North Korea unveils 'most powerful' nuclear weapon yet as Kim Jong Un issues warning to enemies
North Korea has shown off a new nuclear weapons system it has called its 'most powerful'.
The highly secretive country frequently shows off its nuclear testing programme and says it is developing nuclear weapons as part of a strategy to deter the US.
A military parade in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, for visiting dignitaries saw the new missiles displayed.
Visitors to the parade included Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and the chief of the Vietnamese Communist Party, To Lam.
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Medvedev and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also met on Friday, with the former praising North Korean soldiers who are fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
The parade on Friday marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party in North Korea.
Among the resources on display at the parade was the country's new Hwasong-20 missile.
This has been called the 'most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system'.
There were also other forms of missile systems, including shorter-range cruise missiles and supersonic missiles.
An anniversary concert held on Thursday also featured Russian singers and ballet dancers.
In a speech, the North Korean leader said that the country's military “must continue to evolve into an invincible force”.
Kim Jong Un has previously spoken about strengthening the country's ties with Russia, with around 15,000 North Korean troops being sent to fight in Ukraine.
Last summer, the leader's sister, Kim Yo Jong, said that the US should not attempt to restart talks around denuclearising North Korea.
She said: "If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK - U.S. meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the U.S. side."
The presence of China's Li Qiang, second only to Xi Jinping in China, also marked a significant moment.
This was the highest-profile visit of a Chinese official to North Korea since 2019, when Xi Jinping himself visited the country.
It comes after Kim Jong Un visited Beijing for a parade on Tiananmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
This saw the North Korean leader standing alongside Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was also the first time that he had attended an international gathering.
The presence of high-level Russian and Chinese figures at Friday's parade in Pyongyang highlights North Korea's diplomatic network, with the highly isolated country continuing to face heavy sanctions.
Topics: News, World News, Kim Jong-un, North Korea
Kit Roberts