Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), attended a massive military parade in Pyongyang on Saturday morning, amid soaring tension on the Korean Peninsula.
The parade was part of the grand celebrations to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, founder of the DPRK and the grandfather of Kim Jong Un. Known as the "Day of the Sun," Kim Il Sung's birthday has been held the most important holiday of the country.
A military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. /CFP Photo
Wearing a black suit and white shirt, Kim Jong Un saluted his honor guards before walking up to a podium, where he watched thousands of soldiers taking part in the parade.
Displayed were its submarine-launched ballistic missiles for the first time in the parade, which analysts call a show of strength as the US threatens to attack Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile tests.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un attends massive military parade.
It is unclear whether intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) were displayed.
Zhang Junshe, vice president of the China Naval Research Institute, cast his doubt on the maturity of DPRK's nuclear program in an interview with CGTN. "At present, I don't think the DPRK has gained the technology to produce a long range or even intercontinental ballistic missile," he said, adding that the country does not pose a direct threat to the US.
However, military officials in the Republic of Korea (ROK) speculated that the DPRK may have unveiled its "new ICBM" during the parade. "It's presumed to be a new ICBM. It seems longer than the existing KN-08 or KN-14 ICBMs," an official told Yonhap news agency.
Part of the military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017.
The DPRK held its last parade in October 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. On April 15, 2012, it staged an immense parade in honor of the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung.
CGTN Graphic
War of words
Saturday's parade has been closely watched across the world among speculations that the DPRK could conduct its sixth nuclear test in the coming days.
During the past week, US President Donald Trump dispatched aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and an accompanying battle group to the Korean Peninsula, while Pyongyang warned that it would take the "toughest counter-action" against "provocative options" by the US.
A view of the military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. /CFP Photo
In an interview with the Associated Press, DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol said a nuclear test would occur" at a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary," in response to Trump's warning on Thursday that the DPRK is a problem that "will be taken care of."
On Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged all parties to refrain from inflammatory or threatening statements to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from becoming irreversible.
"China has always opposed any rhetoric or actions that would escalate tension, and historically dialogue has proved to be the only solution," Wang said. "No one would win and multiple parties will lose if there was a war on the Korean Peninsula."
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