North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a major military parade that showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile, state news agency KCNA said.
The parade, which began late Friday, marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party and followed ceremonies held on Thursday.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, a delegation from Russia led by former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam were among the foreign officials who traveled to Pyongyang for the anniversary.
During the military parade, nuclear-armed North Korea unveiled its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-20, which KCNA described as "the country's most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system," Reuters reported.
The Hwasong series of missiles gave North Korea the ability to hit any point in the United States, but doubts remain about the accuracy of its guidance system and the ability of the warhead to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
"The Hwasong-20 currently represents the pinnacle of North Korea's ambitions to develop long-range nuclear capabilities. The system is expected to be tested before the end of this year," said Ankit Panda of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"It is likely designed to carry multiple warheads... Multiple warheads increase the pressure on existing US missile defense systems and strengthen what Kim considers necessary to achieve a real deterrent effect towards Washington," Panda added.
At the parade, Kim gave a speech expressing "warm support" for North Korean troops participating in overseas operations, adding that the heroism of their army would be demonstrated not only in defending North Korea but also at "outposts of socialist construction," KCNA reported.
"Our army should continue to grow into an invincible force that destroys all threats," Kim said.
Kim also spoke with Medvedev on Friday, who said the sacrifice of North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in its military campaign in Ukraine confirms the mutual trust between the two countries.
According to KCNA, Kim told Medvedev that he hopes to further strengthen cooperation with Russia and intensify exchanges in various fields to achieve common goals.
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