A giant military parade took place in North Korea.

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Jung Yeon-je

It was the South Korean general staff which was the first to indicate that a major event seemed to have taken place at his neighbor's.

According to images broadcast on television, the North Korean regime organized a giant military parade in Pyongyang on Saturday, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party.

Leader Kim Jong-un took the opportunity to ensure he would continue to strengthen his army, as the parade was to flaunt its latest defense technologies.

"We will continue to strengthen our army, for purposes of self-defense and deterrence," said the North Korean leader in a speech broadcast later by KCTV.

State television showed squadrons of armed soldiers and military vehicles lined up in the streets of Pyongyang, ready to march towards Kim Il Sung Square, named after the regime's founder.

The North Korean leader addressed the people.

- Jung Yeon-je

Parades scrutinized by experts

The highlight of the show is usually the kind of missiles Pyongyang wants to show off, and which are closely watched by observers to get a feel for the development of Pyongyang's weapons program.

Experts are convinced that North Korea has continued its nuclear and ballistic programs, which it justifies by the American threat, including during negotiations with the United States, in an impasse for more than a year.

Some experts believe that Pyongyang could exhibit a new strategic sea-to-ground ballistic missile (MSBS) or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the American continental territory, or even a missile with multiple reentry bodies which would thus make it possible to deceive the American defense systems.

At the end of December, the North Korean leader threatened to present a "new strategic weapon" but some experts believe that Pyongyang does not intend to irritate the White House before the US presidential election.

Not a single case of Covid in the country, really?

Unlike previous parades, no foreign media has been invited this year.

Many embassies are closed due to restrictions linked to the coronavirus, which means that the number of foreign observers is limited.

Most importantly, none of the participants or anyone in the audience wore a mask.

An absence which is explained by the fact that Kim Jong-un assured that there was "not a single person" with coronavirus in his country, while the pandemic has affected the whole world.

He wished "good health to all people around the world who fight the evils" of Covid-19.

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