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NKorea's Kim Vows 'Socialist Paradise' 10/10 06:13
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded what he
called his country's fight against a U.S.-led military threat and vowed to turn
North Korea into "the best socialist paradise in the world," as he addressed
state anniversary celebrations in the presence of Chinese, Russian and other
foreign dignitaries.
Kim's speech on the eve of Friday's 80th founding anniversary of the ruling
Workers' Party comes as he's trying to bolster an anti-West partnership with
other countries, even as he signaled interest in resuming diplomacy with the
U.S.
The pinnacle of the North Korean anniversary events would be a military
parade expected later Friday at a Pyongyang plaza, where Kim will likely stand
alongside Chinese, Russian and other leaders to watch together the display of
some of his newest and most advanced weapons targeting the U.S. and its allies.
Kim's diplomatic credentials have been bolstered recently. He took center
stage with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladmir Putin at a
Beijing military parade last month. U.S. President Donald Trump and South
Korean President Lee Jae Myung have also repeatedly expressed hopes to meet Kim
as he flaunts a provocative nuclear program.
Kim talks tough on US and promises to build a 'socialist paradise'
In a Thursday speech at Pyongyang's May Day Stadium packed with tens of
thousands of spectators, Kim said that North Korea has been pushing for the
simultaneous development of nuclear weapons and the economy to cope with
"growing nuclear war threats by the U.S. imperialists," according to state
media.
"Our party and government are still coping with our adversaries' ferocious
political and military moves of pressure by pursuing harder-line policies,
holding fast to firm principles and employing brave, unflinching
countermeasures," Kim said. "This is powerfully propelling the growth of the
progressive camp against war and hegemony."
Kim also expressed confidence in overcoming difficulties and drastically
improving the economy in the near future. "I will surely turn this country into
a more affluent and beautiful land and into the best socialist paradise in the
world," Kim said.
Foreign dignitaries attending the celebration included Chinese Premier Li
Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnamese Communist Party
General Secretary To Lam. State media photos showed Kim waving between Li and
To Lam, as the central section of the stands used cards to spell out the words
"Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea" and fireworks
lit up the sky.
Kim separately met Li and To Lam for talks on strengthening ties, and one of
his top deputies, Jo Yong Won, met Medvedev.
Military parade will likely roll out big missiles targeting US
The exact timing for the military parade is unclear, with rain expected in
Pyongyang throughout the day on Friday. South Korea's military said North Korea
will likely hold the parade on Friday night.
The parade could feature some of the weapons systems North Korea has tested
or unveiled in past years, including intercontinental ballistic missiles
potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland and shorter-range weapons the
North claims can deliver nuclear strikes against rival South Korea.
Keen outside attention is on whether North Korea will disclose what it
called "the next-generation" Hwasong-20 ICBM, whose solid-fuel engine was
tested last month. Foreign experts say the newest version of North Korea's
advancing lineup of ICBMs is aimed at carrying multiple nuclear warheads
capable of defeating U.S missile defense systems.
Kim has been accelerating the expansion of his nuclear-armed military since
his high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Trump fell apart in 2019 due to
wrangling over U.S.-led economic sanctions on North Korea. But last month, Kim
suggested he could return to talks if the U.S. drops its demand for a complete
denuclearization of North Korea, after Trump repeatedly expressed his hopes for
a new round of diplomacy.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kim has made Russia the priority of his
foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large shipments of conventional
weapons to help fuel Putin's warfighting. Kim also visited China last month,
and stood next to Xi and Putin at a massive military parade in a show of
potential trilateral solidarity against the U.S.
Outsiders are in the dark about developments in North Korea
As part of its efforts to support Kim's authoritarian rule, North Korea
maintains a tight information blockade, making it almost impossible for
outsiders to confirm what exactly is happening in North Korea.
Foreign governments and experts usually find preparations for a military
parade in North Korea if satellite photos show thousands of people being
assembled in formation near Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square and rehearsing for a
parade-like event.
North Korea's state TV sometimes conducts live broadcasts of military
parades but more often airs recorded programs hours or even a day after they
happened. North Korean military parades have become larger in scale under Kim
and provided a rare glimpse into the country's secretive nuclear and missile
programs under development.
North Korea calls for unity behind Kim
North Korea's three major state-run newspapers including the main Rodong
Sinmun issued a rare joint editorial urging loyalty to Kim and supporting his
nuclear weapons program.
Kim is "the great representative of the Party and the nation's dignity and
bright future," the editorial said.
It was the first time that they ran a joint editorial since January 2012, in
a New Year's statement weeks after Kim inherited power following the death of
his father, Kim Jong Il.
Earlier this week, Kim called for "eliminating" acts that undermine the
ruling party's leadership as he urged his people to unite behind the spirit of
patriotism to transform all sectors of the society.
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