"Justice must prevail (正义必勝)" "Peace must prevail (和平必勝)" "The people's victory (人民必勝)".
An 80th anniversary military parade commemorating victory over Japan in World War II was held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Next to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is leading the 'anti-West' coalition, stood 'left' Kim Jong-un and 'right' Vladimir Putin. A banner emphasizing 'justice,' 'peace,' and 'the people' fluttered behind fighter jets crossing the sky.
Kim Jong-un, the Chairperson of North Korea, made his appearance at Tiananmen around 8:32 a.m. (local time) before the military parade officially started, after more than six years of visiting China. Attending alone without companions, the Chairperson warmly shook hands with President Xi.
After our side, led by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik and Russian President Vladimir Putin, finished entering, they walked side by side in the order of 'Putin-Xi-Jinping-Kim Jong-un' from the Forbidden City to Tiananmen. The three leaders smiled and chatted as they ascended the Tiananmen viewing platform.
At exactly 9 a.m., with the announcement of the parade's start, the sound of preliminary cannon fire echoed for about five minutes. Soldiers began marching towards Tiananmen Square. After raising the national flag and singing the national anthem, President Xi began his speech, emphasizing 'peace' and 'the people' multiple times while wearing a People's Liberation Army uniform.
President Xi noted, "Today humanity is again faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, coexistence or zero-sum," adding, "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation cannot be stopped, and the cause of world peace and development must prevail." He also urged the Chinese military to provide strategic support for national rejuvenation and contribute more significantly to world peace.
◇ A high-tech 'weapons show' lasting about 70 minutes unfolded
Subsequently, President Xi inspected the troops lined up around Chang'an Avenue in a limousine. As each unit saluted him, President Xi exchanged greetings such as, "Hello comrades," and "Thank you for your hard work," while soldiers shouted, "We serve the people" and "The people's victory." As President Xi drove back into Tiananmen, the 70-minute parade commenced.
Notably, during this parade, the nuclear-capable missile Dongfeng (DF)-5C, which can target the entire globe, was unveiled, generating a lot of attention. The DF-5C is believed to be an upgraded version of the existing DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the DF-5C is one of the core components of China's strategic counteroffensive system, with a striking range covering the entire world.
The DF-61, which was unveiled consecutively, also received cheers from the audience. The DF-61 is a long-range missile first unveiled on this day, believed to be an upgrade of the DF-41 (2019). Additionally, an upgraded version of the DF-26, known as a 'Guam killer,' and the medium- to short-range ballistic missile DF-17, capable of neutralizing the U.S. military's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), were also unveiled.
The latest ultra-large unmanned submarine 'HSU 100,' 'AJX 002,' and various air defense systems, which drew attention during the rehearsal for the parade, also adorned Tiananmen Street, while next-generation stealth fighters flew in formation overhead. The parade concluded with 80,000 doves symbolizing peace and 80,000 balloons in six different colors soaring into the sky.
◇ Tiananmen area bustling from dawn... heat rising under the blazing sun
Before the parade started that day, the Tiananmen area was abuzz well before dawn. By 5 a.m., the roads had all been blocked off with barricades, and soldiers in dark green uniforms stood like mannequins, guarding the paths.
Buses carrying spectators lined up to enter the vicinity of Tiananmen, and the spectators who got off the bus entered the square after baggage checks. Despite the pre-assembly time before arriving at Tiananmen being 1 to 2 hours earlier, the spectators were brimming with vitality. After completing the baggage check, the spectators entering Tiananmen Square hurriedly took commemorative photos against the backdrop of preliminary preparations, needing the guidance of staff to manage the crowd.
After 6 a.m., a rehearsal for the parade began at Tiananmen Square. Following rehearsals for the choir and military band performances, troop marches were conducted. Spectators were busy taking 'certification photos' with their invitations in hand against the backdrop of Tiananmen. About an hour before the parade was set to begin, at 8 a.m., the audience section, which accommodates 50,000, was filled to capacity, causing temporary disruptions in internet communication due to the crowd.
When President Xi appeared, the audience waved the five-star red flag high and cheered. When the latest weapons systems were unveiled, they all took out their smartphones to film, showing no signs of cooling down in the heat of late summer.
After the morning parade, the heads of state attended a reception held shortly after at the Great Hall of the People. Once again, Chairperson Kim was seated to President Xi's left, while President Putin was on his right. In the evening, a dinner and performance themed on 'Justice will prevail' will be held.