North Korea stresses economy

-Source-The Seattle Times- North Korea held a major military parade and revived its iconic mass games to celebrate its 70th anniversary on Sunday but in keeping with leader Kim Jong Uns new policies the emphasis was firmly on building up the economy not on nuclear weapons. The North rolled out some of its latest tanks and marched its best-trained goose-stepping units in the parade but held back its most advanced missiles and devoted nearly half of the event to civilian efforts to build the domestic economy. It also brought the mass games back after a five-year hiatus. The games are a grand spectacle that features nearly 20000 people flipping placards in unison to create huge mosaics as thousands more perform gymnastics or dance in formation on the competition area of Pyongyangs 150000-seat May Day Stadium. The strong emphasis on the economy underscores the strategy Kim has pursued since January of putting economic development front and center. Tens of thousands of North Koreans waving brightly colored plastic bouquets filled Pyongyangs Kim Il Sung Square as the parade began. Residents of Pyongyang North Koreas capital trained for months for the anniversary and held up the bouquets to spell out words and slogans that can be seen from the VIP viewing area. Kim attended the morning parade but did not address the assembled crowd which included the head of the Chinese parliament and high-level delegations from countries that have friendly ties with the North. At the end of the two-hour event he strolled to the edge of the balcony with the Chinese special envoy Li Zhanshu the third-ranking member in Chinas ruling Communist Party. The two held up their joined hands to symbolize the countries traditionally close ties though the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping could indicate Beijing still has some reservations about Kims initiatives.