North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday night to mark the conclusion of the 9th Workers’ Party Congress. Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, declared in his address that its armed forces stand ready for any scenario. It will respond with swift and devastating counterattacks against any military provocations from hostile entities.
The following day, the Workers’ Party’s official mouthpiece, Rodong Sinmun, ran extensive coverage of the event under the headline Grand Military Parade Commemorates 9th Congress of Workers’ Party of Korea. The paper described the parade as the inaugural ceremony heralding a new phase of struggle, buoyed by the pride of the Party Congress’s monumental achievements.
In his speech, General Secretary Kim announced that they’ve convened this grand ceremony to honor the 9th Party Congress. He added that today’s commemorative parade will proudly showcase the resolve for a new great undertaking, building upon the hard-fought victories.
Addressing global affairs, Kim asserted that in a world where international peace mechanisms have crumbled and military aggression runs rampant, safeguarding the nation’s and people’s right to survival and progress is the paramount duty. He underscored the military’s readiness, stating that its forces will unleash immediate and crushing retaliatory strikes against any military hostilities that threaten the national sovereignty and security interests.
Kim further instructed the Korean People’s Army to continuously evolve into a force that strikes fear into the enemies. He emphasized that they should spearhead the charge in building socialism and breakthrough obstacles in times of crisis.
The newspaper featured images of General Secretary Kim on the reviewing stand alongside military commanders. His daughter, Ju-ae, was also present at the event, with multiple photos showing her waving to the crowds and parade units alongside her father.
The parade showcased over 50 marching contingents, including an honor guard and various branches and specialized units of the nation’s armed forces. The State Merited Chorus and Orchestra provided the musical accompaniment. The newspaper vividly described how elite airborne troops demonstrated advanced group parachuting maneuvers above the square, unfurling national and party flags during their aerial display.
While photographs from the parade revealed infantry units, mechanized divisions, presumed special operations forces, and artillery hardware, there was no evidence of large-scale or new strategic weapon systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The event’s focus on spectacular night lighting, fireworks, and massive card stunts suggested that this parade was more of a celebratory occasion rather than a demonstration of military might.