North Korea unveils a new intercontinental ballistic missile that may be tested in the coming weeks

The parade, which began in the rain Friday night in Pyongyang’s main square to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, highlighted Kim’s growing diplomatic status and his continuing efforts to build an arsenal that can target the continental United States and his rivals in Asia.

North Korean state media said on Saturday that the display included a new, yet-to-be-tested intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-20, which it described as the country’s “most powerful strategic nuclear weapons system.”

Kim, who was joined at the podium by high-ranking officials from China, Vietnam and Russia, said in a speech that his military “must continue to grow into an invincible entity that destroys all threats,” but he did not directly refer to the United States or South Korea.

He also paid tribute to thousands Send North Korean soldiers to Russia to join its war against Ukraine, saying they had demonstrated a “heroic fighting spirit” and “ideological and spiritual perfection” in a battle for “international justice and true peace.”

Edited footage from North Korean state television showed what appeared to be tens of thousands of spectators packed into the brightly lit square, chanting and waving the national flag as columns of soldiers and missile-mounted vehicles roamed the rain-soaked streets. Among the soldiers were soldiers sent by Kim to Russia, and they marched under North Korean and Russian flags while state media praised them as “invincible” warriors.

The Hwasong-20 is the latest addition to Kim’s growing list of ICBMs

North Korea in recent years has tested a variety of intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the U.S. mainland, including Compact solid propellant rockets They are easier to transport and conceal and can be configured to launch more quickly than previous liquid-fueled Northern missiles.

The parade saw the debut of the massive Hwasong-20 missile, with at least three of them transported on 11-axle launcher trucks.

The existence of the new missile was first revealed in recent weeks when North Korea tested a missile New solid-propellant rocket engine Which she said was intended for future intercontinental ballistic missiles. State media said the carbon fiber engine is more powerful than previous models.

Kim called for the development of multi-warhead systems that would improve chances of penetrating missile defenses, and some experts say the Hwasong-20 missile could be designed for this purpose.

Other weapons on display include short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles, which North Korea has previously described as capable of launching nuclear strikes against targets in South Korea. The parade also included Kim’s latest tanks, artillery systems and drones, which have been a key focus of his efforts to expand his conventional military capabilities after spending much of his early rule focusing on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The high-level visitors highlight Kim’s growing diplomatic influence

This week, Kim hosted a rare group of high-ranking foreign officials sent to Pyongyang to attend the anniversary celebrations, including the Chinese Premier. li qiang, Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now Deputy Chairman of the Security Council in Moscow, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tu Lam.

During the performance, Kim occupied the central place on the podium, flanked by Lee to his right and Lam to his left, while Medvedev stood next to Lam.

The high-level visits highlight Kim’s increasingly assertive foreign policy as he seeks to emerge from isolation and establish a greater role for North Korea in the region. A united front against the West, led by the United States. North Korea has avoided any form of talks with Washington and Seoul since Kim’s high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 during the US president’s first term. In a recent speech, Kim urged Washington to abandon its demand for North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons as a precondition for resuming diplomacy.

Kim also visited China last month and shared center stage with him Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin In a huge military parade.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim met separately on Friday with Medvedev to discuss developing the “comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance” with Russia. Medvedev praised the “courage and spirit of self-sacrifice” of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces to repel the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory. Kursk border regionHe called for expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two governments. Kim also met with Lee and Lam on Thursday for talks on strengthening ties.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kim has made Russia a priority in his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large shipments of weapons, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to help fuel Putin’s war.

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