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North Korea
This Week in AsiaPolitics

China urged to rein in North Korea as Kim displays new nuclear missiles in ‘war’ threat

  • The North appeared to have displayed a range of new ballistic missiles, including its Hwasong-17 ICBMs believed to be a two-stage, road-mobile missile
  • The potential for a military clash in the Korean peninsula will surge this year if China does not rein in Pyongyang, analysts say

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North Korea shows what it says is an ICBM during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AP
Park Chan-kyongin Seoul
North Korea has shown off its “maximum nuclear strike capabilities” with a display of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in its first military parade in almost a year, after leader Kim Jong-un called for complete war preparedness.
Kim observed Wednesday’s parade, that took place on the 75th anniversary of the armed forces’ founding, with his wife Ri Sol-ju and their daughter Ju-ae. He did not give a public speech, according to Pyongyang’s state-controlled media.

“A column of ICBMs showing off our country’s maximum nuclear strike capabilities rolled into the parade ground, heated up with cheers from the crowd, overcome with pride and self-confidence,” the state KCNA news agency said.

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“This is cumulatively more ICBM launchers than we’ve ever seen before at a North Korean parade,” Ankit Panda of the US – based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said on Twitter.

01:51

Kim Jong-un rings in new year with more rockets, plans to boost North Korean nuclear arsenal

Kim Jong-un rings in new year with more rockets, plans to boost North Korean nuclear arsenal

North Korea also presented “tactical nuclear missiles” and long-range cruise missiles, in a demonstration of its “war deterrence and counter-strike capabilities”, it said.

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