DPRK Prepares for Largest-Ever Military Parade on 'Double Ten Day'... Spotlight on Kim Jong Un's Mention of a 'Secret Weapon' [Lee Jong-yoon's Military World]

The military parade on October 10, marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, is expected to serve as a showcase and promotional event for the DPRK defense industry. Just as China held a large-scale military parade at Tiananmen Square on the 3rd to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory, the DPRK is also anticipated to display its most formidable military power to date. Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, recently stated at the Supreme People's Assembly that "new secret weapons have been acquired," drawing attention to their true nature.
The DPRK is currently conducting large-scale parade rehearsals around Mirim Airport in Pyongyang. Numerous personnel and equipment have been detected by surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including satellites.
Kim Jong Un officially assumed power in 2012, making this his 14th year in office. This marks the 16th time he has held a military parade on a major national anniversary. Of these, nighttime parades have been conducted seven times since the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea in October 2020. If held at night again, this would be the eighth nighttime parade.
The DPRK has consistently showcased its latest weapons systems through these parades. Recently, China unveiled its new ICBM, Dongfeng-61 (DF-61), submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) JL-3, and the multiple warhead-capable Dongfeng-5C ICBM at its Victory Day parade. Similarly, the DPRK is expected to display its military might on an unprecedented scale.
According to military, unification, and diplomatic sources on the 28th, Rodong Sinmun reported on the 22nd that Kim Jong Un, in his speech at the 13th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, claimed, "We have newly acquired secret weapons and achieved significant results in defense science research."
While the specifics of the secret weapons were not disclosed, the DPRK announced on the 8th that it had conducted a ground test of a high-powered solid-fuel engine using carbon fiber composites, stating that it would be applied to the undisclosed Hwasong-20 ICBM. Experts believe there is a possibility that the DPRK will unveil the new Hwasong-20 ICBM, an advancement over the Hwasong-19, mounted on a transporter erector launcher (TEL) during this parade.
However, some experts predict that the unveiling of an entirely new type of weapon is unlikely. Nevertheless, weapons systems such as multiple warhead ICBMs capable of penetrating US missile defenses, hypersonic missiles, and nuclear-powered submarines are considered potential candidates for advanced secret weapons.
A military source explained that the term 'secret weapon' is intended to demonstrate new achievements domestically, and that the parade could be used to escalate provocations in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Hanbeom Cho, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), recently analyzed that the Kim Jong Un regime, while possessing nuclear weapons, has been investing significant resources into modernizing and expanding its conventional forces, which lag far behind those of the South Korean military. He noted that the DPRK has gained real combat experience by deploying troops to the Russia-Ukraine battlefield and has rapidly improved its conventional capabilities by adopting technologies such as drones suited for real warfare environments from the Russian Federation. He further assessed that the drones to be showcased at this parade are likely to be advanced autonomous AI drones. Hanbeom Cho explained that Kim Jong Un recently instructed that AI be incorporated into domestic drone development, and that drones can be classified as: 1) first-generation First-Person View drone (FPV drone) for remote-controlled suicide attacks using real-time video feeds; 2) second-generation FPV drones, which are also remotely controlled but use fiber optic connections for key sensors to resist jamming; and 3) third-generation drones equipped with AI, capable of autonomous navigation, decision-making, and striking targets after launch. He predicted that the DPRK may unveil highly practical third-generation AI drones at this parade.
Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America (USA), issued an order on the 25th (local time) for nearly 800 US and overseas-deployed generals to attend an emergency meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia by the 30th, without prior explanation of the agenda.
This is the first order to assemble all general officers since President Donald Trump officially signed to rename the US Department of Defense as the 'Department of War' 20 days earlier. Typically, the US military holds regular meetings in Washington with theater commanders and some top brass every six months. However, it is extremely rare for all theater commanders worldwide to be convened simultaneously.
On the 26th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported that the assembly order may be related to notifications of dismissal and reassignment, with rumors circulating that at least 200 generals could be dismissed. Secretary Hegseth had previously announced plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals by 10% upon taking office. In fact, he has already replaced several top officers, including Charles Q. Brown Jr., the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Lisa Franchetti, the first female Chief of Naval Operations.
Earlier, on May 5, Secretary Hegseth signed a memo to reduce the number of four-star generals under the Ministry of National Defense (MND) by 20%. This move is interpreted as a follow-up to President Donald Trump's campaign pledge for a 'national interest-centered foreign policy and reorganization of overseas US forces.'
The MND announced that "Secretary Hegseth has signed an internal directive to reduce the total number of general officers in the US military by 10%, including a 20% reduction in four-star generals and a 20% reduction in United States National Guard (GNG) generals," adding, "There are currently about 800 to 857 generals in the US military, including 44 four-star generals."
Foreign media outlets have reported that at a Pentagon town hall meeting in February, Secretary Hegseth stated, "During World War II, the US military defeated Germany, Italy, and Japan with only seven four-star generals," and emphasized, "There is now an inverse correlation between the size of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the likelihood of victory on the battlefield. We will reduce bureaucracy at the top and strengthen the capabilities of lower-level units that actually fight."
Military experts generally view this assembly order as an attempt or preliminary step to reorganize the ranks of US generals. Ultimately, the aim is to maximize the leadership scope of commanders by reducing the number of general officer positions and to achieve superior operational results in line with the renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
Meanwhile, military think tanks such as the Korea Institute for Military Affairs (KIMA) have stated, "The role of United States Forces Korea (USFK) on the Korean Peninsula is gradually expanding from countering DPRK military threats to deterring the military expansion of China," adding, "This is more about strategic flexibility within the Indo-Pacific theater than a reduction of USFK. This has also been confirmed in the draft National Defense Strategy prepared by the second Trump administration."

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yoon Reporter