North Korean state media displayed footage on Friday of Chinese and Russian officials alongside the country's leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade showcasing the latest nuclear-capable missiles and new offensive drones of the isolated state in Pyongyang.
The presence of these officials at events featuring North Korea's nuclear missiles contrasts with previous years when Beijing and Moscow sought to distance themselves from the neighboring state's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, which are prohibited by the UN Security Council with Chinese and Russian support.
The widely anticipated parade took place last night to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, a day North Korea refers to as "Victory Day."
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's visit marks the first by a senior defense official from Moscow to North Korea since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Additionally, the Chinese delegation is the first sent by Beijing since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Images published by North Korean state media showed Kim, Shoigu, and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong talking, laughing, and greeting each other as Pyongyang showcased its military forces and weaponry.
