North Korean media ignores nuclear missile anniversary after rare 2020 coverage | NK News
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October 21, 2026Oct 21, 2026

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North Korean media ignores nuclear missile anniversary after rare 2020 coverage

State media may be adjusting policy on publicly recognizing July 4, 2017 ICBM test depending on relations with U.S.

North Korean state media did not feature any coverage celebrating a key nuclear-capable missile test anniversary on Sunday, after acknowledging the day for the first time in 2020.

Pyongyang considers July 4 to be one of the four most significant dates in the history of the country’s nuclear weapons development, as the date marks the first Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in 2017.

North Korea has observed the four anniversaries inconsistently since the height of ICBM development in 2017, but the lack of coverage of the anniversary in state media may gesture toward maintaining an open door to talks