North Korea was reportedly holding a military parade on the night of the 10th to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party.
According to the military authorities, North Korea on this night began a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. The main event is currently underway.
Starting with the parade in October 2020 marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party, North Korea has held all seven of its most recent military parades at night. This is seen as an attempt to highlight the prowess of its cutting-edge weapons with dazzling lighting and fireworks and to maximize propaganda impact.
In particular, this year's parade is expected to be the largest ever to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party. Attention is focused on whether the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "Hwasong-20 type," which North Korea is developing, will be unveiled. A speech by State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un and other details have not yet been confirmed.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who is No. 2 in China's power hierarchy, and Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party, a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, visited North Korea for the parade. They are presumed to be standing side by side with State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un on the reviewing stand, showcasing trilateral solidarity among North Korea, China, and Russia.
Communist Party General Secretary Trong of Vietnam and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith also visited North Korea. It is the first visit to North Korea by Vietnam's top-ranked Communist Party general secretary in 18 years, since Nong Duc Manh in 2007. President Sisoulith also visited Pyongyang in 2011 as foreign minister, making this his first visit in about 14 years.
So far, North Korean media have not reported on the parade. North Korea records and airs major events such as parades, so the details are expected to be released on the 11th through Korean Central Television.