North Korea Unveils New Long-Range Missile in "Massive" Military Parade

SadaNews - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased the strongest weapons in his nuclear-armed military during a "massive" parade attended by foreign leaders, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile that may be prepared for testing in the coming weeks.

The parade, held in Kim Il Sung Square and starting on Friday night to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party, highlighted Kim's growing diplomatic weight and his ongoing efforts to build an arsenal that can target the United States and his rivals in Asia.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that a new intercontinental ballistic missile, which has not yet been tested, was showcased, named "Hwasong-20," which it described as "the most powerful strategic nuclear weapons system."

Other displayed weapons included shorter-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles, which North Korea had previously stated are capable of launching nuclear strikes against targets in its rival South Korea.

In a speech during the parade, Kim stated that his military "must continue to evolve into an invincible force that eliminates all threats," although he did not directly mention Washington or Seoul.

The Central News Agency noted that the ranks of soldiers marching in the parade included "the invincible external operations unit that fully demonstrated the spirit of the Korean people," referring to forces sent by Kim to Russia to join the war effort against Ukraine.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang participated at the head of a delegation at the celebrations, along with Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.

Last month, Kim appeared alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a massive military parade in Beijing.

According to the Associated Press, the celebrations come after South Korea stated that a meeting between North Korea and the United States "cannot be ruled out" on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit being held in South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump met Kim three times during his first term but they failed to reach an agreement regarding North Korea's nuclear program. Since then, Pyongyang has repeatedly asserted that it is a nuclear power "irreversibly."