N. Korea marks party founding anniversary quietly, without military parade

North Korea marked the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea on Saturday in a subdued fashion, forgoing a military parade unlike last year and instead holding a celebratory performance. Kim Jong-un attended the event with his wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae and issued no speech or statement.

KCNA reported Sunday that a celebratory performance was held at the Pyongyang Gymnasium on Saturday to mark the occasion. Kim watched the performance and extended congratulatory greetings to participants, the agency said.

Members of the Political Bureau Presidium of the party's Central Committee, senior party and government officials, and diplomatic representatives and mission members stationed in Pyongyang also attended.

State media photos showed Kim's wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae watching the performance alongside him.

While Kim and his wife, along with party, government and military officials, wore black suits, Ju-ae appeared in a white skirt suit. She was notably seen entering directly behind Kim and sitting at the center, right next to her father, throughout the performance.

The program featured a variety of stages blending odes to the Workers' Party with vocal performances, dance, acrobatics, gymnastics and military band ceremonies, closing with the North Korean national anthem.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the performance and extended warm thanks to the performers and audience, KCNA said.

North Korean state media carried no reports of any speech, statement or separate remarks by Kim on Saturday.

On last year's party founding anniversary, Kim used a commemorative military parade to reiterate his commitment to strengthening the country's defense capabilities. In 2024, he issued a separate statement calling for internal unity and the continuation of the party's founding ideology.

Last year's 80th anniversary was a milestone year — one of the five- and ten-year intervals North Korea marks with heightened ceremony — and Pyongyang held a military parade, inviting Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, and the heads of state of Vietnam and Laos. This year's commemorations, by contrast, were held at a comparatively low-key level befitting a non-milestone anniversary.

North Korean state media ran a steady stream of party anniversary-related articles in the days leading up to the occasion, sustaining a celebratory atmosphere.

KCNA reported that around the anniversary, senior members of the party's central leadership bodies, officials of the Central Committee, heads of city-level institutions in Pyongyang and political officers of the armed forces visited the Party Founding Historical Site in Jung-gu, Pyongyang.

Flower baskets bearing the names of party, government and military organs, enterprises and universities were placed before the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on Mansu Hill, while officials, workers, soldiers and students laid flowers at Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il statues across the country.

On Saturday evening, a youth and student night gathering was held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. Amid fireworks, participants danced to propaganda songs including "Mother's Birthday" and "Our Beloved Father" to celebrate the anniversary.

A dance party organized by the Socialist Women's Union was also held the same day at the Party Founding Monument Square, KCNA said.