NK News, a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korea, reported that North Korea has set up a red stage for celebrations in front of the Mansudae Assembly Hall in preparation for the 76th anniversary of the regime’s establishment on September 9.
NK News revealed satellite images from the commercial satellite service Planet Labs, showing the construction of the red stage between August 28 and September 1. The report indicated that this timeline aligns with the celebrations held on September 9 (9·9 Day) in 2022 and 2023, which featured the attendance of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Previously, North Korean state media widely reported that Kim had inspected flood-affected areas and met with victims in August.
Kim has called for flood victims to reside in Pyongyang temporarily. During a welcome speech on August 16, he stated, “Despite various major national events anticipated later this year, we have decided to provide these facilities entirely for the people in the flood-affected areas.”
Hanna Song, the executive director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, told NK News that despite the flooding, the preparations for the event in Pyongyang demonstrate North Korea’s prioritization of maintaining its national image over addressing the urgent needs of its citizens.
She noted that Kim’s refusal of external aid for flood recovery suggests that the regime is more interested in showcasing resilience and strength through public celebrations than in genuinely resolving the hardships faced by its citizens.
However, NK News noted that this year’s founding anniversary is not a major jubilee like those celebrated every five or ten years and that massive events like parades are not expected to occur, considering the ongoing flood recovery efforts in the northwestern regions.