N. Korea may stage military parade to mark Victory Day as early as midnight

A youth concert featuring wartime songs is held at an outdoor theater in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, July 24, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap

North Korea may conduct a much-anticipated military parade as early as midnight Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice celebrated in the reclusive country as Victory Day, multiple sources said.

Commercial satellite imagery has shown that the North has been preparing for the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang ― an event likely aimed at highlighting its military presence and fostering internal unity.

"The parade could begin as early as midnight and stretch into the wee hours," a government source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.

Until 2018, Pyongyang held military parades mostly in the morning. But since the event held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party in October 2020, it has staged parades at night.

NK leader pays respects to fallen soldiers ahead of Korean War armistice anniv. 2023-07-26 08:13  |  North Korea
The upcoming parade, if held, is expected to set the stage for Pyongyang to flaunt its nuclear delivery capabilities after it enacted an aggressive nuclear force doctrine last year that threatens the preemptive use of nuclear arms.

The list of weapons likely to appear at the parade includes intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles and tactical nuclear weapons, observers said.

The parade could mark the culmination of its show-of-force efforts, including the launch of a Hwasong-18 ICBM and other cruise and ballistic missile firings earlier this month.

Pyongyang has recently been ratcheting up tensions as Seoul and Washington step up joint efforts to strengthen America's extended deterrence commitment to mobilizing the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend South Korea.

Ahead of the anticipated parade, a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday. The Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, is also expected to visit the North. (Yonhap)