Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, held a grand nighttime military parade to conclude the seven-day Workers' Party Congress, demonstrating the country's military strength to the world at large.
Pyongyang was illuminated brightly and filled with stirring music as Kim Jong Un, North Korea's Supreme Leader, staged a grand nighttime military parade to close the seven-day Workers' Party Congress, witnessed by thousands of delegates and watched closely by global observers.
A highlight that drew as much attention as the military power was the appearance beside the leader of Kim Ju Ae, his approximately 13-year-old daughter. Both wore dark leather coats, projecting an elegant and authoritative look, walking side by side across the large square while pointing, talking, and waving to the marching troops in Kim Il Sung Square, named after Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and Kim Jong Un's grandfather.
This Workers' Party Congress was the country's most influential political event, carefully stage-managed to reinforce the legitimacy and strength of the leadership before the elite and the military.
In his closing speech, Kim Jong Un took a hardline stance, declaring that North Korea could completely destroy South Korea if its security was threatened, reiterating rejection of past diplomatic efforts between the two Koreas.
However, the Pyongyang leader left a diplomatic opening for the United States, stating that if Washington abandons policies he views as hostile toward North Korea, there might be a possibility to revive the stalled negotiations that have been deadlocked for years.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim called for accelerated development of new weapons systems to strengthen the nuclear forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of underwater launch, expansion of tactical nuclear arsenals, and artillery and short-range missiles aimed at South Korea.
The North Korean leader also emphasized that the rapid development of nuclear and missile programs over recent years has cemented the country's permanent status as a nuclear-armed state.
Although the parade featured a full display of forces and various weapons, observers noted the absence of some of the largest weapons, especially ICBMs believed capable of striking the U.S. mainland, suggesting Pyongyang may be sending a strategic signal to avoid provoking the U.S. excessively while keeping diplomatic channels open for future talks.
Meanwhile, Kim Ju Ae's appearance alongside her father at a national event again fueled speculation among analysts that she is being prepared for a long-term political role, despite North Korean authorities never officially announcing her status.
. Source:AP
Click to read news aboutNorth Korea