Daily US Times: North Korea is preparing for what is expected to be the largest military parade in the country’s history. For months, thousands of soldiers have practiced to ensure that each step is marched with precision and each fervent cry of adoration will be heard by the Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
In North Korea, these events are often ostentatious formal displays of military power to show a devoted people paying homage to their supreme leader in closely directed goose-stepping drills. Mistakes are not tolerated.
But these military parades can also be a part of provocation— a chance to show off new weaponry and missiles despite being under strict economic sanctions.
Since Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un held their first summit in 2018, the state has not featured any ballistic missiles in its parades.
Last February, talks between the two countries broke down in Hanoi without a deal and North Korea has continued to test a number of new short range ballistic missiles.
The upcoming event will be displayed on 10 October, to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party comes just weeks before the US presidential election, which will take place on 3 November.
The military parade certainly going to be big, the editor-in-chief of the Daily NK, a Seoul-based website with paid sources in North Korea.
Lee Sang Yong told the BBC that as early as March, Pyongyang had ordered its military to mobilise 32,000 soldiers. The gathering was so large that the site where soldiers practice has had to be expanded.
“The Pyongyang Mirim airport now has two new roads and 10 new buildings,” Mr Yong said, adding that he thinks it is likely that we will see Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles [SLBMs] or Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles [ICBMs] on display at the parade this time.
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