(LEAD) N Korea-military parade
(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim warns of 'terrible' retaliation against hostile military acts at military parade
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead para; UPDATES throughout with details)
By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned that "terrible retaliatory attacks" will be carried out against any force that commits hostile military acts against his country during a military parade marking a key party congress, state media reported Thursday.
Kim made the remarks at the nighttime parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday as the high-profile ruling party gathering drew to a close that day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"Our armed forces are fully ready to cope with any circumstances," Kim said in a speech carried by the KCNA. "Our army will deliver terrible retaliatory attacks to any forces the moment they commit hostile military acts of infringing upon our national sovereignty and security interests."
"In this world of today, it is the topmost, overriding task of our state and the duty of our armed forces, which no one else could perform for them, to reliably defend the rights to existence and development of our state and people."
Meanwhile, the parade at Kim Il Sung Square featured various troops, including an overseas operation unit and a mechanized infantry unit, as well as aerial performances, according to the KCNA.
The ruling Workers' Party of Korea's ninth party congress kicked off last Thursday to outline major policy directions for the next five years on diplomacy, defense, the economy and other areas.
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