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North Korea marks late leader’s 105th birthday

Huge parade sees thousands of soldiers and weapons, including wide range of missiles during march through Pyongyang.

North Korean soldiers carry flags and a photo of late leader Kim Il-sung during a military parade. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
North Korean soldiers carry flags and a photo of late leader Kim Il-sung during a military parade. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
15 Apr 2017

North Korea has marked the 105th birthday of late founding leader and “eternal president” Kim Il-sung with a massive military parade in the capital Pyongyang.

Thousands of soldiers and military vehicles took part in the celebration on Saturday to the accompaniment of marching-band music in front of a large applauding audience.

Kim Jong-un – Kim Il-sung’s grandson – inspected the parade, saluting passing soldiers.

The event also appeared to feature a new intercontinental ballistic missile and prototypes of submarine-launched missiles.

Kim Il-sung’s birthday is known as the “Day of the Sun” and is the most important national holiday in North Korea.

OPINION: Will China intervene in North Korea?

North Korean aircraft form the number 105 as they do a flyover. [How Hwee-young/EPA]
North Korean aircraft form the number 105 as they do a flyover. [How Hwee-young/EPA]
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Female North Korean soldiers take part in the massive military march. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Female North Korean soldiers take part in the massive military march. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
North Korean anti-aircraft batteries drive through the parade. [How Hwee-young/EPA]
North Korean anti-aircraft batteries drive through the parade. [How Hwee-young/EPA]
Men and women dressed to represent doctors and other medical workers march across Kim Il-sung Square. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Men and women dressed to represent doctors and other medical workers march across Kim Il-sung Square. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Soldiers march across Kim Il-sung Square during the huge celebration, North Korea's most important holiday. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Soldiers march across Kim Il-sung Square during the huge celebration, North Korea's most important holiday. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Women wearing traditional clothes react as they march past the stand where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat. [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]
Women wearing traditional clothes react as they march past the stand where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat. [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]
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Fireworks explode as North Korean men and women participate in a mass dance during the closing ceremony. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
Fireworks explode as North Korean men and women participate in a mass dance during the closing ceremony. [Wong Maye-e/AP]
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