U.S. intelligence has detected North Korea’s preparations for a large-scale military parade ahead of the 9th Workers’ Party Congress.
Maj. Gen. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed during a regular press briefing at the Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday that it has observed North Korea setting up for a parade at familiar locations such as Mirim Airfield and Kim Il Sung Square, sites they’ve used for past events.
He further noted that while it’s not yet confirmed if this will be a military parade, the current assessment suggests they’re preparing for a civilian-focused event.
The U.S.-based think tank Stimson Center’s North Korea watchdog, 38 North, analyzed recent Planet Labs satellite imagery. They reported spotting hundreds of personnel at Mirim Training Ground (also known as Mirim Airfield) in eastern Pyongyang. These troops were seen forming into shapes resembling the Workers’ Party’s iconic hammer, sickle, and brush while conducting marching drills.
Defense analysts interpret these marching exercises as typical pre-parade preparations, often seen before major political events in North Korea.
Mirim Training Ground, a replica of Kim Il Sung Square, is North Korea’s go-to location for rehearsing large-scale parades and mass rallies. The scope of troop formations and nature of the drills captured in these latest satellite images strongly suggest an impending parade.
While Pyongyang has yet to announce the exact dates for the 9th Workers’ Party Congress, recent political activities provide some clues. On January 24, a meeting of representatives from grassroots party organizations and city/county party committees took place. This was followed by a Central Committee meeting on January 30.
Given the typical timeline of 2-3 weeks between such meetings and the main congress, experts speculate the event could be scheduled for mid-February.
Addressing this, Maj. Gen. Lee explained that holding a party congress involves several procedural steps, which are currently underway. He added that it’s challenging to pinpoint an exact date at this time.