Overview

• Speaking at Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium on Oct. 9, Kim Jong-un pledged to turn North Korea into “the best socialist paradise in the world,” with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnam’s To Lam in attendance.
• South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea is rehearsing a large nighttime parade involving equipment and missiles, likely to be held tonight despite rain, and analysts say new strategic systems could be showcased.
• Kim held talks with Vietnam’s To Lam and Laos’ Thongloun Sisoulith in Pyongyang, with state media saying the sides discussed expanding long-standing cooperation and strengthening ties.
• During Medvedev’s visit, North Korea and Russia issued a joint statement in which Pyongyang expressed full support for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine, and Russia thanked the North for support to the Kursk region.
• Ahead of the anniversary, Kim visited the Party Founding Museum and called for strict discipline and the prompt removal of elements undermining the Workers’ Party’s leadership to preserve ideological unity.