120,000 North Koreans wearing Covid masks pack out sports stadium pledging ‘merciless revenge’ against America with banners warning US is ‘within striking range’ of Kim Jong Un’s nuclear missiles
- Shocking images showed a stadium full of people raising their fists with anti-American banners and placards
- They brandished signs that read: ‘Let’s eradicate US imperialists’, and ‘the US is within our striking range’
- The rally was held to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the start of the three-year Korean War in 1950
Tens of thousands of North Koreans have marched in anti-US rallies over the weekend, pledging ‘merciless’ revenge against ‘US imperialists’ as the country marked the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
More than 120,000 people participated in Sunday’s mass rallies in the nation’s capital, Pyongyang, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said.
Shocking images showed a stadium full of people raising their fists in a salute while marching with streamers and banners depicting nuclear missile launches.
Photos published by the North’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed that many thousands of attendees were wearing Covid-19 face masks and brandishing signs that read: ‘Let’s eradicate US imperialist invaders’, and: ‘The entire US mainland is within our striking range.’
While the 1950-53 conflict was triggered by a North Korean surprise attack, the demonstrators mobilised in Pyongyang promoted their government’s version of events and accused the United States of provoking the war and leaving Koreans with ‘wounds … that can never be healed’.
More than 120,000 people participated in Sunday’s mass rallies in the nation’s capital, Pyongyang, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said. Shocking images showed a stadium full of people raising their fists in a salute while marching with streamers and banners depicting nuclear missile launches
In this photo taken on June 25, 2023, a banner that reads ‘The whole US mainland is in our striking range!’ is seen as residents of Pyongyang attend a mass rally to mark the ‘Day of Struggle Against US Imperialism’, on the 73rd anniversary of the three-year Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, at the Mayday Stadium in Pyongyang
People attend a mass rally denouncing the U.S. in Pyongyang, North Korea
People attend a mass rally denouncing the U.S. in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 25, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
Pyongyang people take part in a demonstration after a mass rally to mark what North Korea calls ‘the day of struggle against U.S. imperialism’
In this photo taken on June 25, 2023, residents of Pyongyang hold banners that read ‘answer of DPRK’, ‘nuclear war deterrent’, ‘anti-US confrontation’ and ‘the nuclear treasured sword of justice’ during a mass rally to mark the ‘Day of Struggle Against US imperialism’
The poster reads ‘Tens of millions of people pledge to defy death for defending country!’
North Koreans also celebrated the country’s nuclear programme
The rallies came amid heightened tensions in the region, as the pace of North Korean weapons demonstrations and the United States’ joint military exercises with South Korea have both intensified in a cycle of tit-for-tat.
In this photo taken on June 25, 2023, residents of Pyongyang hold banners that read ‘Let us destroy the US imperialists who are inveterate enemies of Korean people!’
Tens of thousands took part in the rallies
In this photo taken on June 25, 2023, residents of Pyongyang hold a banner that reads ‘Let us smash down the war provocation of US imperialists and puppets!’ during a mass rally to mark the ‘Day of Struggle Against US Imperialism’, on the 73rd anniversary of the three-year Korean War
At the rallies on Sunday, North Koreans also expressed pride in Mr Kim’s expanding nuclear weapons and missile programmes, insisting their country now has the ‘strongest absolute weapon to punish the US imperialists and the war deterrence for self-defence which no enemy dare provoke’.
The rallies came amid heightened tensions in the region, as the pace of North Korean weapons demonstrations and the United States’ joint military exercises with South Korea have both intensified in a cycle of tit-for-tat.
Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles of various ranges as Kim attempts to display a dual ability to conduct nuclear strikes on both the US mainland and South Korea.
The North is also speeding up efforts to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, following a failed first attempt in May.
There are signs that North Korea is planning a huge military parade in Pyongyang where it would likely showcase its new military hardware.
Recent commercial satellite images have shown troop and vehicle movements and the building of structures suggestive of preparations for a parade, likely for the July 27 anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
Meanwhile in South Korea, a North Korean defector-turned-activist said he flew balloons carrying some 200,000 anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and Covid-19 medical supplies across the border on Sunday night, continuing a campaign that has often triggered angry responses from the North.
Photos sent by Park Sang-hak showed a placard with a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a message that highlighted how his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, was responsible for starting the Korean War.
The North has not commented on Mr Park’s latest ballooning stunt.
North Korea is extremely sensitive about any outside attempt to undermine Mr Kim’s leadership and weaken his absolute control over the country’s 26 million people.
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