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North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on July 26 that war veterans and wartime meritorious persons invited to celebratory events for the 73rd anniversary of the Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War armistice signing day on July 27) arrived in Pyongyang on July 25. / Yonhap News

Ahead of the 73rd anniversary of the armistice agreement, which North Korea claims as its Victory Day, North Korea is building a festive atmosphere by announcing commemorative events and welcoming attending veterans. Observations suggest that the North Korean regime may even conduct a small-scale military parade to prevent public discontent stemming from its ongoing troop deployment to Russia and to strengthen regime cohesion.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on July 26 that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent gifts to veterans across the country, conveying his words that "just remaining in good health gives infinite strength to our Party and people and serves as great encouragement to our cooperation." The news agency reported that "the veterans and their families expressed their gratitude to the Supreme Leader, who repeatedly extends his grace so that they can enjoy a proud life and happiness while highly honoring the achievements made by the victorious generation."

The news agency also announced the arrival of war veterans and wartime meritorious persons in Pyongyang, reporting that celebratory events will be held grandly in Pyongyang. It reported that "officials from the Central Committee of the Workers' Party warmly greeted" the veterans and wartime meritorious persons "at Pyongyang Station and their respective accommodations," and that "citizens and youth waved and sent greetings of respect and congratulations toward the bus procession carrying the war veterans and wartime meritorious persons." North Korean media also heavily covered visits to revolutionary battle sites and meetings with veterans taking place across the country.

This year's Victory Day is noteworthy because a small-scale military parade is expected to be held, even though it is not a milestone year ending in a five or zero, which is typically celebrated on a grand scale. As a large fleet of troop transport trucks was recently spotted at Pyongyang's Mirim Aerodrome, the event is expected to be a military parade featuring symbolic columns without heavy weaponry.

A military parade on a non-milestone Victory Day in North Korea is unusual; last year as well, a parade of symbolic columns without heavy weapons took place under the name of a commemorative march of symbolic columns from the Fatherland Liberation War period. It is observed that North Korea is holding such non-milestone parades to quell public dissatisfaction among North Koreans and strengthen regime cohesion since officially acknowledging its troop deployment to Russia in April last year. In particular, given that North Korea continues its troop deployment to Russia, this also reflects an intention to justify the deployment by emphasizing state-level respect for war veterans and wartime meritorious persons.

The Ministry of Unification also anticipates, based on recent satellite intelligence, the possibility of a parade involving symbolic columns to mark Victory Day.

                                                                                                           Mok Yong-jae