North Korea gearing up for massive military parade—website

In this April 15, 2017, file photo, soldiers march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP-Yonhap)

SEOUL — North Korea appears to be preparing a huge military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Workers’ Party next month despite coronavirus fears, a US-based North Korean monitoring website said Wednesday.

Satellite images of Mirim airfield in Pyongyang taken on Aug. 31 provide the first evidence that rehearsals for a massive military parade to be held on Oct. 10 are underway, according to the 38 North. The images show hundreds of vehicles parked in the parking lots adjacent to the parade grounds and “thousands of troops in formations near or in the area that replicates Kim Il Sung Square.”

“Compared to previous years, training appears to have started slightly later than usual, possibly due to COVID-19 and anti-pandemic measures or severe weather constraints,” it said, adding preparations were observed about two months ahead of the April 15 parade in 2017, and five months ahead of the October 10 parade in 2015.

The Mirim airfield, located on the eastern side of the capital, has been used as a main rehearsal location for the parades. The parades usually take place at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, in front of a crowd of thousands and high-ranking guests and officials, with its leader Kim Jong-un often making an appearance.

The North regularly stages military parades on major national holidays, flexing its military muscles by showcasing new weapons, including missiles. It usually holds bigger events every fifth and the 10th year of the anniversary.

Pyongyang appears to have constructed around 100 garages at the site, making it impossible for outside observers to detect what kind of heavy equipment will be deployed in the parade, according to the report.

“That said, numerous tire tracks in the newly concreted area servicing the garages indicate heavy activity has taken place in and around the garages,” it added.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry in June also told lawmakers that new buildings were spotted under construction at Mirim airfield and repair work is underway at Kim Il Sung Square, raising the possibility that the North could introduce new military tech and ballistic missiles like its leader Kim Jong-un warned early this year.

Expressing frustration with stalled negotiations with the US, Kim vowed in his New Year’s message to introduce a “new strategic weapon” in the near future.