The 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s Workers’ Party is just hours away, scheduled for Friday. This year’s milestone celebration is expected to include an impressive military parade and other large-scale events, marking a significant commemorative anniversary in the regime’s calendar.
In the run-up to the party’s founding day, Pyongyang has been actively setting the stage with high-profile diplomatic engagements and military demonstrations, led by Kim Jong Un himself. On Tuesday, Kim held talks with Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, emphasizing the friendly cooperative relations between the two nations. This marks the first summit-level engagement between North Korea and Laos in 14 years and is likely aimed at strengthening an anti-U.S. coalition among socialist states.
Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has been diligently working to secure the attendance of foreign dignitaries at the 80th anniversary celebrations. These efforts have borne fruit, with both Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, and Li Qiang, China’s Premier, confirming their participation. This trilateral display of solidarity echoes last month’s demonstration at China’s 80th Victory Day parade, underscoring the deepening ties between Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow.
On October 4, Kim presided over the Defense Development 2025 arms exhibition, unveiling new weaponry including the KN-23 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) and the Hwasong-11 missile, which is believed to be equipped with hypersonic warheads. This preview suggests that the upcoming parade may feature these advanced weapon systems as a demonstration of North Korea’s military might.
Intelligence sources anticipate that the parade will commence at midnight on Friday in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square. This nocturnal spectacle, featuring elaborate lighting and fireworks, has become the norm since the 75th anniversary celebration in 2020, replacing the traditional daytime parades of previous years.
Historically, these parades serve as a platform for North Korea to showcase its latest military hardware and project its strength. Recent reports indicate that Pyongyang has been developing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-20, which features a high-thrust solid-fuel engine. Analysts speculate that this new ICBM could make its debut during the upcoming parade.
If Kim chooses to deliver a speech, it will be closely scrutinized for its geopolitical implications. Having addressed only five of the 14 parades he has attended, any remarks are likely to reinforce anti-U.S. rhetoric and may include pointed messages directed at Washington and Seoul.
The potential appearance of Kim’s daughter, Ju-ae, is another point of interest for observers. Since her public debut at the Hwasong-17 ICBM test launch in November 2022, she has been present at several high-profile events, including the Armed Forces Day parade in February 2023.
Ju-ae’s recent participation in Kim’s state visit to China from September 2-4 has fueled speculation about her status as a potential successor. However, she has not been seen in public for over a month, raising questions about whether she will make an appearance at this significant event.
North Korea has not broadcast these parades live since April 2017, during the 105th birth anniversary celebrations of Kim Il Sung. Instead, detailed coverage is typically released the following day. Even with the nighttime parade, comprehensive reports are expected to be disseminated on the morning of Friday through state media outlets such as the Rodong Sinmun, Korean Central News Agency, and Korean Central Television.
