North Korea Holds Military Parade, Showcases New Intercontinental Missile

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a massive military parade on Friday night, during which the country displayed its new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) before visiting international dignitaries, according to state media KCNA.

The parade marked the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party, following earlier commemorative events held on Thursday.

Foreign dignitaries in Pyongyang for the anniversary included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, a Russian delegation led by former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam.

During the parade, North Korea showcased its most advanced Hwasong-20 ICBM, described by KCNA as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.”

While the Hwasong series of ICBMs theoretically allows North Korea to target anywhere on the U.S. mainland, questions remain about the missile’s guidance precision and the ability of its warhead to survive atmospheric reentry.

Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace commented, “The Hwasong-20 currently symbolizes North Korea’s ambition to achieve long-range nuclear capabilities. We should expect testing of this system before the end of the year. It is likely designed for multiple warheads, which would strain existing U.S. missile defenses and give Kim Jong Un the credible deterrent effect against Washington he seeks.”

KCNA reported that during the parade, Kim delivered a speech praising North Korean soldiers for their “enthusiastic dedication” in foreign operations. He emphasized that the bravery of his military would be evident not only in defending the nation but also in “the socialist construction outposts.”

“Our military must continue to develop as an invincible force capable of destroying all threats,” Kim stated.

Kim also met with Medvedev on Friday, who praised the sacrifices of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, saying it reinforced trust between the two nations. KCNA quoted Kim as expressing hope that cooperation with Russia would continue to strengthen and that the countries would remain closely connected through diverse exchanges to achieve shared objectives.