North Korea on Saturday defended its plan to stage a military parade the day before the opening of the Winter Olympics in the South. Current top breaking Philippine headlines regarding the nation, world, metro manila, regions and exclusive special investigative reports.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Saturday defended its plan to stage a military parade the day before the opening of the Winter Olympics in the South. Pyongyang plans to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of its military on February 8. The annual parade was held on April 25 for years, but the government announced last month that starting this year, it would take place on February 8. "Nobody has the right to take issue" with the event, said Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. "It is a custom and very basic common sense that any country in the world takes the founding anniversary of its military very seriously and celebrates it." The Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, open on February 9. Satellite photos have shown North Korean soldiers and armored vehicles apparently rehearsing for a parade that could be seen as a show of military strength.
