(2nd LD) N. Korean leader attends military parade; ICBMs on display

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 6-9; RECASTS first 2 paras; CHANGES photos)
By Kim Soo-yeon and Song Sang-ho

SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has staged a massive military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th founding anniversary of its armed forces, its state media confirmed Thursday, describing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) on display as representing the country's "maximum nuclear attack capabilities."

Its leader Kim Jong-un attended the nighttime event, held Wednesday, along with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and apparent second child, Ju-ae, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). There has been no report on whether he delivered a public speech.

Flanked by top military and party officials, Kim took to the reviewing stand to watch the parade held in Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate the Korean People's Army (KPA) anniversary.

Clad in a long black coat and wearing a felt hat, Kim smiled and waved to the crowd, photos released by the KCNA showed. His outfit was reminiscent of those of the country's late founder, Kim Il-sung, who is known as his role model.

In particular, the KCNA reported, a column of ICBMs rolled through the square, demonstrating the regime's "revolutionary" development of military power and its "maximum" nuclear attack capability.

Also appearing at the parade were columns of "tactical" missiles and long-range cruise missiles, it added.

The North also presented "tactical nuclear units" in a demonstration of its "war deterrence and counterstrike capabilities."

One KCNA photo of the parade showed Hwasong-17 ICBMs, as well as what is presumed to be a new ICBM mounted on a transporter erector launcher (TEL) with 18 wheels.

The specifics of the new missile remains unknown, but its presence raised speculation that it could be a solid-propellant missile that the North has been striving to secure.

In December last year, the North claimed to have successfully conducted a test of a "high-thrust solid-fuel" rocket motor to develop a "new-type strategic weapon" -- a move that reinforced speculation about its push for a solid-fuel ICBM.

If deployed, a solid-propellant ICBM could pose a significant threat to the U.S. mainland given that it can enable a surprise attack as it takes less preparation time to launch than a liquid-fuel one, which requires time-consuming pre-launch procedures like the injection of fuel.

The North is expected to air recorded footage of the military parade later in the day.

The secretive regime has ramped up efforts to advance its weapons program in defiance of multiple U.N. sanctions on the North.

At a party meeting late last year, Kim Jong-un called for an "exponential" increase in its nuclear arsenal, raising the need to mass-produce tactical nuclear weapons apparently targeting the South and to develop a new ICBM.

Since Kim took power following his father's death in late 2011, his regime has staged 13 military parades, including the latest one.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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