On Wednesday (February 8), North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversaw a major military parade which showcased a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
According to AFP, the parade on Wednesday was to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea’s armed forces. It featured fireworks, military bands and uniformed soldiers marching in unison to spell out “2.8” – the date of the celebration and “75”.
Images showed Kim, his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter Ju Ae, flanked by his top generals in Pyongyang’s central Kim Il Sung Square as they saluted as troops and missile units paraded past while patriotic music played.
The threat of war
The weapons on show included at least 10 of the North’s largest Hwasong-17 ICBMs, as well as vehicles apparently designed to carry a solid-fuelled ICBM. It also featured “tactical nuclear weapons operation units”.
The parade comes after North Korea vowed to expand and intensify military drills to ensure its readiness for war. This followed a record-breaking year of weapons tests, including firing its most advanced ICBM.
Kim recently called for an “exponential” increase in Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal, including mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons and developing new missiles for nuclear counterstrikes.
Everyone to the panic stations
Pictures of the parade has made its way onto social media where users expressed their shock at the fact that North Korea were displaying their arsenal of weapons so openly.
“Pulling up to the parade with atomic bombs as the attraction is nuts.”
“Showing off nukes like it’s a float at a parade is crazy,” said a netizen.
Meanwhile, a few users claimed that the missiles were fake and are merely just for show.
“Wow, look at all the useless movie props.”
“Do they work or are they just for show,” said another user.
What do you think of North Korea’s parade of destructive weapons? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
