DPRK military parade showcases record number of ICBMs

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Feb 09:27

The DPRK holds a parade showcasing "the country's greatest nuclear attack capability."

DPRK missiles displayed during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the country's army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang (KCNA)

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a major military parade showcasing a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), state media reported Thursday.

The parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the country's armed forces featured fireworks, military bands, and uniformed soldiers marching in unison to spell out "2.8" and "75", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The weapons on show included at least 10 of the country's largest Hwasong-17 ICBMs, plus vehicles apparently designed to carry a solid-fueled ICBM, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported.

The DPRK has long sought to develop a solid-fuel ICBM, which could help make its nukes harder to detect and destroy. When the ICBMs appeared in the square, it prompted cheering by spectators, KCNA said, adding that the parade also featured a "tactical nuclear operation unit."

The news agency highlighted that the parade showcased "the country's greatest nuclear attack capability."

Analysts said the scale and scope of the weaponry on display showed advances that represented a challenge to the United States.

"They've shown more ICBMs in the latest parade than they've ever shown before, consistent with a longstanding directive from Kim Jong Un on mass producing nuclear weapons and delivery systems," US-based analyst Ankit Panda told AFP.

"North Korea has now demonstrated that their nuclear forces are far from 'limited'," he said.

Other analysts said that by parading more of Kim's most advanced Hwasong-17 missiles than have ever been seen before, Pyongyang was sending a clear message.

"This is North Korea trying to declare itself a full-fledged nuclear power," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul told AFP.

It is noteworthy that the DPRK has held four night-time military parades in recent years -- including the latest one.

The parade comes after Pyongyang vowed to expand and intensify military drills to ensure its readiness for war, following a record-breaking year of weapons tests, including firing its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile.

Kim recently called for an "exponential" increase in the DPRK's nuclear arsenal, including mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons and developing new missiles for nuclear counterstrikes.