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| Video footage from the North's Korean Central Television (KCTV) shows the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on a transporter erector launcher during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the regime's founding of its armed forces, in Pyongyang, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea displayed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in a military parade Thursday on the eve of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The regime unveiled two ICBMs - Hwasong-14 and 15 - during the annual show of force, a recorded video clip from the North's Korean Central Television (KCTV) showed. The Hwasong-15, the regime's most upgraded ICBM with an estimated range of 13,000 kilometers, could possibly strike the United States mainland.
Pyongyang did not broadcast the event live, but the state-controlled broadcaster unveiled a recorded broadcast a few hours after the regime conducted the parade.
The move is seen as Pyongyang's efforts to "make less noise" ahead of the Olympics, while at the same time maintaining tension on the Korean Peninsula.
Last year, the North invited a group of 130 overseas reporters from 40 media to cover the event, showing off three of its new ICBMs that could possibly strike the U.S. mainland.
But no foreign media were invited to this year's event in what appears to be a move to make as "little noise as possible" and allow South Korea to host a peaceful Olympics.
More than 50,000 people, including 13,000 troops, participated in the parade which celebrates the foundation of the regime's armed forces.
"North Korea began its military parade at around 11: 30 a.m. at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang," a government official said, asking for anonymity.
The show of military force drew massive criticism from international society, raising concerns over possible military provocations from the North on the eve of the global sporting event.
The move was also in contrast to the regime's recent reconciliatory gestures. The North has sent hundreds of athletes and a cheerleading delegation to the South, as part of a bid to enhance inter-Korean relations through sports engagement.
"North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the military parade this year," said the official.
Other missiles or transporter erector launchers were also displayed in the recorded televised clip.
"This year's parade looks to have been reduced in size, compared to a year ago," he added.
In 2017, the military ceremony reached its peak in size, with the regime broadcasting the parade live via state-run television. At that time, more than 150,000 people have been deployed to stage the military parade.
Seoul and Washington believe the North's new ICBMs are the most threatening weapons Pyongyang possesses; but they say the regime does not have the capability of mating the missiles with nuclear warheads. However, CIA Director Mike Pompeo recently said it would take only "a handful of months" until the North develops nuclear weapons capable of striking the U.S.
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