The Fist of Juche: Military Parade Celebrating 75th Anniversary of North Korean Army

The Korean People’s Army (KPA) was formally established in 1948.

Kim Jong-un attend the military parade held in Pyongyang to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Korean People's Army.

The date of the KPA's founding is observed in North Korea annually on February 8.

The Korean People's Army encompasses all branches of the North Korean military, including the land, air and naval forces, as well as the strategic missile forces and the special operations forces.

Thousands of locals watched the parade in Pyongyang.

Despite heavy economic sanctions imposed against the country, North Korea maintains a powerful military-industrial complex that supplies the KPA with domestically manufactured weaponry supplemented by Chinese- and Soviet-made armaments.

Hoards of soldiers marched through the streets.

Kim Jong-un and his daughter attend the military parade.

With a fighting force of over a million soldiers, the Korean People's Army is regarded as one of the largest military organizations in the world.

The colorful parade created quite a spectacle at night.

Historical leaders were honored at the celebrations.

A wide assortment of ballistic missiles in the KPA arsenal, which can carry nuclear payloads, presents a serious headache for the United States and its allies in the Far East.

Special op forces were also on show.

This year's parade included the display of various tactical and long-range missiles, according to North Korean media.

A large firework show culminated the proceedings.