North Korea parades latest missile systems

North Korea held a large-scale military parade on 25 April, showcasing some of its new strategic and tactical missile systems.

At the event – held in Pyongyang to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) – leader Kim Jong-un also vowed to accelerate the development of the country’s nuclear forces.

New missiles paraded at the event included many that are under development through North Korea’s five-year weapons modernisation programme, which was announced by Kim in early 2021.

These featured the Hwaseong-17 (also spelt Hwasong-17) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM); the Hwaseong-8, a claimed hypersonic missile; and new variants of North Korea’s KN-23 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).