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Satellite images show scale of N. Korea’s massive anniversary parade

October 8, 2015
This image provided by the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via 38 North and via a satellite image from Centre National d’Études Spatiales, taken Oct. 6 shows military vehicles and troops mobilized at the North Korean capital Pyongyang for a major military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the nation’s ruling party. The website 38 North, which is associated with the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, says about 700 trucks and 200 armored fighting and military vehicles have assembled at at a former air base in the east of the city, where military units have been practicing at a mock-up of the venue for the Oct. 10 parade and mass rally. (Centre National d’Études Spatiales/38 North/Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via AP)

This image provided by the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via 38 North and via a satellite image from Centre National d’Études Spatiales, taken Oct. 6 shows military vehicles and troops mobilized at the North Korean capital Pyongyang for a major military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the nation’s ruling party. The website 38 North, which is associated with the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, says about 700 trucks and 200 armored fighting and military vehicles have assembled at at a former air base in the east of the city, where military units have been practicing at a mock-up of the venue for the Oct. 10 parade and mass rally. (Centre National d’Études Spatiales/38 North/Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Satellite imagery shows North Korea has erected a tented city and mobilized hundreds of trucks and armored vehicles in preparation for a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the ruling party.

The U.S.-Korea Institute says military units, which began mobilizing in May, have been practicing at a mock-up of the venue for Saturday’s parade and mass rally.

The institute’s website 38 North says photos taken Tuesday show about 800 tents and more than 600 trucks and 200 armored vehicles at a former air base in the east of Pyongyang.

The likely centerpiece of the parade, ballistic missile launchers, can’t be seen yet, but seven drones are visible on mobile launchers.

The parade is expected to be North Korea’s biggest spectacle since Kim Jong-un took power.