The DPRK held its military parade in the evening of 25 April to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army. Here are the key takeaways from the parade:
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Most of the weapon systems displayed at the parade have been presented before, with the exception of a model of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that is longer than previously showcased SLBM models.
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The weapon systems being displayed at the parade, such as short-range missiles that could potentially be armed with tactical nuclear warheads, hypersonic missiles and the Hwasong-17 ICBM, are in line with the core defense development tasks for the 2021-2025 period set forth during the 8th Party Congress of the Korean Workers' Party in January 2021.
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DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's speech at the parade was another sign that the DPRK's nuclear strategy is gradually shifting from strategic deterrence to battlefield use.
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Besides nuclear forces, the DPRK is continuing its efforts in modernizing its conventional forces and equipment.