North Korea to hold military parade ahead of Winter Olympics

North Korea is set to hold its 70th anniversary military parade, a day ahead of the start of the Winter Olympics in South Korea. 

Pyongyang's annual parade, marking the founding of its armed forces, has been held in April for 40 years.

However, the country's state media announced earlier this year that the date had been changed to 8 February.

North Korea has dismissed criticism of its plans, saying no-one had the right to take issue.

"It is a custom and very basic common sense that any country in the world takes the founding of its military very seriously and celebrates it with extravagant events," said the ruling Workers' Party newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun.
The US has said it would rather the parade not take place as the focus should be on the Games.

On Thursday, North Korea said it has no intention of meeting US officials during the Games, according to the North's official KCNA news agency.

South Korean government officials had said last month that some 13,000 troops and 200 pieces of equipment had been spotted near an airport in Pyongyang in what appeared to be a rehearsal for the parade.

Experts say North Korea is expected to showcase its long-range missiles.

"What we should look out for during the parade is North Korea's showcase of its missile vehicles, how many of them there are, and if they are carrying any new missile designs," said David Schmerler, a North Korea analyst at James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

"However, we also need to remember that just because they showcase something doesn't mean they are working on it. In the past, North Korea has paraded missiles that have never come to production."