PYONGYANG – Preparations for a military parade in Pyongyang were clearly visible on Thursday evening, with NK News observing scores of military vehicles driving slowly along closed off roads across the center of the city.
The preparations come amid speculation in South Korean media on whether or not the North will conduct a military parade on Saturday and growing suspicions that if one goes ahead, Pyongyang might use it to showcase brand new missile technology.
Though no official confirmation has yet been provided to a delegation of foreign journalists in the DPRK – who have been in the city since Wednesday evening – the clear presence of significant numbers of military vehicles in downtown areas strongly suggests one is likely to take place on April 15, the anniversary of founding president Kim Il Sung’s birth.
NK News journalists walking from Pyongyang train station to the city’s Yanggakdo Hotel saw scores of olive green flatbed trucks carrying hundreds of armed soldiers along closed roads at around 7pm on Thursday.
Southeast of the train station, NK News observed a convoy of trucks carrying special forces clad with night vision goggles, bearing war-paint camouflage on their faces and carrying what appeared to be rifles fitted with grenade launchers.
Chad O’Carroll describes the passing military convoys in real time from Pyongyang (Part 1/3)
Significant numbers of vehicles carrying men armed with rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and Type 58 assault rifles were also observed.
Korean People’s Army (KPA), Navy and Airforce personnel were all visible in the convoy of vehicles, which journalists were not allowed to photograph. The convoy was witnessed by chance, following a road closure that led to buses being unable to return to the Yanggakdo hotel.
Notably, due to an impasse created by the passing vehicles – sometimes multiple lanes wide – regular traffic was stopped throughout parts of the downtown area, making movement extremely difficult and even impacting diplomats who later spoke to NK News on Thursday.
And at around 6pm, NK News observed hundreds of people amassing at Chung-guyok in the center of Pyongyang, with men dressed in suits and women in traditional Korean dress. Hundreds of civilians were seen practicing movements in the city’s landmark Kim Il Sung Square.
The closed roads, presence of military vehicles and observation of local citizens amassing around the city strongly suggest festivities –  including a military display – will go ahead on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary.
Historically, North Korea has not conducted military displays on April 15, described locally as the Day of the Sun.
Chad O’Carroll describes the passing military convoys in real time from Pyongyang (Part 2/3)
But as of Friday authorities in Pyongyang could still not confirm when, if at all, any parade would take place, saying they were waiting for instructions as to what journalists will be expected to see over the weekend.
NK News didn’t observe any further military vehicles in Pyongyang on Friday, though a strong police presence could be heard, with sounds of sirens regularly ringing in the damp morning air.
Pyongyang saw heavy rain raining later in the day, though a mixture of cloud and sun is forecast for Saturday, meaning dry and warm conditions – ideal for any possible military parade.
Chad O’Carroll describes the passing military convoys in real time from Pyongyang (Part 3/3)
While Pyongyang appears to be in an otherwise festive and celebratory mood, citizens remain largely unaware of growing speculation that the U.S. may be considering kinetic military strikes in the event North Korea conducts a sixth nuclear test to coincide with the April 15 celebrations.
North Korea has historically never tested nuclear weapons or missiles on April 15, but analysts at the U.