On Wednesday, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, showcased the country’s latest weapons to Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a visit to Pyongyang. The Russian delegation, led by Mr. Shoigu, was invited to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. The event is typically marked by massive military parades.
Among the weapons displayed was the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), successfully tested in April. This ICBM is believed to be North Korea’s first to use solid propellants, allowing for quicker launches compared to liquid-fueled missiles. The display also featured two new drone designs, one of which resembled the primary offensive strike drone used by the US Air Force, as reported by NK News, a specialist site focusing on North Korea.
The visit of the Russian and Chinese delegations for North Korea’s Victory Day, commemorating the end of hostilities in 1953, is significant as it marks the first time foreign guests have been invited since the Covid pandemic. Both Russia and China have long-standing alliances with North Korea. During the visit, Mr. Kim and Mr. Shoigu discussed matters of mutual concern in national defense and the international security environment.
The delegations’ visit is expected to conclude with an extensive military parade. It’s worth noting that North and South Korea are still technically at war as no peace agreement was reached when the conflict ended in 1953.
The inclusion of Chinese and Russian envoys in this year’s Victory Day parade suggests a possible loosening of Covid restrictions, which comes after state media showed images of North Koreans without masks. The country had previously sealed itself off from all trade and diplomatic ties, even with Russia and China, its main economic and political partners, in early 2020. Both Russia and North Korea share a mutual dislike for the US, and since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia has remained a natural ally for North Korea.
Read more: North Korea: China and Russia in first post-pandemic visits
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