North Korea staged a well-publicized military demonstration yesterday (Wednesday) attended by thousands of soldiers under the watchful eye of Communist dictatorial ruler Kim Jong Un.
Alongside feats such as breaking concrete slabs on the chest, acrobatic order exercises and demonstrating martial arts skills, a warrior who appeared to be wearing a particularly strange uniform stood out among the elite fighters of the People's Republic Army.
The man, who appeared in a group photo with senior officers and ruled in his own right, was seen wearing a tight-fitting leotard in North Korean flagships alongside a similar-colored armored hat.
The overall appearance of the colorful character caused a burst of curiosity and amusement in the media around the world and the quirky-looking warrior earned nicknames like "Captain North Korea", referring to the American comic book hero "Captain America", as well as "The Human Shell".
The North Korean media did not provide an explanation for the man in the strange outfit but experts told Reuters that it was a decorated paratrooper who took part in a demonstration that included fighter jets and parachuting.
The paratrooper was described by the announcer during the demonstration as "an officer who demonstrates superior parachuting skills, wearing the colors of the party against the backdrop of the October sky."
Pyongyang's glittering military demonstration comes amid one of the worst economic crises in the history of the beleagured country, a crisis in which the ruler Onn publicly admitted in a speech in July.
The causes of the crisis are mainly the corona plague in China and the continued reduction of Beijing's trade and aid to Pyongyang.