JAKARTA - Senior Russian and Chinese officials are familiar with North Korean leaders and a number of top officials while attending a military parade held in Pyongyang, state media reported Friday.
The parade, which was held on Thursday night, is part of 70 years of the end of the Korean War and is celebrated as 'Day of Victory'. In addition to North Korea's latest nuclear-capable missile, a new drone was also displayed at a military parade in Pyongyang.
Their performance at North Korea's nuclear missile-related events - which were barred by the UN Security Council with support from China and Russia - marks a contrast to previous years, as Beijing and Moscow seek to distance themselves from developing nuclear weapons and their neighboring ballistic missiles.
Leader Kim Jong-un, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong spoke, laughed and saluted as North Korea's troops and defense equipment lined up and crossed in front of the honorary podium.
The parades include North Korea's newest Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to KCNA, which are believed to have the range to strike targets anywhere in the United States, as well as the latest drones.
Earlier, Leader Kim held a reception and lunch with Defense Minister Shoigu, vowing solidarity with the Russian people and their military.
While in his speech at the march, Defense Minister General Kang Sun Nam accused the United States and its allies of increasing tensions in the region.
North Korea itself is known to be under UN sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs since 2006. This includes a ban on the development of ballistic missiles.
The presence of China and Russia at events with banned ballistic missiles cast doubt the country's willingness to enforce sanctions, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul.
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"It doesn't help when two permanent members of the UN Security Council publicly support the North Korean regime that violates human rights and ridicules resolutions that prohibit the development of its nuclear and missile," said Easley.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "All members of the Security Council and, frankly, all UN member states share the same responsibility to uphold the Security Council's resolution."
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