Trump welcomes North Korea's decision not to display nuclear missiles
The US president praised the North Korean leader for "not showing off his usual nuclear missiles" at a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding.
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| Tanks take part in a parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on September 9. Photo: AFP/VNA |
On Twitter, President Trump wrote: "This is a very positive and tremendous statement by North Korea. Thank you to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Together we will prove everyone wrong."
Earlier in the day, North Korea held a military parade but did not display intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the weapons that have caused Pyongyang to face many international sanctions.
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| Soldiers at a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on September 9. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
In the past, at military parades, North Korea often used a large screen to project images of the country's successes.
In recent years, North Korea has frequently shown ballistic missile launches under leader Kim Jong-un.
These launches, as well as nuclear tests, have brought a series of sanctions against North Korea by the United Nations Security Council.
However, in the face of the sudden change in the situation on the Korean peninsula, starting with the Winter Olympics in South Korea last February, North Korea has engaged in many diplomatic fronts, even as the US demands that Pyongyang give up its weapons.
Instead of missiles, the imagery at the September 8 concert highlighted North Korea’s landmarks, from the sacred Mount Paektu to the Pyongyang skyline, as well as its economic development, with images of factories, steel mills and vast wheat fields.
There were only a few segments about the military, with some conventional equipment shown. Then a message was shown on screen: "Military strength ensures peace."
