North Korea threw a dramatic spotlight on its military ambitions and growing diplomatic reach this past Friday, October 10, 2025, as it marked the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party with a grand military parade in Pyongyang. The rain-soaked spectacle, attended by tens of thousands of troops and a rare assembly of high-level foreign dignitaries, offered the world its first public glimpse of the Hwasong-20—a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that North Korean propaganda has already declared the “most powerful nuclear strategic system” of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event, covered by Yonhap News Agency and detailed by several international outlets, was more than a display of military might. It was a carefully choreographed demonstration of North Korea’s intent to shape its own destiny on the world stage—and to remind rivals and allies alike that it is not standing alone. Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader, presided over the proceedings, flanked by a who’s who of North Korea’s closest partners: China’s Premier Li Qiang, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam. According to BBC, this marked the highest-level visit by a Chinese official to Pyongyang since 2019, while Medvedev’s presence underscored Moscow’s deepening ties with the reclusive regime.
The star of the show was undeniably the Hwasong-20. Rolling through the capital on a massive 11-axle mobile launch platform, the missile immediately drew comparisons to its predecessor, the Hwasong-19, but with a crucial difference: the new model is reportedly capable of carrying multiple warheads, a feature that would make interception by missile defense systems far more challenging. North Korean state media boasted that the Hwasong-20 could potentially reach targets more than 15,000 kilometers away—putting much of the continental United States within striking distance. The missile’s solid-fuel engine, inspected personally by Kim Jong Un in September, is said to produce a thrust of 1,960 kN and is constructed with carbon fiber, making it both more powerful and easier to deploy quickly than earlier liquid-fueled designs.
But the parade wasn’t just about one missile. North Korea also showcased a variety of hypersonic missiles—both medium and long range—as well as the new Chonma-20 tank and kamikaze drones that bear a striking resemblance to the Russian Lancet drone, according to Yonhap. Another notable debut was a missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle tailored for the KN-23 tactical missile system, the same type reportedly used in attacks on Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un’s speech, delivered from the podium as rain fell on the assembled soldiers and dignitaries, was characteristically defiant. He praised the North Korean troops sent to Russia’s war in Ukraine for their "heroic fighting spirit" and "ideological and spiritual perfection," framing their participation as a stand for "international justice and genuine peace," as reported by North Korean state media and TVNZ. While he stopped short of naming the United States or South Korea directly, his message was clear: the DPRK would continue to build its military into an "invincible entity that destroys all threats."
The international guest list was as much a message as the weaponry on display. China’s Premier Li Qiang’s attendance was a signal that Beijing is willing to maintain high-level engagement with Pyongyang, despite ongoing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Dmitry Medvedev, representing Russia, posted on the state-backed app MAX, “Friends are together, enemies are nervous,” capturing the mood of camaraderie among North Korea’s allies. The Vietnamese delegation, led by To Lam, further illustrated North Korea’s efforts to diversify its diplomatic connections.
According to DW, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and the escalating rivalry between the United States and China have made North Korea a more valuable partner for both Moscow and Beijing. Pyongyang has supplied Russia with weapons, ammunition, and even personnel for the conflict in Ukraine, while in return, Moscow has provided North Korea with much-needed food and fuel. The two countries formalized their growing alliance in 2024 by pledging mutual military assistance in the event of an attack. Meanwhile, there are signs that China has relaxed its enforcement of United Nations sanctions on North Korea, further easing Pyongyang’s economic isolation.
Kim Jong Un’s strategy, as analyzed by former North Korean diplomat Lee Il Kyu and cited by DW, relies heavily on military development to secure his regime and raise North Korea’s international standing. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency recently described North Korea as being in its "strongest strategic position in decades," with the capability to threaten not just regional adversaries but potentially the U.S. mainland itself. Since its first nuclear test in 2006, North Korea has steadily advanced its nuclear and missile programs, culminating in a 2022 law permitting the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and a 2023 constitutional amendment declaring the country’s nuclear status "irreversible."
Diplomacy, however, remains fraught. Kim has made it clear that any new talks with Washington hinge on the U.S. abandoning its "absurd obsession with denuclearization." There is speculation, as reported by DW, that a meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump could take place during Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea for the APEC summit at the end of October. Such a meeting would echo their historic encounter at the Demilitarized Zone in 2019, but hopes for a breakthrough remain slim given North Korea’s entrenched position.
The parade also served as a reminder of Kim’s absolute control over the Workers’ Party and the country’s direction. Since succeeding his father in 2011, Kim has held multiple party congresses, shifting doctrine from the "military-first" Songun policy to a "people-first" approach, and now to a strategy emphasizing the simultaneous development of nuclear and conventional forces. Preparations are reportedly underway for the ninth party congress, where this new doctrine will be formally presented.
As the rain-soaked crowds in Pyongyang cheered and soldiers marched under the gaze of their leader and his guests, the message was unmistakable: North Korea is determined to chart its own course, leveraging both its nuclear arsenal and its international partnerships. Whether this show of strength will bring the recognition Kim seeks or further isolate his regime remains to be seen, but for now, the world is watching—and Pyongyang is reveling in the spotlight.