By Lee Min-hyung
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly ordered low-key celebrations for his birthday to focus on preparing for a “thorough” military parade next week, according to media reports Wednesday.
On Jan. 3, Kim ordered central authorities to pay special attention to holding a perfect military parade on the anniversary of the foundation of the regime’s armed forces, Feb. 8, a local news agency quoted Japanese intelligence sources as saying.
This came a few days before his Jan. 8 birthday. To stage a more intimidating show of force, he reportedly called on Workers’ Party members to skip holding any large-scale birthday parties for him.
The military parade is drawing keen global attention as it comes on the eve of the opening of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
North Korea will mobilize more than 50,000 soldiers and civilians for the parade, in a show of its military force to the world.
This has raised security concerns for Seoul’s peaceful hosting of the sporting event.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea also urged Pyongyang to stop the planned parade.
“North Korea should take into account concerns and fears from South Koreans, so we would like to advise Pyongyang to stop the plan,” Rep. Woo Won-sik, floor leader of the party, said in a radio interview, Tuesday. “The North, for its part, also needs to make efforts to host a peaceful Olympics.”
South Korea’s unification ministry said last week that Pyongyang will hold an “intimidating” military parade by using all the weapons it possesses. This has cast a shadow over recently thawing inter-Korean relations after both sides agreed to hold a series of sports engagements during the Olympics.
North Korea may include its provocative intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles in the parade.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Unification said they are keeping a close watch on the scheduled parade in conjunction with the United States.