A military parade to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of North Korea took place in Pyongyang on Monday, but without the display of heavy military hardware often associated with commemorative parade ceremonies in the DPRK.

The parade, which took place in Kim Il Sung Square, featured no missile, artillery or tank displays, instead focusing on formation displays led by reserve soldiers from the Worker Peasant Red Guards – not seen at anniversary drills since September 2008.

“It was state foundation day, not a military holiday per se,” Daniel Pinkston of the International Crisis Group said, adding that there could be