North Korea's About To Throw One Massive Parade

Say what you want about North Korea … it knows how to throw a good parade. 

On Saturday, the Hermit Kingdom will stage another massive one to celebrate 70 years of one-party rule under the Korean Workers' Party.  

Here's a preview — based on satellite imagery of the run-up to the parade provided by the U.S.-Korea Institute. 

In the 1990s, North Korea converted an air base in Pyongyang into this practice site for its parades — complete with a replica of Kim Il Sung Square, the site of the real parade. 

Already in position a few days before this latest parade were some 700 trucks and 200 armored vehicles, and troops in formation — some on horseback. 

These photos also show seven drones on mobile launchers. 

And if previous parades are any indication, Saturday's spectacle will also feature ballistic missile launchers and other advanced weaponry. 

Because this is a chance for North Korea to showcase its one-million-strong army. The well-fed ones, anyway. It's doubtful North Korea has the food, fuel and ammunition to ever sustain a full-scale war. 

This video includes material from Pleiades © CNES 2014 Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved.