The probability for a military parade looms as officials and some figures whose participation are often listed in government affairs have been invited as important guests to “celebrations” arranged to celebrate the current party congress, as reported by Pyongyang media on Tuesday.
Military officials in Seoul claimed on Monday that they have detected a signal pointing out a military parade held in the North, particularly in central Pyongyang, on Sunday night in time for the ruling Workers’ Party’s eighth congress. North had been preparing for the said parade since opening the congress last week, it said.
However, North Korea’s state-run media have not reported the said event. This sparks speculation that the North might have conducted a rehearsal and the actual military parade could happen the next few days.
The North is known to broadcast its military parade live, or keeping a recorded footage intended for later airing.
“The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) invited officials and persons of distinguished services, who had worked in the Party, the government and the military for a long time, as special guests to the celebrations of the 8th Congress of the WPK,” said the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The media outlet, however, did not specify details on what the event might be.
In October, the North conducted its large military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party.
The country has exhibited its modern weapons, which, among others, include a new intercontinental ballistic missile and a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
The country’s leader Kim Jong-un was present at the event and gave a speech.
Kim, in the earlier days of the party congress, tagged the U.S. as his country’s “foremost principal enemy” and pledged to boost its nuclear arsenal.
“Our foreign political activities should be focused and redirected on subduing the US, our biggest enemy and main obstacle to our innovative development,” Kim was quoted saying, as reported by KCNA.“No matter who is in power in the US, the true nature of the US and its fundamental policies towards North Korea never change,” he added.
The Seoul’s military, asked for a statement on the hints of the North’s military parade, said on Tuesday that the activities in line with the party congress seem to continue.It did not provide further details.
“Intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are thoroughly following and monitoring related moves in close coordination,” Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Kim Jun-rak in a press briefing.