WORLD WAR 3 - NORTH KOREA stages largest MILITARY PARADE to mark war anniversary

NORTH KOREA stages largest MILITARY PARADE to mark war anniversary

Goose-stepping soldiers, columns of tanks and a broad array of ominous-looking missiles poised on mobile launchers paraded through Pyongyang's main square on Saturday in a painstakingly choreographed military pageant intended to strike fear into North Korea's adversaries and rally its people behind young ruler Kim Jong Un on the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

The lavish assembly of weapons and troops is reminiscent of the marches held by the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Cold War. It is one of the few chances the world gets to see North Korea's military up close. Although Pyongyang frequently uses the occasion to reveal new, though not always operational, hardware, there didn't appear to be any new weapons in Saturday's parade. Its arsenal of missiles, however, was front-and-center.

Overlooking a sea of spectators mobilized in Kim Il Sung Square to cheer and wave flags, leader Kim Jong Un saluted his troops from a review stand. He was flanked by senior military officials, the chests of their olive green and white uniforms laden with medals. As fighter jets screamed overhead, a relaxed looking Kim smiled and talked with China's vice-president. China fought with North Korea during the war and is Pyongyang's only major ally and a crucial source of economic aid. Kim did not make a speech.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, right, is accompanied by Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao, center, as they greet spectators on Saturday. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, right, is accompanied by Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao, center, as they greet spectators on Saturday. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press)

Kim's rule, which began in late 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, has been marked by high tensions with Washington and Seoul. He has overseen two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear test that drew widespread condemnation and tightened UN sanctions.

North and South Korea have turned to tentative diplomacy in recent weeks, but March and April saw North Korean threats of nuclear war against Washington and Seoul in response to annual South Korean-U.S. military drills and UN condemnation of Pyongyang's February nuclear test, the country's third. Long-stalled North Korean nuclear disarmament talks show no sign of resuming.

CHINA PUSHES FOR NUKE FREE PENINSULA

On Thursday, Kim met Li in what was the highest-level talks between the two countries after their ties seemed to fray following Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests in the past year, which led to tougher U.N. sanctions backed by Beijing.

Li told Kim that Beijing will push for talks on removing nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

China's official Xinhua news agency, in a commentary on Saturday, said the time was right for all sides to seek a permanent end to the state of hostilities on the peninsula, but added North Korea had to live up to its responsibilities.

"For Pyongyang's part, its security concerns are understandable and should be addressed properly, but violating U.N. Security Council resolutions is not helpful. It has to keep its end of the bargain," Xinhua said.
NTH KOREAN VETS STILL SEE U.S. AS ENEMY

While anti-U.S. rhetoric was absent from the official ceremony, those attending the event were more than ready to pledge to strike their arch enemy when called to arms.

"American bastards have kept saying they will make war and that they will take over our country," said 80-year-old veteran Jang Jong-hwan. "Though we are old, we have renewed our resolve not to loosen our grip on our guns and to serve leader Kim Jong-un for eternity and achieve unification."

Li was also the leading guest on Friday night at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang where a national meeting was held lauding the heroic battle fought by the armies of the two countries against the United States.

In the South Korean capital Seoul on Saturday, veterans of some of the 16 countries that fought under the U.N. command during the Korean War marked the truce at a more intimate event.