A military parade was held in North Korea to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). The event was reported by the national radio service, Voice of Korea, which provided detailed coverage of the proceedings and the ceremonial elements that accompanied the appearance of the country’s leadership on the podium. The occasion underscored the continued emphasis North Korea places on its armed forces as a central pillar of national identity and political legitimacy, a theme that has recurred at major anniversaries and anniversaries in the recent past.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade alongside his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, in a display that was widely interpreted as a family moment intended to project a sense of continuity and stability at the highest levels of the regime. Reports indicate that Kim did not address the crowd directly during the ceremony, a choice that some observers interpret as a deliberate styling of leadership presence rather than a formal speech. The attendance by the first family was accompanied by the traditional review of troops, as well as a formal procession of units from across the Korean People’s Army.
According to dispatches, Kim Jong-un passed by the honor guard in a manner that drew attention from attendees and observers alike. The sequence of events around the honor guard has often been scrutinized for signs of internal messaging within North Korea’s leadership and for indications of ceremonial protocol. After the conclusion of the parade, military units conducted an artillery salute, a customary display intended to culminate the formal proceedings with a powerful reminder of the country’s defense capabilities.
News agency Renhap reported that the parade included demonstrations of North Korea’s strategic capabilities, with particular emphasis on the display of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The sight of such weapons on parade grounds is typically framed by state media as a testament to military strength and deterrence, and the coverage during this anniversary highlighted the leadership’s focus on ensuring the capabilities needed to safeguard national sovereignty.
Between the public ceremony and the surrounding commemorations, leaders and military commanders from the Korean People’s Army were shown at a solemn banquet that followed the formal march. The gathering served to reinforce the unity of the armed forces and the ruling party around the project of national defense, leadership continuity, and the public demonstration of loyalty to the state’s strategic goals. The day’s events were framed by official media as a reaffirmation of the bond between the leadership and the armed forces, and as a signal to domestic audiences and international observers about the regime’s resolve at a moment of regional tensions.
As the evening drew to a close, the narrative from state media continued to stress the significance of the Hwaseong-17 intercontinental missile program in the broader defense strategy. The public appearance with the family, coupled with the repeated emphasis on missile capabilities, reinforced the image of a regime that maintains a visible and assertive posture in all aspects of governance and security. Observers noted that such displays are carefully choreographed to project stability, strength, and continuity, even as regional dynamics fluctuate and international attention remains fixed on North Korea’s weapons programs [Reuters].