North Korea is making preparations for a large-scale military parade expected to involve around 12,000 personnel to commemorate a major ruling party congress, an opposition lawmaker said Friday, citing satellite imagery.
According to Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party, satellite images compiled by Vantor Inc. between February 9 and 17 and analyzed by the Korea Defense Security Forum showed roughly 12,000 individuals assembled at Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang.
The images have not yet revealed the presence of heavy weapons systems typically displayed during North Korean parades.
The defense forum projected that armored vehicles and missile launchers are likely to be transported to the site in stages as preparations advance.
Separate imagery also indicated that large-scale mass games are being organized at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital, with card-section participants taking part in rehearsals.
“The military parade for the ninth party congress is expected to involve mass weapons and personnel, surpassing the scale of the previous political event,” Yu said.
“It will be a stage to flaunt the North’s deepening ties with Russia, attended by senior officials.”
North Korea began its ninth party congress on Thursday, marking the first such gathering since 2021. The high-profile meeting is expected to outline major national policies covering diplomacy, defense and economic strategy.
In 2021, the country staged an expansive military parade to mark the eighth party congress, mobilizing approximately 15,000 personnel and displaying 172 pieces of military equipment.
