North Korea: Military parade features hazmat suits, gas masks

BBC ^ | 08 September 2021 | uncredited

[blueplum]

North Korea has held a military parade to mark the communist state's 73rd founding anniversary, but did not display any major ballistic missiles.

State media photos of the night-time parade showed marching soldiers and workers in hazmat suits instead.

Leader Kim Jong-un, who looked visibly slimmer, was seen among the unmasked crowds hugging children.

North Korea is suffering from food shortages and a deepening economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, state media released images of fire trucks, tractors, and fireworks at the parade.

One section of the parade marched in what appeared to be bright red hazmat suits and gas masks, which may be a sign that a special force has been created to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, according to our correspondent.

[blueplum]

to make the military look fatter?

[webheart]

We went without masks for thousands of years, until 1918, then for another hundred years until now. Everything is about masking. If you wear a mask you are super smart and virtuous. If you don’t wear a mask you are one of the unvaccinated peons who want old people to die. I guess masking is the visible sign of compliance where vaccination is not as easily displayed. Maybe they could put some dye in the shot and stick it in a place where it could be seen in short sleeves. Then they would be able to point out all the people in long sleeve garments.