After a ruling-party congress in which leader Kim Jong Un enshrined his hold on power and his commitment to developing nuclear weapons, hundreds of thousands of North Koreans celebrated with a massive civilian parade today featuring floats bearing patriotic slogans and marchers with flags and pompoms.
Kim presided over the parade and waved down to the crowd from his "tribune of honor" on a balcony of the Grand People's Study House, which overlooks the square. North Koreans had been practicing roles in the parade and other events for weeks, and participation is considered mandatory.
"We had been practicing every other day for this event," said Yun Song Hua, a 25-year-old medical student at Kim Il Sung University. "I'm proud to be able to participate in an event like this with our leader here with us."
The two-hour parade started off with a 30-minute speech by Kim Yong Nam, the head of North Korea's parliament and nominal head of state.
Foreign journalists in Pyongyang for the congress had to gather hours earlier, at 5:30 am, to go through strict security screening. They had to surrender all telephones and communication devices, which is typical whenever foreign media cover an event where Kim Jong Un is present.
The four-day congress completed yesterday was the authoritarian country's first since 1980, before Kim was even born. The body of more than 3,400 delegates endorsed his nuclear and economic policies, promoted his favored officials and gave him a new title of party chairman.
Kim told delegates the North would not use its nuclear weapons first unless its sovereignty is threatened and hinted he was willing to work with countries that had previously been hostile toward the North if they are willing to work with him.
Though big on pomp and visuals intended to inspire awe, the congress was first and foremost a means for Kim to solidify his standing as the sole leader of the party and formalize the positions of those he trusts. Those include Ri Yong Gil, a senior official South Korea's intelligence agency had previously said had been executed.
But by calling a congress something his father, Kim Jong Il, never did Kim demonstrated what may also be a leadership style more like that of his charismatic grandfather, national founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung worked through party organs more than Kim Jong Il, who preferred using his own network of trusted individuals to get things done.
Kim Jong Un spoke several times during the congress including one speech that lasted three hours and has aired repeatedly on the North's state-run television.
He announced a new five-year plan for the economy, the first made public since the 1980s, to show that improving the nation's standard of living, which has fallen far behind its neighboring China and rival South Korea, is one of his top priorities.
