In response to deteriorating relations with nuclear-armed North Korea, South Korea will hold its first military parade in ten years on Tuesday. The parade will highlight the country’s modern weapons.
Huge military parades are often held in Pyongyang, but in Seoul, they are typically only held to commemorate South Korea’s Armed Forces Day every five years.
In 2013, there was a final parade. In keeping with his accommodative stance toward North Korea, then-president Moon Jae-in decided to hold a festive ceremony five years later as opposed to a military event.
The South Korean defense ministry announced that the parade on Tuesday in Seoul would start at around 4 p.m. (0700 GMT) and will include about 6,700 soldiers and 340 pieces of military hardware, including F-35 stealth jets.
Additionally, the KF-21, South Korea’s first fighter plane made domestically, as well as cutting-edge drones and helicopters, will be on show.
Additionally, 200 South Korean and American servicemen would conduct “tactical drops similar to an actual aerial infiltration,” according to the ministry.
In order to tackle escalating threats from North Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was elected last year, has brought South Korea closer to the United States. The longtime allies have increased defense cooperation, including large-scale drills.
Around 300 US military personnel will take part in the parade on Tuesday.
During a separate ceremony to mark the 75th Armed Forces Day at an air base south of Seoul on Tuesday, Yoon hailed the expansion of US-South Korea defence ties.
“If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, its regime will be brought to an end by an overwhelming response from the ROK-US alliance,” he said, repeating a warning the partners have issued in the past.
