North Korea Celebrates Its Founding Anniversary

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a paramilitary group parade in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the country’s founding on Saturday. He engaged in diplomatic communications, pledging to deepen relations with China and Russia. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the parade took place at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital, Pyongyang, and that Kim held talks with a visiting Chinese delegation. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message expressing his readiness to enhance strategic communication and cooperation at the working level. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Kim, stating that the two countries would strengthen bilateral relations to ensure security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Kim is expected to travel to Russia later this month to meet with Putin to discuss supplying Moscow with weapons to support its invasion of Ukraine. North Korea is already strengthening its large military with various paramilitary and security groups, such as the Workers' and Farmers' Red Guards affiliated with the army.