Military parades in North Korea

The parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 2023

This is a list of military parades held in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 1948. All military parades consist of troops from the Korean People's Army and the paramilitary Worker-Peasant Red Guards. All military parades of a national nature are held on Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square with the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs Commission and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea in attendance. These parades are broadcast live on Korean Central Television.

Contrary to popular belief, military parades are for the most part, held on quinquennial or decennial anniversaries (every 5 or 10 years) and/or jubilee years (ex: 25th anniversary, 40th anniversary, 50th anniversary, 60th anniversary, 70th anniversary).[1][2][3]

Many parade participants are awarded with special decorative medals as well as certain arrangements at their barracks.[4]

  1. ^ "A Few Facts on North Korea's Army Day | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. February 1, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "N. Korea likely to mark founding anniversary without military parade: official". Yonhap News Agency. September 5, 2019. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  3. ^ See "Puk chuyo’gi’nyŏm’il 5–10 nyŏnmada taegyumo yŏlpyŏngsik" (North Korea Holds Large Military Parades for Anniversaries Every 5–10 years), Chosŏn Ilbo, 25 April 2007; Chang Jun-ik, "Pukhan Inmingundaesa" (History of the North Korean Military), Seoul, Sŏmundang, 1991, pp. 19–88; Kim Kwang-su, "Chosŏninmingun’ŭi ch’angsŏlgwa palchŏn, 1945~1990" (Foundation and Development of the Korean People's Army, 1945~1990), Chapter Two in Kyŏngnam University North Korean Studies Graduate School, Pukhan’gunsamunje’ŭi chaejomyŏng (The Military of North Korea: A New Look), Seoul, Hanul Academy, 2006, pp. 63–78.
  4. ^ "Past goose-steppers proud of place in North Korean parades". AP NEWS. September 7, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2019.