North Korea is preparing to stage a military parade to mark the communist state's 60th anniversary this week, an official said Monday amid heightening tensions over its nuclear programs.
South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae told reporters that the parade was expected to occur in Pyongyang on Tuesday, but did not elaborate on its size or other details.
"We know that the North has been preparing hard for tomorrow's event despite various internal difficulties," he said.
North Korea has relied on foreign assistance to help feed its 23 million people since its state-controlled economy collapsed due to mismanagement and natural disasters in the mid-1990s. The World Food Program says its food shortage has worsened this year after devastating floods in 2007.
"We know that the North has been preparing hard for tomorrow's event despite various internal difficulties," he said.
North Korea has relied on foreign assistance to help feed its 23 million people since its state-controlled economy collapsed due to mismanagement and natural disasters in the mid-1990s. The World Food Program says its food shortage has worsened this year after devastating floods in 2007.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Monday that the parade would be North Korea's largest-ever in terms of number of troops and military hardware displayed, quoting a government official it did not identify.
The official cited by Yonhap said weapons such as 240 mm multiple rocket launch systems and 105 mm howitzers have been observed at an air force base on the outskirts of Pyongyang where preparations for the parade were being made. The parade was to be held in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, named after the country's founder, the official said.
The official cited by Yonhap said weapons such as 240 mm multiple rocket launch systems and 105 mm howitzers have been observed at an air force base on the outskirts of Pyongyang where preparations for the parade were being made. The parade was to be held in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, named after the country's founder, the official said.
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