(MENAFN) North Korea held an elaborate military parade in the heart of Pyongyang on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the ruling Workers’ Party.

The grand display took place in the capital’s central square and served as a major showcase of the nation’s military capabilities.

The event featured an array of the country’s newest military technologies. On display were modern combat drones, tanks equipped with cutting-edge electronic warfare technologies, hypersonic ballistic missiles, and other sophisticated electronic combat equipment.

A notable moment during the parade was the first public appearance of the Hwasong-20 — referred to by a news agency as North Korea’s most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, which is said to have the range to strike the mainland United States.

In a speech delivered during the celebration, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized that the occasion was intended to “confirm once again the eternity of our sovereignty,” as reported by the state-controlled news agency.

He pledged to uphold the country’s autonomy through military force and commended the armed forces for their loyalty to the Workers’ Party and its directives.

Kim reaffirmed that North Korea remains committed to “fulfill its responsibilities in the joint struggle of progressive mankind for opposing injustice” and referred to the country as “a bulwark for independence” resisting Western dominance.

Additionally, he extended “warm encouragement” to North Korean forces deployed overseas.

The parade was attended by several high-profile foreign guests, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vietnamese Communist Party leader To Lam, and a Russian delegation headed by former President Dmitry Medvedev, underlining the international dimension of the event.

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