Activity has ramped up at a Pyongyang exhibition hall where North Korea held a large-scale weapons expo a year ago this month, NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery shows, suggesting preparations may be underway for a second such expo soon. 

The apparent event planning comes as North Korea is set to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) on Oct. 10. 

NK Pro has not detected any signs that a military parade is in the works, though the start of cosmetic renovations in Kim Il Sung Square last month indicates there may be some kind of celebrations there for the holiday.

WEAPONS EXPO SIGNS

Planet Labs satellite imagery revealed tents were set up outside at the Three Revolutions Exhibition House complex between Heavy Industry Hall and a related covered lot between Sept. 20 and 21, mirroring the appearance of tents on the opposite side of the same hall around the same time last September weeks before the weapons expo opening.

The “Defense Development Exhibition ‘Self-Defense 2021’” ran for 10 days from Oct. 11 to 22 and featured North Korea’s newest and biggest missile systems.

This comparison of high-resolution images taken on Aug. 27 and Sept. 29, 2022 reveals the new appearance of items and tents outside buildings in the Three Revolutions complex | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

A buildup of colorful items also appeared outside the nearby Agricultural Hall between Sept. 2 and 6 this year, while the same activity occurred last year between Sept. 18 and 23. 

It’s unclear what these items are, but it’s possible that in 2021 they were exhibits or displays removed from Heavy Industry Hall and covered with protective material to make way for the dozens of nuclear missiles, rocket launchers, tanks and other new weapons filling up the building for the military expo. 

Imagery shows the items were left outside the Agricultural Hall through winter until disappearing in Feb. this year, however, suggesting they may not have been delicate exhibits themselves. 

Vehicles and objects similarly appeared outside Heavy Industry Hall in late September last year before the weapons expo and again this year | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

A high-resolution satellite image taken on Sept. 26 this year also shows a vehicle parked in front of the Heavy Industry Hall entrance, similar to the position of vehicles in shots taken on Sept. 24 and 29 last year as workers installed a new sign and displays on the front of the building ahead of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s appearance for the first day of the expo.

Last year, tents completely disappeared from outside the hall between Oct. 1 and 2 — over a week before the event began — while this year they remained visible as of the latest available imagery taken on Oct. 1.  

However, one key difference with last year that suggests the upcoming event may not be a weapons expo is the type of tents set up outside and their location: Large blue tents appeared to the south of Heavy Industry Hall in 2021 while multi-colored square tents appeared to the north of the building next to a large covered lot this year. 

This comparison between Sept. 24, 2021 (left) and Sept. 29 this year (right) shows the difference in tent style set up around Heavy Industry Hall | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

Tents set up in May 2018 for a trade fair (left) appear slightly different to those set up last week (right) | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

The purpose of the tents in both cases is unknown, but they may be used to cover items or weapons as they are offloaded before entering the building, as concession stands for workers or as organizer workstations.

Similar multi-colored tents have appeared next to the covered lot — where North Korea displays old trains, buses and industrial vehicles — during international trade fairs in the past, serving as company and concession booths.

North Korean state media has not offered any clues about the preparations or reported on any events taking place at the Three Revolutions complex in recent weeks.

OCT. 10 HOLIDAY

The Mirim military parade training complex in southeastern Pyongyang has appeared mostly quiet in recent weeks, according to satellite imagery, indicating North Korea will not hold a military parade on the Oct. 10 party foundation holiday this year. Practices usually begin there weeks or months ahead of military parades.

In Kim Il Sung Square, where military parades, concerts or large rallies typically take place on major holidays, Planet Labs imagery reveals that workers have been renovating the floor of the eastern section of the square since mid-September. 

This comparison of Kim Il Sung Square in late August (left) and late September (right) clearly shows work crews performing some kind of renovations in the blocked-off east section of the square | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

A high-resolution image taken on Sept. 25 shows the section fenced off and floor bricks possibly being removed or replaced. This activity could be in preparation for a concert or civilian parade in the square for Oct. 10.

Last year, Kim Jong Un celebrated the 76th party anniversary by giving a special lecture at the party headquarters building on Oct. 10 and opening the weapons expo the following day. 

He put on a major military parade for the holiday in 2020 and attended an indoor concert on Oct. 10 in 2019. 

Edited by Arius Derr