Kim was shown with his 10-year-old daughter, and delegations from China and Russia

North Korea celebrated the new edition of his classic paramilitary parade on the occasion of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country. Leader kim jong un He was accompanied by his daughter and representatives of the governments of china and russia, in a new sign of proach. In addition, “paramilitary forces” participated instead of regular army soldiers, and weons banned by the UN, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, were not on display.

The event took place in Kim Il-sung Square in the cital Pyongyang. It was led by the so-called Workers and Peasants Red Guards, a civil defense organization made up of some 5.7 million workers and farmers. The images of the official press showed uniformed paramilitary brigades and rocket launchers on tractors or big red trucksall under the watchful eye of Kim and her smiling daughter.

Columns of motorcycles and anti-tank missile launchers towed by tractors marched, the local agency detailed. KCNAbut intercontinental ballistic missiles or other strategic weons usually present in large military parades were not shown.

At Kim’s side at all times was her daughter, who frequently pears in public. The girl, believed to be the second daughter named Ju Ae, would be about 10 years old. She was first introduced to the world last November in state media photos that showed her watching the North’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with her parents and other officials.

Furthermore, at a time when it is increasingly at odds with Washington, Kim used the occasion to show his ties to Moscow and Beijing., who moved a diplomatic delegation from each country to the peninsular territory. China was represented by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, whom the North Korean leader gave a “friendly” welcome.

Kim and the Chinese representatives agreed on their desire to “develop friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries and further intensify multifaceted coordination and cooperation” between both nations.

For its part, Russia sent another group of Russian diplomats, and a singing and dancing ensemble. The local press linked the lack of senior Russian officials to the alleged preparations for the meeting between Kim and Putin, which Washington expects to hpen this month. According to some American reports, it could take place next week.

Putin is expected to attend an international forum from Sunday to Wednesday in the eastern city of Vladivostok, which was also where he first met with Kim in 2019, and is now considered a possible venue for his next meeting. interview.

According to North Korean public radio (KS), the leaders of Russia and ChinaVladimir Putin and Xi Jinpingwould have sent congratulatory messages to Kim on the occasion of the new founding anniversary of North Korea.

Putin, quoted by the Kremlin, congratulated Kim on the anniversary, advocating strengthening “bilateral ties on all fronts.”

“This is fully in the interest of our people,” he stated, adding that since the proclamation of the Pyongyang regime, relations between both countries “have been based on the principles of friendship, good neighborliness and mutual respect“.

Xi, for his part, would have reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the development of historically friendly relations between both states, according to official North Korean media.

“For the North Koreans it is a new confirmation that they have the support of China and a good confirmation that, since the war in Ukraine, Russia has no choice but to support North Korea,” said analyst Andrei Lankov.

This last parade had generated expectations despite its smaller scale because it was the third linked to the militia so far this year and amid questions about whether Kim would attend, something that was finally confirmed.

The North Korean leader could soon travel to the Russian city of Vladivostok, according to several media reports, to meet with the Russian president with the aim of negotiating. a possible arms supply agreement.

With agency information