Don't Miss

Kim Jong-un says North Korea is ready for any kind of war with US

October 11, 2015

In this image made from video, North Korean military personnel perform at the Kim Il Sung Square during the ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the country’s ruling party in Pyongyang, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared Saturday that his country was ready to stand up to any threat posed by the United States as he spoke at a lavish military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the North’s ruling party and trumpet his third-generation leadership. (KRT via AP Video)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Saturday his country is ready to deal with any war threats by the United States as the North staged its largest-ever military parade to celebrate a key anniversary.

“Our revolutionary forces are capable of dealing with any kind of war being waged by the U.S.,” the North’s leader said at his rare public speech during a military parade for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party.

Pyongyang has hyped up the festive mood and promoted the accomplishments of its leader ahead of the anniversary. But it forewent provocative acts such as a long-range rocket launch, which the North has threatened to do so in recent weeks.

Flanked by senior military officials, the North’s young leader, clad in black, stood at an upper podium to preside over the proceedings held at Kim Il-sung Square at the center of Pyongyang, according to footage broadcast live by the state-run Korean Central Television.

“The U.S. has pushed for terrible wars and is posing new threats of aggression…It has also stood in the way of us with unprecedented sanctions and blockades if we intend to develop our economy,” Kim said.

But the North’s leader did not bring up his signature policy of simultaneously developing nuclear weapons and the country’s ailing economy during the speech, apparently mindful of China, the North’s long-time ally.

Standing to Kim’s left, Liu Yunshan, who ranks fifth in China’s ruling Communist Party hierarchy, watched the parade and talked with the North’s leader, in what could be a cautious sign for improving the strained ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.

Thousands of goose-stepping soldiers marched across the square in formation with planes flying overhead in an array of forming the symbol of the party and the number 70.

North Korea displays road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, known as the KN-08, with round warheads during a military parade on Oct. 10, 2015, at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party. (Yonhap)