North Korea's new long-range missile on display at military parade

A new intercontinental ballistic missile has been rolled out at a military parade in North Korea.

The display began in Pyongyang’s main square on Friday night and marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was joined at the event by high-level Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian officials.

North Korean state media said on Saturday that the yet-to-be-tested missile was called the Hwasong-20, which it described as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system”.

Kim said in a speech that his military “should continue to grow into an invincible entity that destroys all threats”, but made no direct mention of the United States or South Korea.

He also praised the thousands of North Korean soldiers he sent to Russia to join its war against Ukraine, saying they displayed “heroic fighting spirit”.

Edited footage from North Korean state television showed what appeared to be tens of thousands of spectators packed into the brightly lit square, cheering and waving the national flag.

Kim has previously called for the development of multi-warhead systems that would improve the chances of penetrating missile defences, and some experts say the Hwasong-20 could be designed for that purpose.

Other weapons on display included shorter-range ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles. The parade also featured Kim’s newest tanks, artillery systems and drones.