North Korea kicked off its post-Party Congress celebratory events on Wednesday with a concert attended by leader Kim Jong Un, but a planned military parade promised by Kim’s sister still has not been held, according to state media.

However, NK News analysis of satellite imagery reveals that rehearsals for the upcoming parade continued at a military training complex in Pyongyang on Wednesday. A source also told NK News that people were gathered at Kim Il Sung Square in downtown Pyongyang the previous day to practice for either a civilian or military parade. 

So far, only two post-Party Congress events have been reported by state media since the major political event officially came to a close on Jan. 12. 

On Thursday morning, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong Un attended a “grand performance” titled “We Sing of the Party” at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. 

Part one of the show was reportedly about the country’s history and former leaders, while part two showcased “the burning loyalty of all people who are glorifying the great Kim Jong Un era.”

Work was also not over for congress attendees after the eight-day-long marathon event. The KCNA reported that attendees convened back at the April 25 House of Culture on Wednesday for a “workshop” intended to give them “a deep understanding of the main idea and spirit of the Eighth Party Congress.”

MILITARY PARADE STATUS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, immediately recovered from a political demotion at the Party Congress by lashing out at the South Korean military for making noise about military parade rehearsals or movements in Pyongyang.

She confirmed in her brief statement released on Wednesday morning that a military parade was being planned, but remained vague about its schedule. She said separately that “several events are slated soon to celebrate the successful congress.” 

But on the day after the congress ended, Planet Labs satellite imagery showed that full-scale troop formation rehearsals appeared to be ongoing at the Mirim training complex in southeastern Pyongyang. 

Hundreds of trucks used to transport troops also still appeared to be parked at the Mirim complex, according to the medium-resolution satellite image taken at around 11:30 a.m. KST on Jan. 13.

These activities indicate that a parade is still being planned for a future date. The reason for truckloads of troops and armored vehicles moving towards Kim Il Sung Square on Sunday evening is still unclear. 

NK Pro was first to report on intensifying military parade rehearsals at the Mirim complex in late December, which continued to grow in size as the Eighth Party Congress began on Jan. 5. 

The Seoul-based Daily NK reported that a military parade would be held at the conclusion of the congress, while NK Pro analysis of the timing of the parade training pointed to the possibility that it could be held on one of two major military-related holidays in February. 

North Korea put on a large civilian parade — but not a military parade — the day after the Eighth Party Congress closed. The last Party Congress took place in May 2016, which was also the first one to be held since Kim Jong Un took power in 2011. 

Edited by Kelly Kasulis