The BBC and NK News reported that North Korea’s military parade included soldiers in military uniforms and epidemic prevention unit staff members wearing decontamination costumes and prominent respirators.
Leader Kim Jong-un appeared smiling with children.
Leader Kim Jong-un appeared smiling with children (Image: Reuters)
Kim Jong-un at the military parade (Photo: NK News)
The staff of the epidemic prevention and control unit wear decontamination costumes and prominent respirators (Photo: Rodong Sinumun)
On September 9, North Korean state media published photos of a military parade with fire trucks, trailers and fireworks. The presence of the staff of the epidemic prevention and control unit suggests that Pyongyang may have set up a special force to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Kim Jong-un, according to Chinese state media.
Artillery is the biggest weapon in the parade (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Students from famous universities march with rifles (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Cavalry and service dogs in the parade (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Fire trucks in the parade (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong-un held a party on September 8 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
China is North Korea’s closest political and economic ally. However, trade between the two countries has plummeted since North Korea closed the border in January 2020 to curb the Covid-19 epidemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that since August 19, North Korea “has not recorded any Covid-19 cases”, but experts say this is unlikely.
Even so, Kim Jong-un acknowledged that North Korea is facing a food shortage.
Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said North Korea appeared to have restarted a reactor that could produce plutonium for nuclear weapons.