Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, showcased a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile at a Pyongyang military parade on Friday that featured foreign leaders.
The Hwasong-20, which has not yet been tested, was touted by the Korean Central News Agency, which is state-owned, as possessing the “most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system.”
Shorter-range ballistic, cruise and supersonic missiles were also on display by the government at the military parade, which commemorated the Worker’s Party’s 80th anniversary.
PUTIN, KIM JONG UN BEGIN BILATERAL TALKS IN BEIJING AFTER ATTENDING MASSIVE CHINESE MILTARY PARADE
At the parade, Kim stated that the military “must continue to evolve into an invincible force that eliminates all threats.”
The foreign dignitaries present at the parade included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and To Lam, the Communist Party chief of Vietnam.
On Friday, Kim also had a meeting with Medvedev, who lauded the sacrifice of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine.
NUCLEAR THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA LOOM QUIETLY BEHIND WARS IN GAZA AND UKRAINE AT UNGA
Kim expressed his hope to enhance relations with Russia and collaborate towards shared objectives.
Last summer, Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, cautioned the U.S. against attempting to resume denuclearization talks, adding that Pyongyang would consider any effort to pressure North Korea to denuclearize as “nothing but a mockery.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK- U.S. meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the U.S. side,” Kim Yo Jong stated, using the nation’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
