▲ This photo, provided by Tass, shows North Korea's military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Oct. 10, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea's establishment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This photo, provided by Tass, shows North Korea's military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Oct. 10, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea's establishment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-military parade

(LEAD) N. Korea unveils new Hwasong-20 ICBM at military parade on party anniversary

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead para; UPDATES throughout with more info, photo; ADDS byline)

By Kim Soo-yeon and Park Boram

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has staged a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party of Korea, unveiling its newly developed Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, according to state media Saturday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described the new ICBM as "the most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system" as it reported its disclosure at the military parade held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Friday night, which was attended by state leader Kim Jong-un.

The display of the Hwasong-20 ICBM, capable of striking the U.S. mainland, appears aimed at showcasing the country's nuclear force and demonstrating its de facto possession of nuclear weapons in the presence of foreign state leaders and high-level guests.

North Korea has invited foreign guests to events marking the party anniversary, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang; Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council; and Vietnam's leader To Lam.

"As the Hwasong-20 ICBM, the most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, entered the square ... the eruption of spectators' enthusiastic cheers reached its peak," the KCNA said.

Last month, the KCNA unveiled the test of a new high-thrust solid-fuel missile engine, saying it will be used for the new-generation Hwasong-20 ICBM under development.

The engine test marked the ninth of its kind and "the last one" in the development process, the KCNA said at that time, describing its maximum thrust as 1,971 kilonewtons.

Friday's military parade also featured hypersonic missiles, a weapon capable of bypassing enemy missile defense systems.

"Strategic weapon systems, the core of absolute power and the essence of our party's continuously strengthened self-defense capabilities to safeguard the rights to survival, development and peace, entered the square," the KCNA said.

The KCNA listed hypersonic glide and medium- and long-range strategic missiles, Chonma-20 main battle tanks, 155-millimeter howitzers and 600 mm multiple rocket launchers as featured in the parade.

Files of strategic cruise missiles, drone launch vehicles, and surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles also took part in the parade, according to the state media.

The agency said the "invincible" foreign operations unit, which made history for the Korean People's Army and showcased Koreans' prowess, marched in columns, suggesting the parade may also have featured the military unit that sent troops to support Russia in its war with Ukraine.

The military parade came about a month after Kim stood shoulder to shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a large-scale military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3, in a show of unity against the West.

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