North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared the country to be free of coronavirus ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. He went on to warn that his country would “fully mobilise” its nuclear force if threatened as he oversaw an early morning military parade showing off the new hardwares.
This is particularly significant, as the troops paraded mask-free in an event which aimed to galvanise the secretive country at a time of increasing economic hardship and isolation due to the pandemic. The unveiling of the seemingly new weapon followed a familiar display of goose-stepping troops, armoured vehicles and a broad range of smaller ballistic missiles, all in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party.
This event took place early in the morning on Saturday and was later edited and telecasted on the country’s national television. Several analysts described it as the largest road-mobile liquid-fuelled missile anywhere. Notably, this is the first time since 2018 that North Korea is displaying its ballistic missile arrangement. This comes as a follow-through of a pledge made by the North Korean leader to demonstrate a “new strategic weapon” to the world.
Kim later addressed the gathering and the troops, and indirectly attacked Washington. He focussed on a strong domestic message urging the population to remain firm in the face of “tremendous challenges” posed by the pandemic and crippling international economic sanctions.