10/10/2020 11:15
Clarín.com
World
Updated 10/10/2020 11:15
In an imposing military parade in Pyongyang that many interpreted as another show of force towards the West, the
North Korean
army on
Saturday displayed new large intercontinental missiles, including one larger than the Hwasong-15, the projectile with the longest range tested. by the regime to date.
This new projectile, whose name is unknown and which Pyongyang has not yet tested, is one of the new weapons of the missile program that the North Korean regime exhibited during this military march held in the early hours of Saturday on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the one party and broadcast delayed on North Korean television.
North Korea has not launched an intercontinental missile (ICBM) on a test basis since November 2017 - when it precisely tested the Hwasong-15 - in the midst of its diplomatic turn to try to negotiate a denuclearization agreement with the United States, although
the Talks with Washington in this area have been stalled for almost two years
, after the failure of the last summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.
Although the North Korean leader avoided sending a harsh message to the US in the speech delivered before the parade, the display of a new projectile larger than the Hwasong-15 (which has the potential capacity to reach US territory) refers, on the other hand , the idea that Pyongyang will continue to develop increasingly sophisticated missiles if it does not make peace with Washington.
This Saturday's military parade on a television screen at a train station in Seoul.
Photo: AP
In this sense, Kim said that his regime "will continue to strengthen its military force for self-defense and deterrence", but assured that it will "never" use it to attack preventively.
Among the novelties exhibited in the parade were also new large mobile erector launchers (TEL) carrying the aforementioned new missile, as well as another new intermediate-range projectile apparently called Pukguksong-4.
The hermetic Communist regime also showcased new anti-aircraft radar systems, new caterpillar-traction missile launchers, and even new armor for its infantry units.
All this raises doubts about compliance with the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council as punishment for its weapons tests, which are intended to cut off the supply of materials and technology for the North Korean army's nuclear and missile program.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watches the military parade in Pyongyang this Saturday.
Photo: AP
North Korea is believed to have continued to develop its arsenal, supposedly to protect itself from the United States, following the failure of the Hanoi summit in February 2019.
Analysts believe the country is developing a new submarine ballistic missile (SLBM) or intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the United States and evading US defense systems.
Military force and fight against coronavirus
North Korea held a gigantic military parade this Saturday, according to images broadcast on television, with
thousands of soldiers without masks
in a country that closed its borders eight months ago and in which according to its leader, there is not a single case of coronavirus.
The long-awaited act was part of the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers Party, in power.
In a speech to the public, Kim Jong-un was grateful that "not a single person" had contracted the coronavirus in the country, and stated that he wished "good health to all the people of the world who fight against the evils of this baleful virus ".
But the truth is that it is difficult to verify if there were really no cases of Covid-19 in the hermetic country.
The KCTV public broadcaster broadcast the images of the squads of armed soldiers and armored vehicles, lining the streets of Pyongyang, ready to parade through Kim Il Sung Square, in night images.
Neither the participants nor the attending public wore masks, but there were far fewer citizens than there are usually in the square.
Source: EFE and AFP
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