In an obvious gesture of respect towards the ongoing efforts to mend relations and reopen meaningful dialogue between the DPRK and the international community, Sunday’s parade lacked the eye-catching ballistic missile systems that shocked observers in previous years.

Nevertheless, anyone who claims the North Koreans have run out ways to surprise analysts is sorely mistaken. Aside from displaying a variety of new weapons systems that have come to light in the past decade, at least two hitherto unknown but ostensibly highly capable fighting vehicles were paraded in front of the viewing stands.

Drawing eyes