PYONGYANG - North Korea unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-20, on Friday evening, state-run KCNA news agency reported today. The weapon was shown publicly for the first time during a spectacular military parade in Pyongyang that the regime held to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Korean Workers' Party.
The ceremony was attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who watched the parade alongside senior military officials and several foreign delegations on the podium. According to KCNA, the new type of missile is intended to fundamentally strengthen the country's defence capability and strength and confirm its independent defence capacity against imperialist threats.
Analysts warn that the Hwasong-20 could represent the next evolutionary stage of the previous Hwasong-18 missile that Pyongyang tested last year. Experts in Seoul and Washington are now examining available footage and satellite imagery to determine whether the new missile has a longer range and is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads.
The parade, during which the North Korean military also unveiled new tanks, drones and special forces, was held in Kim Ir-sen Square with thousands of soldiers in attendance. The regime described the event as proof of the "unwavering unity" of the nation and its leader.
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