North Korea rallies round Kim Jong-un as Parliament is set to rubber-stamp nuclear weapons expansion

North Koreans appear to have rallied round leader Kim Jong-un as his Parliament prepares to rubber-stamp a plan to expand the country’s nuclear weapons programme, posing a threat to US allies and even the US mainland. 

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said deputies led by senior official Choe Ryong Hae, president of the Supreme People’s Assembly’s presidium, laid flowers at the statues of Kim’s grandfather and father, the North’s previous rulers, at Pyongyang’s Mansu Hill as they prepared for the parliamentary session.

They bowed and pledged to ‘fulfil their responsibility and duty’ to carry out the decisions made during the eight-day Workers’ Party congress that ended on Tuesday, the agency said.

North Koreans appear to have rallied round leader Kim Jong-un as his Parliament prepares to rubber-stamp a plan to expand the country’s nuclear weapons programme, posing a threat to US allies and even the US mainland. Pictured: Kim speaks during the Workers’ Party Congress on January 9

The North's official Korean Central News Agency said deputies led by senior official Choe Ryong Hae, president of the Supreme People's Assembly's presidium, laid flowers at the statues of Kim's grandfather and father, the North's previous rulers, at Pyongyang's Mansu Hill as they prepared for the parliamentary session. Pictured:  A state sponsored rally on Friday in support of the decisions made at the Workers' Party congress

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said deputies led by senior official Choe Ryong Hae, president of the Supreme People’s Assembly’s presidium, laid flowers at the statues of Kim’s grandfather and father, the North’s previous rulers, at Pyongyang’s Mansu Hill as they prepared for the parliamentary session. Pictured:  A state sponsored rally on Friday in support of the decisions made at the Workers’ Party congress

People in the North Korea capital, Pyongyang hold a banner during a rally in support of decisions made at the Workers' Party congress during a state sponsored parade on January 15

People in the North Korea capital, Pyongyang hold a banner during a rally in support of decisions made at the Workers’ Party congress during a state sponsored parade on January 15

Meetings of the Supreme People’s Assembly are usually brief, annual affairs that are intended to approve budgets, formalise personnel changes and rubber-stamp policy priorities set by Kim and the ruling party leadership.

State media did not immediately release details from the current session, which could also approve reshuffles within the North’s Cabinet and State Affairs Commission, the government’s highest decision-making body led by Kim.

During the party congress, Kim called for accelerated efforts to build a military arsenal that could viably target US allies in Asia and as well as the USA itself.

Brightly coloured balloons are released into the sky during a state sponsored rally on January 15 following the end of the eighth Workers' Party congress

Brightly coloured balloons are released into the sky during a state sponsored rally on January 15 following the end of the eighth Workers’ Party congress

Masked crowds march in unison amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic during a state sponsored rally on January 15 in Pyongyang

Masked crowds march in unison amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic during a state sponsored rally on January 15 in Pyongyang

Crowds father in front of a building in Pyongyang which bears portraits of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea and his son, the country's second ruler, Kim Jong-il at a state sponsored rally on January 15

Crowds father in front of a building in Pyongyang which bears portraits of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea and his son, the country’s second ruler, Kim Jong-il at a state sponsored rally on January 15

He announced an extensive wish-list of new sophisticated assets, including longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, spy satellites and tactical nuclear weapons.

The North showcased some of its most advanced strategic weapons during a nighttime military parade, including what appeared to be a new ballistic missile that is being developed to be fired from submarines.

Analysts say Kim is clearly trying to pressure the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who inherits a derailed nuclear diplomacy from President Donald Trump.

Mask-wearing performers wave flags at a rally on January 15 supporting the decisions made at the eighth Workers' party Congress

Mask-wearing performers wave flags at a rally on January 15 supporting the decisions made at the eighth Workers’ party Congress

State media did not immediately release details from the current parliamentary session, which could also approve reshuffles within the North's Cabinet and State Affairs Commission, the government's highest decision-making body led by Kim. Pictured: Crowds clap at a state sponsored rally on January 15

State media did not immediately release details from the current parliamentary session, which could also approve reshuffles within the North’s Cabinet and State Affairs Commission, the government’s highest decision-making body led by Kim. Pictured: Crowds clap at a state sponsored rally on January 15 

National symbols emblazon a building in Kim Il-sung square in the capital Pyongyang during a state sponsored rally on January 15

National symbols emblazon a building in Kim Il-sung square in the capital Pyongyang during a state sponsored rally on January 15

His negotiations with Kim collapsed when the two sides failed to agree on how to lift crippling US-led sanctions in exchange for North’s disarmament steps.

Kim also used the congress to announce new five-year development plans to salvage the rogue state’s broken economy.

Some analysts say the prolonged sanctions combined with pandemic border closures and natural disasters that wiped out crops last summer are possibly setting conditions for a perfect storm that could destabilise markets and trigger public panic and unrest.

The North showcased some of its most advanced strategic weapons during a nighttime military parade, including what appeared to be a new ballistic missile (pictured) that is being developed to be fired from submarines

The North showcased some of its most advanced strategic weapons during a nighttime military parade, including what appeared to be a new ballistic missile (pictured) that is being developed to be fired from submarines

Missiles on display at a military parade to mark the end of the eighth Workers' Party congress on January 14 in Pyongyang

Missiles on display at a military parade to mark the end of the eighth Workers’ Party congress on January 14 in Pyongyang

A military band marches in formation at a nighttime military parade on January 14 to mark the end of the eighth Workers' Party congress in North Korea

A military band marches in formation at a nighttime military parade on January 14 to mark the end of the eighth Workers’ Party congress in North Korea

The KCNA said that huge crowds of soldiers and civilians gathered at a state-organised rally in Pyongyang where they vowed to extend the ‘greatest glory’ to Kim and ‘thoroughly carry out’ the decisions made by the party congress.

Choe, during a speech at the event, called for party members, government officials, civilians and the military to ‘thoroughly arm themselves with the main idea and main spirit of the [party congress]

‘And bring about substantial success and progress in the socialist construction with redoubled revolutionary enthusiasm’, the agency said.

People dance amid fireworks during a parade to celebrate the end of the eighth Workers' Party congress in Pyongyang

People dance amid fireworks during a parade to celebrate the end of the eighth Workers’ Party congress in Pyongyang

Analysts say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is clearly trying to pressure the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who inherits a derailed nuclear diplomacy from President Donald Trump. Pictured: A recent military parade in Pyongyang on January 14

Analysts say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is clearly trying to pressure the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who inherits a derailed nuclear diplomacy from President Donald Trump. Pictured: A recent military parade in Pyongyang on January 14

Fireworks lit up the skies of Pyongyang during the military parade to mark the end of the eighth Workers' Party congress

Fireworks lit up the skies of Pyongyang during the military parade to mark the end of the eighth Workers’ Party congress