As North Korea prepares for its most monumental political event in years — the Eighth Party Congress, likely scheduled for early next month — people already appear to be gathering in Pyongyang to practice or prepare for related events. 

According to NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery taken on Dec. 24, people filled Pyongyang’s central Kim Il Sung Square, surrounding a mysterious structure recently built there. State media did not report on the gathering, indicating it may have been a practice session for civilian participants in an upcoming Congress-related event.

On the same day, the parking lot for the Mirim military parade practice grounds and adjacent April 25 Hotel in southeast Pyongyang was also full of what appear to be buses or other vehicles in possible preparation for an upcoming military parade. 

ANOTHER MILITARY PARADE?

Both independent reporting and satellite imagery suggest North Korea’s military is preparing for something in January, though it might not be a repeat of the recent large-scale military parade.

Small troop formation practices have been ongoing this month at the Mirim military parade training grounds, as reported last week by 38 North citing high-resolution imagery, and as seen in the below satellite imagery from this past week. However, similar small-scale practices were also observed through Planet Labs imagery in 2019 and earlier in 2020, when there was no imminent military parade.

But according to the Seoul-based Daily NK, a military parade is indeed scheduled for the coming weeks, just not on the same scale as the one North Korea held on Oct. 10 this year. Instead, it will involve a “review” or inspection of troops and weapons by top military officials or even possibly Kim Jong Un, riding in a vehicle past rows of soldiers and displayed equipment. 

Citing sources based in North Korea, the Daily NK reported on Dec. 25 that military and other participants in the upcoming Eighth Party Congress had also already departed for or arrived in Pyongyang. The outlet reported earlier this month that soldiers were already staying in the April 25 Hotel to carry out small-scale practices for a military parade in January.

The above satellite image also shows a full parking lot at the Mirim military parade practice area and April 25 Hotel, supporting the reports of activity there in preparation for another parade. 

It is unclear if the full parking lot is related to a military parade or other events, but it is likely related to the Congress in some fashion, either indicating a fresh arrival of soldiers on Dec. 24 or possibly other people set to attend the conference.

Similar activity at the parking lot has also been observed in Planet Labs satellite imagery both just before military parades in 2018 and 2020, but also multiple times in 2019 when no military parade occurred. 

CIVILIAN PARADE OR NEW YEAR’S EVENT?

Across town at Kim Il Sung Square, where parades and other political events often take place, people appeared to gather in the thousands on Dec. 24 for reasons that have gone unreported in state media.

In the past, people have similarly filled the square for political rallies that are usually publicly reported, but they have also gathered there in order to practice formations and movements for participation in military parades, torch marches, and “public processions” involving civilians carrying parade floats and propaganda slogans. These practices are typically not covered in state media.

Perhaps providing another clue about the purpose of the gathering, the people on Thursday were seen surrounding a small walled-off structure that was built in the square across from Kim Jong Un’s viewing stand earlier this month. Daily NK reported this week that, according to a source, this is related to upcoming “cultural events.”

Besides the Congress, it could be related to new year’s eve celebrations, following large-scale concerts in the square in 2018 and 2019 that drew huge crowds. But a stage has yet to be erected in the square for such a concert, according to the latest satellite imagery.

People were also not observed filling the square in the daytime to practice for anything related to the new year’s eve event in the past two years, suggesting that the gathering seen on Thursday is most likely related to the Congress or 80-day battle, which is set to expire on Dec. 30. 

Dec. 24 also marked the 29th anniversary of Kim Jong Il becoming the supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), but if the people in Kim Il Sung Square were holding a rally to celebrate this event, it would likely have been reported in state media.

Edited by James Fretwell