SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea鈥檚 Kim Jong Un oversaw a major military parade showcasing his most advanced weaponry to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the country鈥檚 armed forces, state media said Thursday.

The parade, held the evening of February 8 in Pyongyang鈥檚 central Kim Il Sung Square, featured fireworks, military bands and uniformed soldiers marching in unison to spell out 鈥�2.8鈥� and 鈥�75,鈥� the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Wearing a black coat and fedora 鈥� a style of dress also favored by his grandfather and North Korea鈥檚 founding leader Kim Il Sung 鈥� Kim attended the parade with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter Ju Ae, state media photographs showed.
Images showed the top leader walking along a red carpet to inspect rows of soldiers holding bayonets, and standing flanked by his top generals, saluting as troops and missile units parade past.

The nuclear-armed country stages military parades to mark important holidays and events, which are closely monitored by observers for clues about the reclusive regime鈥檚 progress on its banned ballistic and nuclear weapons.
Columns of missiles were paraded through the square, KCNA reported, including a 鈥渢actical nuclear operation unit鈥� which showed off their 鈥渕ighty war deterrence and counterattack capabilities.鈥�
When a column of the country鈥檚 most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles appeared in the square, it prompted cheering by spectators, KCNA said.

The parade showcased 鈥渢he transformative development of the DPRK鈥檚 national defense capability and the country鈥檚 greatest nuclear attack capability,鈥� KCNA said, referring to North Korea by its official name.
The parade emphasised the country鈥檚 ability to face down its enemies 鈥渘uke for nuke, confrontation for confrontation!鈥� KCNA added.
Commercial satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies at 10:05 p.m. (1305 GMT) on Wednesday night showed a large North Korean flag and thousands of people assembled at Kim Il Sung square.

For years, Pyongyang鈥檚 state media never mentioned Kim鈥檚 children 鈥� Seoul鈥檚 spy agency believes he has three with wife Ri 鈥� but he unveiled Ju Ae at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November last year.
Since then, the 10-year-old has appeared alongside her father at multiple high-profile events, most recently a banquet Tuesday to mark the army鈥檚 founding anniversary.

Analysts say she is the equivalent of a North Korean 鈥減rincess鈥� and that her constant appearances with her father could indicate she is his anointed successor.
Kim Jong Un鈥檚 own father, Kim Jong Il, selected him to be his successor over his elder children because he most resembled him.
North Korea has held four night-time military parades in recent years 鈥� including the latest one.
The parade comes after North Korea vowed to expand and intensify military drills to ensure its readiness for war, following a record-breaking year of weapons tests, including firing its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile.
Kim recently called for an 鈥渆xponential鈥� increase in Pyongyang鈥檚 nuclear arsenal, including mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons and developing new missiles for nuclear counterstrikes.