In pictures: Civilians share spotlight in North Korea anniversary parade
The country is celebrating its 70 years of history.
![](https://www.shropshirestar.com/resizer/FJagd2l1nexRgftPjMwku4CB7cw=/300x225/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mna/42FTRXNKCNCQJHTIXCFEMPOOF4.jpg)
North Korea marched its troops through Kim Il Sung Square during a parade to mark the country’s 70th anniversary.
![Soldiers march during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding day in Pyongyang](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/53b12077ef57f81d818d6314b64a3e17Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTU5NjAw/2.38428838.jpg?w=640)
Tanks also paraded around the streets in Pyongyang.
![Tanks roll past during the parade](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/117f4e6acbf1e94aa05bf5cd41804aeeY29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwMTEz/2.38428731.jpg?w=640)
But the country’s nuclear arsenal took more of a back seat than usual with nearly half of the event dedicated to civilian efforts to build the domestic economy.
![Participants march during the parade](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/a827bd0998c938e74a141f2abc310cf3Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwMjc5/2.38429109.jpg?w=640)
Tens of thousands of North Koreans waving brightly coloured plastic bouquets filled the square.
![Participants cheer as they take part in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/71fb5474ed4476bb3b04cd4307cd2ee2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwNTE5/2.38429116.jpg?w=640)
The combining of military and civilian sections is a familiar North Korean parade format.
![Aeroplane form the number 70 in the sky](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/f78dca84eff86051ea0c2ef2d10aa43bY29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwNjQ2/2.38428699.jpg?w=640)
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un attended the morning parade but did not address the crowd.
![North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves during the parade](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/dae429149ea93ef541d28af5ed9dd4b6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwODU4/2.38429105.jpg?w=640)
At the end of the two-hour event he strolled to the edge of the balcony with the Chinese special envoy, Li Zhanshu, who is also the third-ranking member in China’s ruling Communist Party.
![Kim Jong Un, left, smiles with China’s third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/28b0928be13b7942a49f6aa553a9bef0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYwOTg5/2.38429114.jpg?w=640)
The two held up their joined hands to symbolise the countries’ traditionally close ties.
![Kim Jong Un raises hands with China’s third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/cc6d4c075a0f30a1b3b26c8246420e9aY29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYxMDg4/2.38429234.jpg?w=640)
The civilians taking part in the parade ranged from nurses to students to construction workers.
![Performers take part in a parade](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/791d1aa99817c1ad250b251334a6512aY29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTM2NTYxMjA5/2.38429115.jpg?w=640)