SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥� At a attended by foreign leaders, rolled out his nuclear-armed military鈥檚 most powerful weapons, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile he may be preparing to test in coming weeks.
The parade, which began in the rain Friday night at Pyongyang鈥檚 main square and marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers鈥� Party, highlighted Kim鈥檚 growing diplomatic footing and his relentless drive to build an arsenal that could target the continental United States and his rivals in Asia.
North Korean state media said Saturday that the parade featured a new, yet-to-be-tested ICBM called the Hwasong-20, which it described as the country鈥檚 鈥渕ost powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.鈥�
Joined by high-level Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian officials at a podium, Kim said in a speech that his military 鈥渟hould continue to grow into an invincible entity that destroys all threats,鈥� but made no direct mention of the United States or South Korea.
He also praised the thousands of to join its war against Ukraine, saying they displayed 鈥渉eroic fighting spirit鈥� and 鈥渋deological and spiritual perfection鈥� in a battle for 鈥渋nternational justice and genuine peace.鈥�
Edited footage from North Korean state television showed what appeared to be tens of thousands of spectators packed into the brightly lit square, cheering and waving the national flag as columns of goose-stepping soldiers and missile-mounted vehicles rolled through the rain-soaked streets. The soldiers included troops Kim had sent to Russia, who marched under North Korean and Russian flags as state media hailed them as 鈥渋nvincible鈥� warriors.
The Hwasong-20 is the latest addition to Kim鈥檚 growing list of ICBMs
North Korea in recent years has flight-tested a variety of ICBMs that could potentially reach the U.S. mainland, including that are easier to move and conceal and can be prepared for launch more quickly than the North鈥檚 previous liquid-fueled missiles.
The parade saw the debut of the massive Hwasong-20, with at least three of them wheeled out on 11-axle launcher trucks.
The new missile鈥檚 existence was first revealed in recent weeks as North Korea tested a that it said was intended for future ICBMs. State media said the engine, built with carbon fiber, is more powerful than past models.
Kim has called for the development of multi-warhead systems that would improve the chances of penetrating missile defenses, and some experts say the Hwasong-20 could be designed for that purpose.
Other weapons on display included shorter-range ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, which the North previously described as capable of delivering nuclear strikes against targets in South Korea. The parade also featured Kim鈥檚 newest tanks, artillery systems and drones, which have been a key focus of his efforts to expand his conventional military capabilities after he spent much of his early rule concentrating on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
High-level visitors highlight Kim鈥檚 growing diplomatic reach
Kim this week hosted a rare group of high-level foreign officials sent to Pyongyang to attend the anniversary celebrations, including Chinese Premier former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Moscow鈥檚 Security Council, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam.
During the parade, Kim took the central spot at the podium, flanked by Li to his right and Lam to his left, while Medvedev stood next to Lam.
The high-level visits highlight Kim鈥檚 increasingly assertive foreign policy as he seeks to break out of isolation and establish a larger role for North Korea in a . North Korea has shunned any form of talks with Washington and Seoul since Kim鈥檚 high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 during the American president鈥檚 first term. In a recent speech, Kim urged Washington to drop its demand for the North to surrender its nukes as a precondition for resuming diplomacy.
Kim also visited China last month and shared center stage with at a massive military parade.
Kim on Friday separately met with Medvedev to discuss developing the 鈥渃omprehensive strategic partnership and alliance鈥� with Russia, the official Korean Central 91欧美激情 Agency said. Medvedev praised the 鈥渂ravery and self-sacrificing spirit鈥� of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia鈥檚 , and called for expanded exchanges and cooperation between the two governments. Kim had also met Li and Lam on Thursday for talks on strengthening ties.
Since Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, Kim has made Russia the priority of his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large shipments of weapons, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to help fuel Putin鈥檚 war.
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