuclear test in February, its third.
American intelligence agencies remain divided over how close North Korea has come to achieving an ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles or build nuclear warheads small enough to be mounted on such missiles. Some analysts said that North Korea’s nuclear bluster was aimed as much at consolidating the domestic populace behind Mr. Kim’s new leadership as at increasing the North’s leverage in dealing with Washington and its allies.
Still, fears of North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities have increased since it successfully launched a three-stage rocket in December and claimed to have “smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means” after the nuclear test in February, its third so far.
Also on display on Saturday were Musudan mobile missiles, believed to have a range of up to 2,500 miles, enough to reach the United States territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean.Also on display on Saturday were Musudan mobile missiles, believed to have a range of up to 2,500 miles, enough to reach the United States territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean.
North Korea has never flight-tested the Musudan. Still, when North Korea showed signs that it might launch a couple of them this spring, Washington announced plans to speed up the deployment of an advanced antimissile system to Guam to protect its military bases from the North Korean missiles. North Korea has never flight-tested the Musudan. Still, when North Korea showed signs that it might launch a couple of them this spring, Washington announced plans to speed up the deployment of an advanced antimissile system to Guam.
The North never lunched them, and it has since de-escalated considerably, making overtures toward the United States and South Korea. Although the Korean War was suspended in 1953 with a truce, North Korea celebrates the armistice anniversary as “Victory Day.”
In a speech delivered on Saturday, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, director of the General Political Department of the North Korean People’s Army, called for a strong military to support the country’s “urgent task of building the economy and improving the living standards of the people.” But he did not repeat earlier threats of nuclear strikes at its enemies. Mr. Kim did not deliver a speech. During the months of increased tensions this year, North Korea said it was scrapping the armistice, leading to fears of armed clashes along the Korean border, but recently the talk subsided and Mr. Kim has appeared more conciliatory.
North Korea has celebrated the armistice anniversary as “Victory Day,” though the three-year war triggered by its invasion of South Korea ended in a stalemate and truce in 1953. In the past week, the North mobilized mass rallies and put on fireworks shows as part of the festivities. In a speech on Saturday, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, director of the General Political Department of the North Korean People’s Army, called for a strong military to support the country’s “urgent task of building the economy and improving the living standards of the people.” He did not repeat earlier threats of nuclear strikes. Mr. Kim did speak.
In South Korea, the anniversary was observed with concerts, exhibitions and memorial services at national cemeteries. Also on Saturday, South Korea’s president, Park Geun-hye, warned that her government would never tolerate North Korean provocations.
In a speech on Saturday, President Park Geun-hye reminded South Koreans that the war remained “temporarily halted in the world’s longest-lasting truce,” and warned that her government would never tolerate North Korean provocations.
“I urge North Korea to give up the development of nuclear weapons and start on a path toward true change and progress,” she said. “If North Korea makes the right choice, we will expand exchanges and cooperation.”