No strategic weapons spotted at parade for anniversary of N. Korea's founding

Leader Kim Jong-un participated in the hour-long, late-night event but gave no speech

A military parade marking the 73rd anniversary of North Korea’s founding takes place Thursday in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung square. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper devoted major coverage Thursday to a parade for the 73rd anniversary of North Korea’s founding.

“The parade of paramilitary and public security forces for celebrating the 73rd founding anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [on Sept. 9] was held in splendor at Kim Il Sung Square,” the paper said.

Beginning at midnight and lasting for a little over an hour, the parade consisted mainly of a march involving 7,000–8,000 members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards (WPRG) and public security forces, as well as a display of conventional weapons.

The Korean People’s Army (KPA), North Korea’s regular military force, did not participate, and the event did not feature the display of any new weapons or strategic weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The country’s leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade but did not give a speech.

This was the third founding anniversary parade to take place since Kim came to power, following previous ones in the 65th anniversary year of 2013 and 70th anniversary year of 2018 — both anniversary years ending in a “5” or “0.”

The 2013 event was also a parade of the WPRG, while the one in 2018 featured both the WPRG and the KPA. Kim attended both parades but did not deliver a speech, as with the latest event.

Commenting on the unusual decision to hold a Sept. 9 parade for the 73rd anniversary — a number that does not end in a “5” or “0,” as in past years — University of North Korean Studies professor Yang Moo-jin said, “Based on the fact that it featured around 7,000 troops and primarily conventional weapons and lasted for around one hour, it appears to have been an internal event focused chiefly on celebrating the anniversary of the republic’s foundation and promoting regime cohesion.”

Fireworks erupt along the Taedong River on Thursday, marking the 73rd anniversary of North Korea’s founding. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

The parade and other commemorative events for the Sept. 9 anniversary featured slogans such as “wealthy and strong” and “honoring the people like heaven” rather than focusing on shows of strong defense such as strategic weapons. It centered mainly on spectacle, including paratrooper descents, a nighttime celebratory flight by fighter aircraft, and a dance for young people.

Young people dance at a “night ball” held at night in Kim Il Sung square on Thursday, marking the 73rd anniversary of North Korea’s founding. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

In connection with this, Rodong Sinmun also reported that Kim had “met and warmly congratulated the labor innovators and merited persons who participated in the celebrations of the 73rd founding anniversary of the DPRK at the office building of the Party Central Committee on September 8.”

Rodong Sinmun also reported that Kim had “met and warmly congratulated the labor innovators and merited persons who participated in the celebrations of the 73rd founding anniversary of the DPRK at the office building of the Party Central Committee on September 8.” (KCNA/Yonhap News)

In a congratulatory cable to Kim, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he “greatly value[s] the advancement of the China-North Korea relationship.”

He also said he was “prepared to provide greater welfare for our two countries and their people.”

Rodong Sinmun also reported that Kim had “met and warmly congratulated the labor innovators and merited persons who participated in the celebrations of the 73rd founding anniversary of the DPRK at the office building of the Party Central Committee on September 8.” (KCNA/Yonhap News)

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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