Amid Coronavirus, North Korea Parades New Submarine-Launched Missile In Latest Show Of Strength

While rest of the world continues to focus on vaccination drives to fight coronavirus, North Korea continues to add to their military arsenal, as witnessed in their latest show of strength.

Pyongyang displayed what appeared to be a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), at a parade on Thursday night, state media reported, capping more than a week of political meetings with a show of military might.

KCNA

The parade featured rows of marching soldiers, as well as a range of military hardware including tanks and rocket launchers.

At the end, a number of what analysts said, appeared to be new variants of short-range ballistic missiles and SLBMs, rolled into the square on trucks.

State media said Kim took center stage in Thursday night¡¯s parade, celebrating a major ruling party meeting where Kim vowed maximum efforts to bolster his nuclear and missile program to counter what he described as US hostility.

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KCNA

During the eight-day Workers¡¯ Party congress that ended on Tuesday, Kim also revealed plans to salvage the nation's economy amid US-led sanctions over his nuclear ambitions, pandemic-related border closures and natural disasters that wiped out crops.

Kim¡¯s comments are likely intended to pressure the incoming US government of Joe Biden, which will assume office on January 20. The President-elect, has not shied away from criticising the North Korean leader in the past, calling him a ¡°thug¡± and accused Trump of chasing spectacle rather than meaningful curbs on the North¡¯s nuclear capabilities.

Kim has not ruled out talks, but he said the fate of bilateral relations would depend on whether Washington abandons its hostile policy toward Pyongyang.

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KCNA

North Korea has test-fired several SLBMs from underwater, and analysts say it is seeking to develop an operational submarine to carry the missiles.

Photos released by state media showed the SLBM was labelled Pukguksong-5, potentially marking an upgrade over the Pukguksong-4 that was unveiled at a larger military parade in October.