ID :
136582
Sat, 08/07/2010 - 21:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/136582
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N. Korea plans large-scale military parade in Oct.+
BEIJING, Aug. 7 Kyodo -
North Korea plans to hold a large-scale military parade in Pyongyang on Oct.
10, the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea,
diplomatic sources said Saturday.
North Korea has extended invitations to foreign diplomats and defense attaches
based in Pyongyang and elsewhere, saying the event ''will be the largest of its
kind,'' the sources said.
The sources believe the planned parade will involve a display of the North's
major military hardware such as missiles and other heavy weapons.
With the event, North Korea is poised to show off ''Songun'' (military-first)
politics advocated by leader Kim Jong Il and the country's solidarity following
a meeting of core party delegates in early September where Kim's third son and
possible heir Jong Un is expected to join the party leadership, analysts said.
If the parade is held as scheduled, speculation is rife that leader Kim may be
joined by Jong Un on the reviewing platform.
The parade is also meant to counter joint military exercises the United States
and South Korea plan to conduct later this year in response to the fatal
sinking of a South Korean warship in March that the two countries blame on
North Korea, according to the analysts.
Pyongyang denies involvement in the incident, which left 46 South Korean
sailors dead.
It will be the first time North Korea has staged a military parade since a
militia-led one without major military hardware on Sept. 9, 2008, the 60th
anniversary of the country's founding.
It will be the first parade involving the regular military since April 25,
2007, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army.
The 2007 parade included a display of major military hardware.
Visitors to Pyongyang have seen militiamen and militiawomen drilling at squares
and parks in the capital since spring this year, increasing the likelihood
North Korea will mobilize both the regular military and the militia for the
planned parade, according to sources familiar with China-North Korea relations.
==Kyodo
North Korea plans to hold a large-scale military parade in Pyongyang on Oct.
10, the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea,
diplomatic sources said Saturday.
North Korea has extended invitations to foreign diplomats and defense attaches
based in Pyongyang and elsewhere, saying the event ''will be the largest of its
kind,'' the sources said.
The sources believe the planned parade will involve a display of the North's
major military hardware such as missiles and other heavy weapons.
With the event, North Korea is poised to show off ''Songun'' (military-first)
politics advocated by leader Kim Jong Il and the country's solidarity following
a meeting of core party delegates in early September where Kim's third son and
possible heir Jong Un is expected to join the party leadership, analysts said.
If the parade is held as scheduled, speculation is rife that leader Kim may be
joined by Jong Un on the reviewing platform.
The parade is also meant to counter joint military exercises the United States
and South Korea plan to conduct later this year in response to the fatal
sinking of a South Korean warship in March that the two countries blame on
North Korea, according to the analysts.
Pyongyang denies involvement in the incident, which left 46 South Korean
sailors dead.
It will be the first time North Korea has staged a military parade since a
militia-led one without major military hardware on Sept. 9, 2008, the 60th
anniversary of the country's founding.
It will be the first parade involving the regular military since April 25,
2007, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army.
The 2007 parade included a display of major military hardware.
Visitors to Pyongyang have seen militiamen and militiawomen drilling at squares
and parks in the capital since spring this year, increasing the likelihood
North Korea will mobilize both the regular military and the militia for the
planned parade, according to sources familiar with China-North Korea relations.
==Kyodo
