North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversaw a major military parade showcasing a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), state media reported on Thursday, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM.
The parade on Wednesday to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea’s armed forces featured fireworks, military bands and uniformed soldiers marching in unison to spell out “2.8” — the date of the celebration — and “75”, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim attended the parade with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter Ju Ae, a video on state media showed. He wore the black coat and fedora combination favoured by his grandfather, North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung.
Images showed Kim flanked by his top generals in Pyongyang’s central Kim Il Sung Square, saluting as troops and missile units paraded past while patriotic music played.
The weapons on show included at least 10 of the North’s largest Hwasong-17 ICBMs, as well as vehicles apparently designed to carry a solid-fuelled ICBM, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported.
