Construction is underway on even more new, large-scale buildings at North Korea’s primary military parade training grounds ahead of a parade expected to take place in October, according to an NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

The construction appears to have begun in the second half of June, soon after another project to build a group of military vehicle storage structures and other buildings was finished next door in the Mirim training complex. Planet Labs medium-resolution satellite imagery shows that construction on five new buildings reached at least a couple of floors high by Aug. 8., but that work is still in progress. 

These could be new lodgings considering the fact that the layout of the new buildings is similar to the April 25 Hotel, which is located on the west end of the complex. The April 25 Hotel is known to house soldiers during parade practice seasons.

Both the latest group of buildings and the military vehicle storage structures on the east end have been built in place of a mostly-demolished military heliport, though some helicopter hangars still have yet to be demolished as of the latest imagery. 

The latest construction is also situated where large, temporary tent cities were built and taken down in the months surrounding past military parades. The existence of additional permanent lodgings and vehicle storage structures may therefore make it harder to detect active preparations for future parades.

Other, more minor construction activity appears to be taking place elsewhere in the Mirim compound, particularly on the replica of Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square. It is difficult to determine the exact nature of the work, but it could be to improve the pavement. 

Work is also being done on the pavement of the actual Kim Il Sung Square across town. It still appeared fenced off in an Aug. 8 Planet Labs image, as remodeling continues on the grounds and the leadership viewing platform ahead of the Oct. 10 military parade, which will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).

In addition to the construction at the Mirim complex, Planet Labs images taken on Jul. 31 and Aug. 8 show what appear to be small groups of either troop formations or vehicles on the mock roads of the square. A few such groups have appeared in imagery sporadically since April, but the image this week shows more groups than before.

Notably, troop formation practice appeared to be in its final stages in January before suddenly disappearing. This possibly indicates a parade was planned to take place in February, but was canceled due to concerns over the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Edited by Kelly Kasulis