Satellite images show North Korea preparing for massive military parade

Seoul, Sep 22 (efe-epa).- New satellite images show that intense preparations are underway for a large-scale military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling party on Oct. 10, a website devoted to the analysis of the reclusive nation said on Tuesday.

The images, captured on Sunday by 38 North, a United States-based think tank, show more than 40 vehicles deployed on the training ground near Mirim Airport in the south-east of the North Korean capital.

The facility is normally used as a rehearsal ground for military parades that take place in central Pyongyang as it has the same dimensions as the famous Kim Il-Sung Square, where all such events are held.

North Korea does not officially confirm military parades in advance but satellite images have shown intense activity at the Mirim parade training facility for months.

All this seems to indicate that the preparations are on for Oct. 10 to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party.

Experts speculate that Pyongyang will unveil new weapons from its missile program.

Among the vehicles visible in the satellite images are nine longer ones “that are likely multiple-rocket launcher vehicles,” according to 38 North.

Also visible are multiple tents that are likely accommodations for military personnel.

“Based on the size and scope of past parades, the vehicles observed likely represent only a fraction of what will be on display during the celebration” on Oct.10, the website said.

Other images of central Pyongyang taken on Sunday show people practicing for the parade at Kim Il-sung Square itself and that improvement works are underway on Okryu Bridge, which military vehicles use to reach the square from Mirim.

However, no long-range missile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) have been spotted in any of the images nor any indications that they are present at Mirim, 38 North said.

Many experts believe that Pyongyang could reveal new TELs in the parade, which would confirm that North Korea is continuing in its quest to make weapons of mass destruction despite denuclearization talks with the United States in 2018.

The denuclearization dialog between North Korea and the US as well as talks between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at a standstill since the failed summit in Hanoi in 2019.

At that summit, Washington deemed the North Korean disarmament offer insufficient and refused to lift sanctions on the country. EFE-EPA

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