North Korea, No Missiles were Shown

North Korea has celebrated its 55th anniversary of the founding of the communist regime on September 9th morning in the Kim Il-sung Square. With Kim Jung-il, Chairman of the Defense Committee attending, there was large-scale military parade and mass congregation.

However the Japanese Kyodo News reports, the medium range Ballistic Missile system was not revealed to public as expected.

According to Kyodo News, from 9:30a.m. about a thousand lightly armed troops conducted a formal military review then about a thousand civilians held a street parade.

Some domestic and foreign media expected the North Korea to reveal their latest 4000km-range Ballistic Missile system through this military parade.

On September 3rd, the North Korea regime passed a resolution to `reinforce Nuclear Deterrence`. Prior on August 29th in the Beijing Summit Meeting, North Korea has mentioned that they possessed a mean to deliver Nuclear weapons.

Much attention was focused on the 55th anniversary (September 9th) ceremony. The anniversary gathered much attention because it grandly held every 5 to 10 years. Especially there were rumors of grand military parade with various weapons including Ballistic Missiles, however there was no special activity of note.

○…Many government officials were relieved when they received the Kyodo News report to Beijing about the absence of grand military parade in the September 9th anniversary. They were concerned that opening of next round of talks depended on the North Korean not escalating the situation.

Related government officials of Foreign Security were highly alert of the North Korean Missile, which some medias predicted would make appearance in the anniversary.

“Prior to the anniversary, North Korea has escalated the tensions by publicly announcing their reinforcement of nuclear deterrence. But absence of further military demonstration of note signals positive attitude in resolving North Korean Nuclear issue in the future Summit Meeting,” says an government official.

He also says, “ This behavior by North Korea is a indirect response to the latest mild attitude from U.S. If the North Korea continues to stabilize the situation for current week, other five countries of the Summit Meeting will initiate second round of talks by next week.”

○…The North Korean medias showed documentaries concerning Kim Jung-il and the news of the anniversary ceremony. There were no other special reports

The state-run Central TV mainly showed documentaries of the Kim Il-sung and Kim Jung-il`s achievements, followed by songs praising the Kims and program that showed how to raise their national flag.

The Joong-ang and Pyong-yang Radio Broadcast also mainly reported performance of North Korean concert held during September 8th and 9th, reports of visits of senior officials to the War Memorial and Cemetery of Revolution Heroes, and arrival of Constantine Polykopski, Russian Presidential representative to Pyong-yang on 8th and such.

The Communist Party newspaper, `Roh-dong Newspaper` put out an editorial by title `Our Republic is forever invincible state` emphasizing that North Korea will fight the Imperialism till end.

○…North Korea held musicals, concerts and various entertainment performances in the major theaters though out Pyong-yang celebrating their anniversary. Also the Man-kyung-dae Munsu Kae-song Youth Park was opened for long hours and the country was in celebration mood.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com