Kim Jong-un unveils huge ballistic missile and threatens to ‘fully mobilise’ nuclear force

Missiles on show for first time since Trump meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned on Saturday that his country would "fully mobilise" its nuclear force if threatened as he presided over a military parade in which the country unveiled what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile and other additions to its growing weapons arsenal.

Edited footage from the parade shows a military vehicle carrying the missile, which is thought to be larger than anything previously displayed by the country.

Mr Kim said North Korea would continue to build “self-defensive deterrence" as he blamed international sanctions, extreme weather and the coronavirus pandemic for preventing him from delivering economic prosperity.

He stressed that the country’s missiles serve as a deterrent before going on to say: “If any force harms the safety of our nation, we will fully mobilise the strongest offensive might in a preemptive manner to punish them."

The parade is the first to feature North Korea’s ballistic missiles since Mr Kim began meeting with world leaders including Donald Trump in 2018.

Mr Kim avoided direct criticism of the United States during the event, as diplomatic relations between the two countries remain deadlocked due to disputes over sanctions and nuclear disarmament.

Hwasong-15 missiles were also on display in the parade. North Korea claimed the Hwasong-15 would be able to reach the continental United States upon test-launching the missile in 2017.

The Hwasong-15 missiles were carried on 18-wheel military vehicles during the parade but the apparently new ICBM was carried on a larger 22-wheel vehicle.

It had been speculated that North Korea would display new missiles at the parade on Saturday, which was held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling North Korean Worker’s Party.

Officials in the US and South Korea said the parade could be used as a show of force at a time when the isolated country was suffering the harsh economic impacts of the pandemic.

The North Korean leader also took the opportunity to tell North Korean people he was “ashamed”  not to have delivered on promises of economic progress for the country.

In an emotional speech, Mr Kim told the North Korean public: “I am ashamed that I have never been able to repay you properly for your enormous trust.

“My efforts and devotion were not sufficient to bring our people out of difficult livelihoods.”