[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North-China-Russia Alliance VS Veterans Event... Today, 70th Anniversary of the Armistice

North Focuses on Midnight Military Parade, South Emphasizes Veterans Affairs Events

On the 27th, marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, both North and South Korea will hold commemorative ceremonies. North Korea, which calls the day 'Victory Day,' has arranged an event to showcase its alliance with China and Russia and its military strength, while the South Korean government will host a large-scale event to express gratitude to war veterans.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the 'Armed Equipment Exhibition-2023' with a Russian military delegation led by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who came to North Korea to attend the 70th Victory Day event. They toured intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and new unmanned aerial vehicles, signaling a strong commitment to military cooperation both domestically and internationally.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Photos released by North Korean media showed weapons resembling advanced American drones such as the Global Hawk and Predator at the exhibition. Various ICBMs, including the 'Hwasong-18,' were also displayed.

North Korea is also expected to hold a midnight military parade on the same day. Recently, North Korea has conducted night airshow rehearsals using fighter jets as part of preparations for the midnight parade.

The key points to watch at this year’s parade are Chairman Kim Jong-un’s speech and whether new weapons will be unveiled. Since coming to power in 2012, Kim has attended 13 military parades, with the only exception being the abbreviated Victory Day parade on July 27, 2014. He has delivered speeches at five of these parades. This year, marking the 70th Victory Day, high-ranking officials from China and Russia have been invited, suggesting an emphasis on the North Korea-China-Russia alliance.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, stated, "Chairman Kim may choose to deliver a speech either on the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement or on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the republic (September 9 this year). Considering the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, it seems more likely that the focus will be on the armistice anniversary (Victory Day) rather than the founding day."

North Korea showcased a new weapon, presumed to be a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at the military parade held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (Army Foundation Day).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In February 2018, on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army, North Korea unveiled the intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) 'Hwasong-14' and 'Hwasong-15.' At the 75th anniversary in February this year, it showcased the 'Hwasong-18,' using these commemorations as opportunities to reveal new weapons. However, since the new solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18 was first revealed at the parade five months ago, it is unlikely that a new ICBM will be unveiled this time. Nevertheless, North Korea may deploy a large number of existing strategic weapons to demonstrate its nuclear capabilities.

The South Korean government invited war veterans to this year’s 'United Nations Forces Participation Day' (July 27) and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. In the afternoon, a large-scale veterans’ event will be held at the . The Cinema Center, where the ceremony will take place, is built on the site of the former Suyeong Airfield, where the U.S. Army’s 'Smith Battalion' first set foot in Korea as part of the United Nations forces during the war.

This year’s ceremony theme is 'Freedom Earned Through Devotion, Future Achieved Through Alliance.' The event is expected to be attended by over 4,000 people, including delegations from 25 UN member countries totaling about 170 representatives, UN veterans and their descendants from various countries, Korean War veterans, and key government and military officials. Government awards will be presented to two individuals for their contributions to 'Korean War participation, alliance strengthening, and honoring veterans': Donald Reed from the United States and the late Thomas Colon Parkinson from Australia. The South Korean government and representatives from participating countries also plan to pay respects at the UN Memorial Cemetery, the world’s only UN military cemetery.

The South Korean military’s parade is scheduled to be held on a 'historic scale' during the Armed Forces Day event in October. This will mark the return of the military march after 10 years since 2013. The Armed Forces Day event aims to reassure the public by demonstrating overwhelming deterrence against North Korea, including the Korean-style '3-axis system,' send a message to North Korea to curb provocations, showcase the military’s strength domestically and internationally, and boost the morale of service members.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.