The North Korean regime has staged a massive military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the country's founding. It focused on development work and civilian efforts to build the economy.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
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To the surprise of the international community, North Korea's 70th anniversary military parade on Sunday held back the country's advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and devoted nearly half of the time to economic development projects.
North Korean troops, artillery and tanks made their way past the communist country's leader, Kim Jong Un, but the regime restrained from showing off its most advanced missiles, which have been a focal point of international sanctions.
In previous years, North Korean leaders were never shy of boasting their long-range missiles and nuclear achievements, while almost no emphasis was put on the country's economy and culture.
Analysts say Sunday's parade underscored Kim's strategy of putting economic development at the center and convincing the international community that North Korea is willing to make compromises.
North Korea scales down jingoism on 70th birthday
North Korea's 70th anniversary military parade highlighted the communist nation's economic development instead of nuclear accomplishments; a shift analysts say is aimed at allaying the West's concerns.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
No ballistic missile show-off
Every year on September 9, North Korea celebrates its birthday by holding a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang. Unlike previous years, this year the regime chose to refrain from showing off its long-range missiles and instead exhibited projects that highlighted the country's economic achievements.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
North Korea turns 70
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the North is officially known, was proclaimed on September 9, 1948, three years after the former Soviet Union and the United State divided the peninsula between them in the closing days of World War II. The peninsula has remained split since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/K. Cheung
A different sight
On Sunday, thousands of North Korean troops, followed by artillery and military tanks, paraded through Pyongyang, but the celebration lacked the usual jingoism that has been associated with the isolated regime for decades. Immediately after the parade, thousands of citizens rallied through Kim Il Sung Square, displaying economic themes and calls for Korean reunification.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
Flowers, not missiles
Civilian groups carried flags and flowers in a bid to demonstrate a softer image of the country. "It looks like the North Koreans really tried to tone down the military nature of this," Chad O'Carroll, managing director of Korea Risk Group, told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Any display of intercontinental ballistic missiles would cast doubt on its commitment to denuclearization, he added.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
No Kim address
North Koran leader Kim Jong Un was present at the parade but did not address the assembled crowd. He showed off his country's friendship with China by raising the hand of President Xi Jinping's envoy as they saluted the crowd together afterwards.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/Kyodo News/M. Iwasaki
Stalled peace process
In a historic meeting with US President Donald Trump in June, Kim pledged to work toward denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. But Kim's efforts to ease tensions with the US have stalled since the Singapore meeting. While Washington insists Pyongyang commits to denuclearization first, the Kim regime wants the removal of sanctions and a peace agreement with the South to end the Korean War.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/N. H. Guan
Positive moves
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who will meet Kim for a summit in Pyongyang on September 18, will try to persuade the North Korean leader to take concrete steps toward denuclearization. On September 5, Kim said he wanted to denuclearize during US President Donald Trump's first term, to which Trump replied on Twitter: "We will get it done together."
Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Jones
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Kim attended the parade but did not address the crowd. Kim Yong Nam, the head of North Korea's parliament, chose to speak about the country's economic goals instead of defense and security.
No progress on denuclearization
Soon after the national day celebrations, Kim was set to hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on North Korea's controversial nuclear program.
Kim's efforts to ease tensions with the United States and the international community have stalled since his historic Singapore meeting with President Donald Trump in June.
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un's historic summit in pictures
All eyes were on US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they met for historic talks in Singapore. Between handshakes, they committed to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Loeb
First meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump shake hands as they meet for the first time. Unlike in past meetings with some world leaders, Trump did not try to pull Kim's hand towards him or hold on to the North Korean leader's hand too long.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Loeb
From insults to 'special bond'
Trump and Kim appeared at ease with one another during the summit. Just a few months prior, Trump and Kim engaged in a war of words, trading insults like "little rocket man" and "mentally deranged." Following their meeting, Trump said he formed a "special bond" with Kim and that he'd like to invite him to the White House.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Loeb
Who's leading whom?
Kim lays a hand on Trump's back as they leave after signing a joint statement pledging peace negotiations and denuclearization. Some critics worried that the US agreed to give up too many things in negotiations with Kim. At a press conference, Trump said he wanted to stop US military exercises with South Korea and eventually withdraw US troops — something Pyongyang has been demanding for years.
Image: Reuters/J. Ernst
Four-point agreement
Trump displays the joint agreement he signed with Kim. In the four-point document, Kim agreed to the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." In exchange, Trump agreed to provide "security guarantees" to Pyongyang. The two leaders also agreed to build a "robust peace regime" and to return the remains of prisoners of the 1950-1953 Korean War.
Image: Reuters/J. Ernst
All eyes on Trump and Kim
South Koreans watch the summit on a screen located at a train station in Seoul. Ahead of the event, critics expressed concern that the meeting between the two leaders would be purely symbolic and not bring concrete progress to easing tensions. Indeed, the agreement did not specify what exact measures would be taken.
Image: Getty Images/C. Sung-Jun
Honoring 'the bromance' in Singapore
A bartender in Singapore crafted a special drink for the summit, dubbed "The Bromance." The meeting was held on Singapore's Sentosa island, a resort area with luxury hotels and a theme park. The island's security was massively increased ahead of the summit, while local businesses marked the occasion with special Trump-Kim branded water and drinks.
Image: Reuters/F. Lim
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While Washington insists that Pyongyang commits to denuclearization first, the Kim regime wants the removal of sanctions and a peace agreement with the South to end the Korean War.
Martin Fritz, DW's reporter in Seoul, says Sunday's celebration comes at a difficult time for Kim: "He wants to boost economic growth, but international sanctions continue to hamper any progress."
"On Wednesday, Kim told a South Korean special envoy that he was frustrated with the diplomatic stalemate, saying Pyongyang had taken the first necessary steps toward denuclearization. He was most likely referring to the closing of a nuclear test site and the dismantling of a rocket launch site earlier this year," said Fritz.
