North Korea Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Korean People’s Army with Military Parade and Banquet
North Korea commemorated the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) with a military parade and banquet at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Wednesday.[0] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, visited the barracks of the country’s military officers to mark the anniversary on Tuesday.[1]
State media reported that Kim led a meeting of top military brass calling for expanded war drills aimed at sharpening combat readiness.[2] Kim’s daughter has appeared in public for a fourth time, at the banquet with top military commanders.[3] Her appearance has unleashed a wave of speculation about whether she may be Kim’s anointed successor.[4]
[5] Images released by the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which is run by the government, depicted the young girl walking alongside Kim and her mother as they went into the banquet hall, to the sound of salutes from military officers.[6] Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party, referred to the presumably nine or ten year old child as the “respected daughter” of Mr. Kim.[5]
At the banquet, Kim praised the “irresistible might” of his nuclear-armed military, according to KCNA.[7] [8]
Analysts observing this unexpected presence of the family of the North Korean leader have suggested that Mr Kim's decision to bring his daughter to public events is related to his military goals.
Kim's inclusion of his wife and daughter is meant to portray a connection between his dynasty and the North Korean military to both domestic and foreign audiences, according to him.
Illuminated jets and propeller planes flew low over Pyongyang in the early hours of Wednesday morning, suggesting a rehearsal or that the parade had already taken place.[9] Processions are frequently utilized to showcase new armaments, such as missiles capable of transporting nuclear warheads.[10] In 2019, North Korea launched a record-breaking quantity of military trials, releasing over 70 ballistic missiles.[7]
0. “North's Kim Jong-un visits military barracks for 75th anniversary of Korean People's Army” The Korea JoongAng Daily, 8 Feb. 2023, https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/02/08/national/northKorea/north-korea-kim-jongun-kim-juae/20230208101846596.html
1. “(LEAD) N. Korean leader visits barracks with his daughter to mark army founding anniv.” Yonhap News Agency, 8 Feb. 2023, https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230208001651325
2. “Kim Jong Un Visits Troops With Daughter And Lauds ‘World's Strongest Military'” Benzinga, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30797110/kim-jong-un-visits-troops-with-daughter-and-lauds-worlds-strongest-military
3. “Public Appearances by North Korean Leader's Daughter Spur Succession Speculation” The Wall Street Journal, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/public-appearances-by-north-korean-leaders-daughter-spur-succession-speculation-11675862771
4. “Kim's daughter joins North Korean leader on tour as military parade speculation mounts” The Japan Times, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/02/08/asia-pacific/north-korea-kim-daughter-military-parade/
5. “Kim Jong-un gives strongest hint yet about his successor at key military event” AOL, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.aol.com/news/kim-jong-un-gives-strongest-094637229.html
6. “Kim Jong Un puts daughter front and center at lavish military banquet” KTVZ, 8 Feb. 2023, https://ktvz.com/news/2023/02/07/kim-jong-un-puts-daughter-front-and-center-at-lavish-military-banquet
7. “North Korea: Kim Jong Un visits troops with daughter” ABS-CBN News, 8 Feb. 2023, https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/08/23/north-korea-kim-jong-un-visits-troops-with-daughter
8. “Kim Jong Un makes rare appearance with daughter at military banquet” Sky News, 8 Feb. 2023, https://news.sky.com/story/kim-jong-un-makes-rare-appearance-with-daughter-at-military-banquet-12805899
9. “North Korea's Kim, together with daughter, praises army before key anniv.” Kyodo News Plus, 8 Feb. 2023, https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/02/c622ad704c8e-update1-n-korea-marks-75th-anniv-of-armys-founding-may-stage-parade.html
10. “North Korea’s Kim lauds army before expected military parade” Al Jazeera English, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/8/north-koreas-kim-lauds-army-ahead-of-expected-military-parade
