North Korea kicked off celebrations for the 80th founding anniversary of the ruling party with a mass games performance in Pyongyang on Thursday evening, ahead of an imminent military parade showcasing the country’s military might in front of officials from across the world.

In a Telegram post, Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of Russia’s Kursk province, shared a photo showing thousands assembled at Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium for the large-scale cultural event featuring an orchestra and hundreds of performers.

Khinshtein was at the event as part of a delegation led by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and the