North Korea parades troops, artillery to mark 70th anniversary as nation in Pyongyang; Kim Jong-un, Chinese envoy attend

[caption id=“attachment_5147031” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] North Korea staged a huge military parade on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. Soldiers raised the country’s national flag before the parade started in Pyongyang. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147081” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Soldiers march during the parade. North Korea stages military parades almost every year, and held one just before the Winter Olympics began in South Korea in February this year.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147121” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Soldiers march with a float showing late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, Nearly half of the parade was devoted to civilian efforts to build the domestic economy. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147151” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Troops, artillery and tanks make their way past leader Kim Jong-un in the centre of Pyongyang, but the largest missiles shown were short-range battlefield devices. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147141” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Heavy weaponry also rolled past during a parade but the nation held back from showcasing the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) that have seen it hit with multiple international sanctions. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147191” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Kim Jong-un at the end of the two-hour event strolled to the edge of the balcony with the Chinese special envoy, Li Zhanshu. The two held up their joined hands to symbolise the countries’ traditionally close ties. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147221” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Performers take part in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding day. The nation also celebrated the revival of its iconic mass games after a five-year hiatus through huge rallies. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_5147281” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] The focus of the parade shifted to civilian groups, ranging from nurses to construction workers who carried flags and walked beside colorful floats. The strong emphasis on the economy underscores leader Kim Jong-un’s new strategy of putting economic development front and centre.AP[/caption]