Seoul: North Korean state media displayed Chinese and Russian officials standing alongside Kim Jong Un as they observed North Korea’s latest nuclear-capable missiles and new attack drones during a military parade in Pyongyang on Friday. The parade commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, celebrated in North Korea as “Victory Day.”
Notably, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit marked the first by Moscow’s top defence official since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, while China’s delegation was the first from the country to visit North Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Their presence at the parade, where North Korea showcased nuclear missiles banned by the United Nations Security Council with Chinese and Russian support, contrasted with previous years when both countries tried to distance themselves from North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development.
During the parade, Kim, Shoigu, and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong were seen talking, laughing, and saluting as North Korean troops marched below. The showcased missiles included North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18, believed to have the capability to strike targets in the United States. The event also featured a flyover by new attack and spy drones.
Kim hosted a reception and luncheon with Shoigu, expressing solidarity with the Russian people and their military. In return, Shoigu praised North Korea’s military as the strongest in the world, and both sides discussed strategic security and defence cooperation.
During a speech at the parade, North Korean Defence Minister General Kang Sun Nam accused the United States and its allies of increasing tensions in the region. It is important to note that North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 for its missile and nuclear programmes, including a ban on the development of ballistic missiles.
While in recent years, Russia and China have opposed US-led efforts to impose further sanctions on North Korea, their presence at the parade showcasing banned ballistic missiles raised concerns about their commitment to enforcing sanctions, according to Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
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