North Korea marks 78th founding anniversary with a quiet September 9 holiday and no major event

North Korea is preparing for a quiet September 9 holiday. The country will mark the 78th anniversary of its regime’s founding without a large military parade or other major political and military event, as this year is not one of the milestone anniversaries Pyongyang especially emphasizes.

North Korea has commemorated September 9 every year since it proclaimed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on September 9, 1948, with Kim Il Sung as premier of the cabinet. The date marks the proclamation of the government and is distinct from October 10, the anniversary of the Workers’ Party’s founding.

The contrast with the 75th anniversary in 2023 is clear. Kim Jong Un attended a civil-defense forces parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, while China sent a delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, giving the anniversary the atmosphere of a milestone celebration.

North Korea also held no parade in 2024 and 2025, when the anniversaries were not milestone years. Instead, it centered the celebrations on performances and events aimed at strengthening internal unity. Last year’s 77th anniversary included a flag-raising ceremony at the Mansudae Assembly Hall attended by Kim.