North Korea’s Kim Jong Un shows off ‘most powerful’ nuclear-capable missiles at military parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased the country's most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles during a military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday evening, marking a major war anniversary and displaying defiance against the United States. Kim appeared alongside Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese ruling party official Li Hongzhong from a balcony overlooking the main square. Tens of thousands of spectators witnessed goose-stepping soldiers, tanks, and intercontinental ballistic missiles on launcher trucks during the parade.

The event also featured newly developed surveillance and attack drones, and North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam delivered a speech, hailing the parade as a historic celebration of the country's victory against the US and its allies. The parade took place amidst heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea increasing weapons tests, and the US responding with military exercises and contingency planning with South Korea.

The presence of Russian and Chinese delegates at the parade was a rare occurrence since the start of the pandemic, and experts suggest that Kim aimed to showcase partnerships with authoritarian allies to counter US pressure. This comes amid North Korea's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, raising concerns about possible arms supplies to Russia. The parade also displayed new intercontinental ballistic missiles with potential range to reach deep into the US mainland.

The event marked the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted the Korean War in 1953, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war. While North Korea commemorated the event with a show of military strength, South Korea held more somber events, with President Yoon Suk Yeol visiting a war cemetery in Busan to honor foreign troops who fought for the South during the war.

Amid growing North Korean threats, President Yoon has sought to expand South Korea's military exercises with the US and is seeking stronger reassurances of US nuclear defense in the event of a nuclear attack. The parade's display of nuclear-capable missiles and the involvement of Russia and China have raised concerns and calls for vigilance in observing and penalizing sanctions violations.

The event indicates North Korea's efforts to assert itself on the global stage and strengthen ties with its allies, while tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain a concern for international security.