Hundreds of North Korean citizens are participating in mass games and torch parade training exercises in downtown Pyongyang, according to Sept. 2020 photos seen by NK News. It's the latest piece of evidence suggesting that North Korea is ramping up preparations for a major political anniversary on Oct. 10, despite global worries over COVID-19 and mass gatherings.

The photos show large groups of children, clad in white shirts and caps, practicing in Kim Il Sung square on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The children are shown stretching or sitting in the same areas used by youth groups ahead of torch parades in the past.