The parade commemorated North Korea's army's 75th founding anniversary and came after weeks of planning involving massive numbers of troops and civilians mobilised to glorify Kim's rule and his relentless push to cement the North's status as a nuclear power

Photo Credit : KCNA,

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un paraded his young daughter through a massive military parade displaying the latest hardware from his rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal, including intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, state media reported Thursday.

The parade commemorated North Korea's army's 75th founding anniversary and came after weeks of planning involving massive numbers of troops and civilians mobilised to glorify Kim's rule and his relentless push to cement the North's status as a nuclear power.

According to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, the parade included a variety of nuclear-capable weapons that exacerbate tensions with its neighbours and the United States, including tactical nuclear weapons aimed at South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which the agency described as critical weapons supporting the North's “power-to-power, all-out confrontation” with enemies.

Maxar Technologies released commercial satellite images of the parade, which showed massive missile-carrying trucks passing the square's main road as thousands of spectators looked on.

During a briefing, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun stated that the South Korean and US militaries were closely analysing North Korean photos and reports to evaluate the weaponry.

Outside governments and experts closely monitor North Korean military parades because they frequently feature newly developed weapons that the North intends to test or deploy.

Some experts predicted that North Korea would use the parade to demonstrate a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be a critical addition to the country's long-range arsenal aimed at the United States mainland.

In December, Kim oversaw a test of a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” for a new strategic weapon he promised would be developed in the “shortest possible time,” which experts believe was a solid-fuel ICBM.

The use of solid fuel has the potential to increase missile mobility while decreasing launch preparation time. Since 2017, the North has tested all of its ICBMs with liquid propellants.

Kim announced a five-year arms development plan in 2021 that included tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites, among other things.

The parade took place a day after Kim brought his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to visit troops to commemorate the anniversary, during which he praised the “irresistible might” of his nuclear-armed military.

Kim Ju Ae, his second-born child, is thought to be 9 or 10 years old. Analysts believe Kim's decision to bring his daughter to military-related public events is intended to remind the world that he has no intention of voluntarily surrendering his nuclear weapons, which he apparently sees as the best guarantee of his survival and the continuation of his family's dynastic rule.