Hundreds of North Korean citizens are participating in mass games and torch parade training exercises in downtown Pyongyang, according to Sept. 2020 photos seen by NK News. It’s the latest piece of evidence suggesting that North Korea is ramping up preparations for a major political anniversary on Oct. 10, despite global worries over COVID-19 and mass gatherings.

The photos show large groups of children, clad in white shirts and caps, practicing in Kim Il Sung square on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The children are shown stretching or sitting in the same areas used by youth groups ahead of torch parades in the past.

Meanwhile, scores of children wearing black and red-colored gymnastic outfits were taped in a video dated Sept. 5. The video shows them at the Mayday Stadium in Pyongyang – the historic venue used for North Korea’s semi-regular mass games events.

Though the date and time of the photos and videos cannot be independently verified, several youngsters were shown wearing masks — a tell-tale sign that the images are recent, due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions.

Consequently, the pictures provide the first independent piece of evidence to support state media clues that a mass gymnastics performance will be part of the 75th-anniversary celebration for the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) in October.

Furthermore, pictures of the activities in Kim Il Sung Square are the first piece of evidence to suggest a torch parade will also be included in the celebrations.

“One of the clear signs of an upcoming parade taking place in Pyongyang is seeing students gather in Kim Il Sung Square for torch parade or flag bearing rehearsals,” said Rowan Beard, a tour manager at Young Pioneer Tours.

“Rehearsals are conducted using two steps: First step is a hundred or so students are grouped together and have an instructor to teach them what is expected of them during the parade,” Beard explained. “The second step is forming all the groups into one giant group where a single instructor is hooked up to loudspeakers throughout the square to unify the instructions to the group as a whole.”

Beard said that the video of the children in black-and-red clothes outside the May Day stadium is a “clear sign [that] they’re preparing their performance for the mass games, which is rumored to take place on the 75th anniversary.”

The Kim Il Sung square photo also reveals the existence of a new LED screen or dark covering situated on the front of the Grand People’s Study House. If it’s a covering, it could be keeping an unfinished portrait or mural out of sight.

The photo of the building also shows that renovation work to the podium that Kim Jong Un will use on Oct. 10 still hasn’t been completed, despite ongoing construction efforts since at least May.

Based on precedence and if the weather is good, Kim will begin the Oct. 10 anniversary by observing a military parade from between 09:00 a.m. to midday. Satellite imagery analyzed by NK Pro shows that soldiers have been expanding preparations for that since early August.

Afterwards, Kim is likely to hold the mass games some time on the evening of Oct. 10. The torch parade is likely to take place the following evening, on Oct. 11, though there is no guarantee that Kim will observe it.

North Korean authorities appear to have grown extra cautious about the risk of COVID-19 entering the country in recent weeks, possibly due to the close proximity of students and children training for the two events — as well as ongoing military efforts to prepare for a major parade nearby in the Mirim area of Pyongyang.

North Korea’s busiest port was quiet throughout the month of August, averaging less than one ship voyage per day in Nampho, according to Automatic Identification System (AIS) data analyzed by NK Pro in September. Additionally, the Seoul-based Daily NK reported that all Sino-DPRK border trade had been suspended in August as a “measure to ensure events surrounding the (anniversary) … remain unaffected.”

With so many North Koreans likely to be bussed or trained into Pyongyang from around the country to observe festivities, authorities are said to be doing their best to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19.

Edited by Kelly Kasulis