North Korea debuts new land, missile systems at military parade

A TV broadcast at the Seoul railway station showing the Hwaseong-20 ICBM display during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Analysis North Korea’s unveiling of new advanced systems during the 10 October parade is a showcase of the progress that the country has made towards fielding more mature, nimble, and survivable weapon systems, including MIRV-capable delivery systems that would allow Pyongyang to strike several targets with a single launch.
 
These systems, if operationalised, would represent a more credible challenge to missile defences in the region, including those that are operated by the United States, and signal a shift from symbolic deterrence to a more tenable second-strike capability.
 
The broader array of systems unveiled, including hypersonic glide vehicle-tipped cruise missiles and modernised armoured platforms, indicates a deliberate effort to diversify and modernise the Korean People’s Army across multiple domains.
 
Furthermore, the presence of foreign dignitaries from China, Russia, and Vietnam during the parade suggests Pyongyang is leveraging its military advancements to reinforce diplomatic ties and position itself within a multipolar strategic framework.
 
Taken together, the parade was not merely a demonstration of new hardware but a calculated message to signal that North Korea is advancing its deterrent posture, asserting its relevance in regional security dynamics, and signalling its intent to be recognised as a technologically capable military power.

 Janes customers can access the full article which includes indepth insight into the Hwaseong-20, several previously unseen pieces of land equipment, and the unveiling of a truck-launched loitering munition weapon system.

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