North Korea has unveiled what it described as its “most powerful” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a grand military parade in Pyongyang, attended by top officials from Russia and China, according to state media reports on Saturday.
The parade marked 80 years of the ruling Workers’ Party’s leadership and underscored Kim Jong Un’s growing confidence amid deepening ties with Moscow. The North Korean leader has reportedly strengthened his alliance with Russia by sending thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine — a move that has, in turn, brought him critical political and military support.
Among the dignitaries present were Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s deputy head of the Security Council and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin; Chinese Premier Li Qiang; and Vietnamese President To Lam. They were seated near Kim Jong Un, as shown in images released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The parade showcased North Korea’s latest and most advanced weaponry, including the newly revealed Hwasong-20 ICBM, which KCNA described as the nation’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system” with a “strike range that knows no bounds.”
While the Hwasong-20 has yet to undergo a flight test, analysts say the weapon reflects Kim’s ambition to possess a missile capable of targeting cities anywhere in the world. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, noted that the event demonstrated Kim’s attempt to claim both domestic legitimacy and international recognition, even as the regime prioritizes military development over economic welfare.
Thousands of citizens in colorful traditional attire filled the streets of Pyongyang during the late-night event, waving national flags and cheering as military vehicles rolled through the rain-soaked streets. KCNA reported that various types of long-range cruise missiles, drone launchers, and ground-to-air and ground-to-ground missiles were also featured.
In his address, Kim urged the military to “grow into an invincible force capable of destroying all threats,” though he avoided directly naming the United States or South Korea. However, North Korea’s state broadcaster KCTV described a military unit near the inter-Korean border as “a steel fortress” facing “the most hostile state” — a clear reference to Seoul.
Footage also showed North Korean troops who had been deployed to support Russia’s war effort marching under both the North Korean and Russian flags, with Medvedev seen applauding from the stands. South Korean officials have claimed that around 600 North Korean soldiers have died and thousands more have been injured while fighting in Ukraine.
KCNA said the parade highlighted North Korea’s “limitless defense technology potential” and “astonishing pace of development,” asserting that the world can “no longer ignore” the country’s military progress.
Dramatic scenes broadcast by KCTV included a soldier breaking flaming wooden sticks with his head, and special forces troops emerging from the sea — apparently from a submarine — before opening fire. Spectators, including foreign guests, were shown filming the spectacle with their phones despite the rain.
The celebrations occurred amid speculation that a potential meeting between North Korean and U.S. officials could take place during this year’s APEC summit in South Korea.
Although former U.S. President Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un three times during his first term, the two leaders failed to reach a lasting deal on denuclearization. Since then, Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state.
Last month, Kim appeared alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a military parade in Beijing — a symbol of the growing alignment among the three nations.
Seong-Hyon Lee, a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Asia Center, told AFP that the Pyongyang parade represents “a deliberate, structural shift in regional geopolitics,” warning that it underscores the emergence of a powerful trilateral bloc that could challenge the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
“It serves as a stark reminder,” he added, “that Seoul’s strengthened ties with Washington will be met by an increasingly unified and assertive coalition forming right on its doorstep.”
