New activity in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square appears directly related to preparations for a military parade or other large-scale event, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, as speculation mounts over when Russian leader Vladimir Putin will arrive for a planned summit.

Planet Labs high-resolution imagery shows a temporary square wall was installed between Tuesday and Thursday on the main road of the square. The footprint of the wall is exactly the same as ones built around the construction of orchestra tents before military parades in Jan. 2021, April 2022 and Feb. 2023.

Such activity has only appeared ahead of military parades in the past, strongly suggesting the current work is also for a military parade or similar large-scale event to be attended by leader Kim Jong Un, as soon as within the next week.

While the orchestra tent has also been set up multiple weeks ahead of past military parades, the apparent hanging of banners around the square on Thursday also suggests the planned event will take place soon, since this has usually been done just prior to past events.

However, there are no major holidays typically celebrated with military parades until July 27.  

NK Pro reported Wednesday that signs of preparations for Putin or his advance team’s arrival in the next few days were already underway at Pyongyang International Airport.

Moscow has suggested the visit will be soon, but neither side has announced visit dates. Reuters reported earlier this week that Putin is expected to visit Vietnam from June 19 to 20 and may visit North Korea on the same trip.

It remains possible that the parade or large event will not coincide with Putin’s visit, but as Kim is likely to treat their summit with great importance, it’s also possible North Korea could put on a special event to celebrate Russian-DPRK ties at the square.

As a comparable precedent but at a different venue, Kim organized a special mass games performance for Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2019 involving the participation of thousands of North Koreans.

Planet Labs imagery shows that in addition to the orchestra tent wall, a temporary wall was also built around a new structure directly in front of Kim Jong Un’s ornate observation building and around the banner hanging areas on either side of the main square.

These objects all first appeared at the square between June 6 and 9 and remained there on June 13.

There have not been other signs of large-scale military parade preparations, such as troops marching in formation at the Mirim parade practice complex in southeast Pyongyang, as has typically been seen before past military parades.

Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000 to meet then-leader Kim Jong Il, but the two did not attend any events together in Kim Il Sung Square.

Last July, Kim hosted Russia’s then-defense minister Sergei Shoigu and a top Chinese party official for a military parade in the square featuring North Korea’s newest nuclear weapons. Shoigu also joined Kim to tour a separate temporary indoor weapons exhibition.

Edited by Bryan Betts