North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased his nuclear-armed military’s most powerful weapons, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), during a massive parade in Pyongyang on Friday night. The event, held in heavy rain to mark the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party, demonstrated Kim’s growing diplomatic influence and his drive to build an arsenal capable of striking the U.S. mainland and regional rivals.
State media said the parade featured the Hwasong-20, a yet-to-be-tested ICBM described as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.” Kim, speaking from a podium with high-ranking Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian officials, called for his military to become “an invincible entity that destroys all threats,” though he did not directly mention the U.S. or South Korea.
Kim also praised North Korean troops sent to Russia’s war in Ukraine, lauding their “heroic fighting spirit” and “ideological and spiritual perfection.” Footage showed tens of thousands of spectators cheering as missile-mounted vehicles and goose-stepping soldiers, including those deployed to Russia, paraded through the square.
The Hwasong-20, wheeled out on massive 11-axle launchers, follows North Korea’s recent ICBM tests with solid-fuel rockets that are easier to transport and launch than previous liquid-fueled missiles. Experts suggest the missile could support multi-warhead systems designed to overcome missile defenses.
Other displays included shorter-range ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, along with new tanks, artillery, and drones, reflecting Kim’s focus on expanding conventional forces alongside his nuclear arsenal.
High-level foreign visitors, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Deputy Security Council head Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, underscored Kim’s growing diplomatic reach. The leader has sought closer ties with Russia and China, sending troops and weapons to support Russia in Ukraine while urging the U.S. to drop its nuclear disarmament demands.