Overview

• At a night parade in Pyongyang marking the Workers’ Party’s 80th anniversary, North Korea publicly rolled out the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile and the Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic-capable system.
• State media described the Hwasong-20 as the country’s most powerful strategic nuclear weapons system, while independent observers cautioned the displays may include mock-ups or non-operational hardware.
• Analysts noted the 11Ma appears designed to use a maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicle, a profile that can follow irregular paths and complicate detection and interception.
• The procession also featured upgraded Cheonma-20 tanks, long-range cruise missiles, and new launch vehicles, signaling a broader push to modernize conventional and strategic forces.
• The event doubled as diplomatic messaging with Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev and China’s Li Qiang attending, as Kim Jong Un reiterated the nuclear program’s primacy and Seoul estimated annual fissile output for 15–20 additional warheads.