North Korea ready for any war with US, says Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared Saturday that his country is prepared to confront any threat emanating from the US. Kim made no direct mention of the country’s nuclear program, likely a conciliatory diplomatic gesture toward China, which hosted the now-defunct “six-party talks”, also involving the United States, on giving economic incentives to Pyongyang in return for scrapping its atomic ambitions.

“Our revolutionary force is ready to respond to any kind of war the American imperialists want”, said Kim, whose speech was interrupted by applause several times. After his speech, thousands of soldiers held up cards to spell out “Songun politics” and “Defending our homeland”.

Analysts say that this year’s parade, celebrating seven decades since the creation of the Korea Workers’ Party, is about boosting the Kim regime’s claims to legitimacy and further enabling the 30-something leader to present himself as the rightful heir to the system established by his grandfather, North Korea’s “eternal president” Kim IllinoisSung. Liu told reporters following a private meeting with Kim that his country sought a “continuation of traditional friendship” between the two countries.

During the parade, wave after wave of goose-stepping troops marched through the capital, followed by columns of tanks and weapons, in what may prove to be one of the largest ceremonial displays of military strength in North Korea’s history.

A late-night concert featuring the all-female Moranbong Band – North Korea’s most popular musical group – was also held, which cost foreigners wanting to attend about $US115.

The North’s official Korean Central TV showed Kim, clad in black, walking down a red carpet and saluting his honor guard.

North Korea wrapped up the 70th birthday party for its ruling Worker’s Party on Sunday with a music and dance extravaganza that included a scene of children on a butterfly-collecting trip being killed in a USA bombing raid.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un ordered a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party’s – and his own family’s – rise to absolute power.

“Our military’s invincible sprit causes anxiety and fear to our enemies”, said Kim, officially first secretary of the Korean Workers’ Party and chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.

China is impoverished North Korea’s chief ally and its main trading partner, although ties have been strained over the North’s nuclear programme.

China supported United Nations sanctions in the wake of the 2013 nuclear test and the young North Korean leader who took power in 2011 has yet to visit China.