North Korea displays new long-range missile at military parade celebrating Kim Jong Un’s leadership

By AP October 10, 2025 | 07:29 pm PT

This photo provided by North Korean government shows what it says a new intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-20, during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Worker's Party, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Photo handed out via AP

At a massive military parade attended by foreign leaders, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rolled out his nuclear-armed military’s most powerful weapons, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile he may be preparing to test in coming weeks.

The parade, which began Friday night in the rain and marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, highlighted Kim’s growing diplomatic footing.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday that the parade featured a new, yet-to-be-tested intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-20, which it described as the country's "most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system."

In a speech at the parade, Kim said his military "should continue to grow into an invincible entity that destroys all threats," according to comments published by KCNA.

Photos and videos from North Korean and Russian state media showed thousands of spectators packing the brightly lit square.

KCNA said the columns of soldiers who marched during the parade included "the invincible overseas operations unit that fully demonstrated the spirit of the Korean people."

Latest addition to ICBMs

North Korea in recent years has flight-tested a variety of ICBMs, including missiles with built-in solid propellants that are easier to move and conceal and can be prepared for launch more quickly than the North’s previous liquid-fueled missiles.

The parade saw the debut of the massive Hwasong-20 mounted on an 11-axle launcher truck. The new missile’s existence was first revealed in recent weeks as North Korea tested a new solid-fuel rocket engine that it said was intended for future ICBMs. State media said the engine, built with carbon fiber, is more powerful than past models.

Kim has called for the development of multi-warhead systems that would improve the chances of penetrating missile defenses, and some experts say the Hwasong-20 could be designed for that purpose.

Other weapons on display included shorter range ballistic, cruise and supersonic missiles.

High-level visitors

The parade took place as Kim hosted a rare group of high-level foreign officials sent to Pyongyang to attend the anniversary celebrations, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang; and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Moscow’s Security Council, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam .

Kim also visited China last month and shared center stage with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a massive military parade.

Kim on Friday separately met with Medvedev to discuss developing the "comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance" with Russia, KCNA said. Kim had also met Li and To Lam on Thursday for talks on strengthening ties.