Will RipleyVerified account

China highly values North Korea’s efforts to denuclearize and will continue to safeguard the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday citing Li Zhanshu, a special envoy sent to North Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Impression I get on the ground here in Pyongyang is North Koreans DO want to make a deal with Trump/U.S., but on their own terms. That means security guarantees (Peace Treaty) before any denuclearization actions & incremental relief from sanctions in exchange for each small step.https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1038809595219791872 …

The last Mass Games in 2013 featured images of ICBMs and mushroom clouds. None of that imagery was featured this year. Kim Jong Un attended the ceremony with his wife, North Korea’s First Lady Ri Sol Ju.

North Korean officials tell CNN around 100,000 people, mainly students, participated in the performance — including around 17,500 students who flipped colorful cards to reveal socialist propaganda messages about economic development, international diplomacy & Korean history.

Video footage from Moon and Kim’s inter-Korean summit in April was shown and received rousing applause from the primarily North Korean audience in Pyongyang’s May Day stadium.

#breaking The first North Korean Mass Games in five years have concluded with no reference to NK’s nuclear or missile program. The games did feature an historic nod to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is due to visit Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong Un Sept 18-20.

Kim Jong Un did not speak, but NK’s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam did. His most noteworthy remark was telling soldiers to prepare simultaneously to fight a war but also be ready to battle for economic development — construction, infrastructure, etc.

It’s incredible how North Korea stays “on brand” — last year’s parade was all about nukes and this year it’s all about the economy. But one thing that hasn’t changed - praise & adulation for Kim Jong Un and his predecessors Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung was still front and center.

I spoke with two North Koreans who participated in the parade. Both said they felt their country didn’t need to display ICBMs because they’ve “already completed” their nuclear program. When I asked one man if he thinks North Korea should denuclearize, he quickly replied “never!”

Soldiers marched wearing historic uniforms from different periods of North Korea’s history, dating back from 1948 through today. Energy of the parade was much more upbeat and lighthearted versus previous years - not so much the military portion but definitely in civilian portion.

Some of the artillery pieces still had old anti-American slogans painted on the front as in previous years, but the parade was overwhelmingly focused on economic development and improving the lives of the North Korean people.

The few missiles on display appeared to be short range. Kim Jong Un stood alongside Xi Jinping’s special envoy Li Zhanshu, and they locked hands and raised arms at the end. We estimate a rough count of more than 12,000 soldiers and “easily more than 50,000” civilians.

#breaking North Korean military parade lasted nearly two hours. We saw many traditional elements of a NK military parade, goose-stepping soldiers, etc. — but unlike previous years there were NO ICBMs or direct references to the nuclear program.