Following the precedent of the 8th Party Congress—the first time North Korea held a military parade to mark a Party Congress—preparations are currently underway for another parade for the 9th Party Congress. However, unlike previous events, this parade appears to be centered primarily on personnel, and it is expected that strategic weapon systems, such as new ballistic missiles, will not be unveiled.

Meanwhile, considering Kim Jong Un’s remarks during his visit to a weapons research institute last September—where he stated that a ‘Parallel Development Policy’ for both nuclear and conventional forces would be presented at the 9th Party Congress—it is estimated that this Congress will unveil specific plans for the modernization of advanced weaponry, such as new fighter jets and naval vessels supported by Russia, alongside detailed operational deployment schedules for nuclear weapons, submarine, and satellite.