The “Kingdom of the Hermits” celebrates the 90th anniversary of its Revolutionary People’s Army on Monday.
North Korea’s state media touted the “invincible might” of the country’s armed forces on Sunday (April 24), on the eve of a major military anniversary when some analysts predict a show of force by Kim Jong Un’s regime.
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North Korea marked the 90th anniversary of its People’s Revolutionary Army on Monday after conducting a record series of weapons tests since the beginning of the year, including the first ICBM launch in five years. The United States and South Korea also say they’ve seen an increase in activity at North Korea’s main nuclear test site recently, and aren’t ruling out the possibility that Pyongyang will soon test a nuclear bomb for the first time since 2017.
“All the people of the country contemplate with great depth the history of the hundred victories of our revolutionary armed forces”
“Our revolutionary armed forces have acquired an invincible might that the world cannot ignore,” official KCNA news agency trumpeted on Sunday, praising Kim Jong Un’s “brilliant military ideology, excellent military leadership and unprecedented courage and determination.” “All the people of the country look closely at the history of the hundred victories of our revolutionary forces,” the agency confirmed, listing North Korea’s feats of arms since the Korean War (1950-1953).
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While many expected Pyongyang to stage a show of force — a huge military parade or a major weapons test — on April 15 to mark the 110th birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s grandfather, the regime finally celebrated the event with a simple one citizen parade. But satellite images have shown major preparations in recent days, including thousands of soldiers and vehicles advancing in formation at a Pyongyang training ground.
“Usually, as soon as the parade is complete, troops leave the training center, and their presence increases the possibility of an imminent event,” explained Martyn Williams, an analyst specializing in North Korea at the Stimson Center at Site 38 North.
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