A military parade held by North Korea on the 10th to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. TASS Yonhap News. 

North Korea showcased its new Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a military parade held on the 10th to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party, with leader Kim Jong Un in attendance.

By highlighting this strategic weapon, capable of directly striking the U.S. mainland, the regime appears to be engaging in a show of force. With high-ranking officials from China, Russia, and ASEAN nations watching, the parade served to flaunt North Korea's nuclear delivery capabilities and solidify the regime's claim of a changed "strategic status."

On the 11th, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the previous day's parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, stating, "As the column of the Hwasong-20, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system, filled the main street and entered the square, the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd reached a crescendo."

Last month, North Korea announced a plan to produce a new high-thrust solid-fuel engine, stating it would be used for the new Hwasong-20 ICBM. After conducting a ground jet test for the engine, which it described as the "final test in the development process," the regime unveiled the Hwasong-20 for the first time at this parade.

Analysts suggest that the Hwasong-20 is being developed as a multiple-warhead ICBM with increased thrust. This is interpreted as an escalation of North Korea’s nuclear threat toward the U.S., as the missile could simultaneously strike multiple targets on the U.S. mainland and is difficult to intercept.

Hypersonic missiles, considered weapons capable of neutralizing an opponent's missile defense network, were also featured in the parade.

The KCNA reported, "Strategic weapon systems, the embodiment of absolute power that forms the essence of our national defense capability, entered the square, shaking the earth," adding that "columns of hypersonic glide missiles and hypersonic medium-to-long-range strategic missiles marched forward."

It also stated that columns of long-range strategic cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launchers, and surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles "marched in succession."

A military parade held by North Korea on the 10th to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. TASS Yonhap News. 

In addition, conventional assets such as self-propelled artillery and multiple rocket launchers were displayed.

The KCNA noted, "Following the column of the modern 'Chonma-20' main battle tanks, a column of 155mm self-propelled howitzers—demonstrating the strength of our army's primary branch, the artillery force—marched through the square with their muzzles held high, ready to annihilate the enemy."

It also reported that the crowd applauded the "flow of next-generation core strike weapon systems capable of precision strikes on enemy key targets, and the column of 600mm multiple rocket launchers, unique high-tech weapons of the Juche-oriented Joseon."

The parade columns were led by Minister of National Defense No Kwang Chol, followed by the Strategic Force, which operates the missile assets, the Special Operations Force, and overseas operation units.

Footage of the parade released to foreign media shows units marching while carrying both the North Korean flag and the Russian flag. The Russian outlet RT mentioned, "These soldiers fought alongside the Russian military in Kursk," suggesting that the North Korean units deployed to Kursk appeared in the parade.

The KCNA described them as "the invincible overseas operation unit column that created a great new history of the Korean People's Army and fully demonstrated the spirit of the Korean people, marching imposingly past the reviewing stand under the inspection of the great commander."

A "Reconnaissance General Bureau column" was also mentioned. It is understood that North Korea recently expanded and reorganized the Reconnaissance General Bureau—the organization under the General Staff Department responsible for intelligence gathering and operations against South Korea and abroad—into the "Reconnaissance Intelligence General Bureau."

In his speech at the parade, Kim Jong Un stated, "Our military must continue to evolve into an invincible entity that eliminates all threats to our sovereign rights through political, ideological, and military-technical superiority that overwhelms the enemy, and must be constantly strengthened as an elite force that builds a platform of victory through discipline and military spirit."

He further declared, "Our Party and the Republic's government affirm that we will continue to fulfill our responsibilities in the joint struggle of progressive humanity to oppose injustice and hegemony and to defend justice and peace, alongside our powerful revolutionary armed forces."

However, he did not use language directly threatening the United States or South Korea. This is interpreted as a calibrated approach while the regime engages in unofficial exploratory dialogue regarding the resumption of talks with the U.S.

References to "opposing hegemony" and "progressive humanity" are interpreted as being mindful of the non-Western nations in attendance, including China, Russia, and ASEAN members. The logic appears to be that North Korea's defense buildup contributes to strengthening the anti-U.S. and multipolar front.

Standing on either side of Kim Jong Un on the reviewing stand were Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who visited Pyongyang as a special envoy for the 80th anniversary, and To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia and Chairman of the United Russia party, was seated to the left of Secretary General To Lam.

Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, was not mentioned by North Korean media nor visible in the published photos, suggesting she did not attend.

Yonhap News