North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has urged a dramatic expansion of the nation’s military capabilities. The call came during a public photo session with participants in a parade held previously, signaling a high-level push to accelerate the country’s defense program.
In his remarks, Kim tied the country’s prosperity to the strength of its armed forces, stating that true dignity and honor are attainable only when a nation possesses a powerful military. He warned that economic vitality without a robust defense would resemble a mirage, underscoring the regime’s view that security and economic goals are intertwined and inseparable.
The leader further asserted that countering what he described as escalating imperialist aggression requires the military to grow at a pace far faster than in the past. His language framed military modernization as a prerequisite for political autonomy and regional influence, a theme consistently echoed throughout state media coverage of the event.
Observers noted that Kim publicly praised the participants of the parade as figures whose role and actions should be recorded in history. The rhetoric positioned the troops not only as a display of capability but as a symbolic embodiment of national resolve and continuity with the country’s long-standing political narrative.
The celebrations in Pyongyang, dated February 8, marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). The central event was a mass military parade on Kim Il Sung Square, where a lineup of strategic weapons and modern equipment was showcased. The march included a convoy of intercontinental ballistic missiles, among them the Hwaseong-17, along with newly unveiled tanks, large-scale multiple launch rocket systems, and 152mm self-propelled artillery—each representing a facet of the modernization program emphasized by the leadership.
In a separate moment, Kim reportedly planned a meeting with senior officers and generals, with his arrival at a central hotel where the military leadership was gathered. The reception from high-ranking commanders signaled a coordinated display of loyalty and readiness to carry forward the party’s directives. The interaction underscored the sense of ceremonial solidarity that often accompanies major demonstrations of military capabilities in the country’s public governance framework. [Citation: North Korea monitoring agencies and state media summaries]”
Analysts note that the emphasis on rapid military growth and the integration of advanced weapons systems into the parade repertoire serves multiple strategic purposes. It functions domestically as a reinforcement of authority and national unity, while also signaling to regional observers that Pyongyang remains committed to its long-standing posture of deterrence and self-reliance. The timing—coinciding with a national celebration—helps to amplify the message that defense modernization is inseparable from the nation’s political legitimacy and future trajectory. [Citation: regional defense analysis reports]
For foreign observers, the interaction between military advancement and political messaging offers a window into how leadership in Pyongyang seeks to shape both internal expectations and external perceptions. The emphasis on an accelerated buildup, paired with public demonstrations of sophisticated capabilities, suggests an intention to project resolve and resilience at a moment of heightened geopolitical sensitivity. While the exact operational details of the modernization plan remain opaque to outside audiences, the visible components of the parade provide a tangible indicator of the direction the regime appears to be pursuing. [Citation: expert briefings and policy reviews]”