North Korea’s fourth military parade in less than two years took place on April 25, offering some insight into the continuing modernization of the country’s military. Where parades were once relatively rare events meant to signal important military developments to the outside world – with a secondary internal propaganda benefit – this ordering may now be reversed.

The increase in the frequency of North Korean military parades has accompanied a period of open reckoning with internal economic difficulties and food shortages. Recall, for instance, that Kim’s New Year’s Day address this year emphasized agricultural productivity—and