The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a military parade on Thursday to mark the 73rd founding anniversary of the republic, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the DPRK, attended the event as paramilitary and public security forces began marching at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital Pyongyang at midnight Wednesday, KCNA said.

Kim, wearing a pale grey Western-style suit and matching tie, "extended warm greetings to all the people of the country," KCNA reported. It did not quote him giving a speech.

"The columns of emergency epidemic prevention and the Ministry of Public Health were full of patriotic enthusiasm to display the advantages of the socialist system all over the world, while firmly protecting the security of the country and its people from the worldwide pandemic," KCNA said.

The pageant featured Red Guards and members of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, it said, as well as parachutists, mechanized units and a flypast. Cooperative farm workers drove "tractors hauling artillery pieces to pound the aggressors and their vassal forces with annihilating firepower in case of emergency," KCNA added.

(With input from agencies)