The Military Parade Commemorative Medal (열병식기녕메달) is one of the more recent DPRK awards. A VERY common sight on the streets of Pyongyang but not yet so on the international market. This medal can be awarded repeatedly and I've seen many "Paraders" with up to 8 of these Commemorative Medals on their right chest. The medal features Kumsusan Memorial Palace and two semi-automatic rifles and is constructed from plated aluminium.
Apologies for sounding sexist..but man there is something about a chick with a gun marching in a parade..I wonder what a psychotherapist would say about that?
I found the fact that the weapons are only issued to those "guarding" the flag maybe the most impressive part of this picture. Why not give everyone a gun?
A female soldier with a gun is o.k. but give her a sword and now you're talking. Horseback? That could do it. I couldn't see someone waving a sword in a charge whilst riding side-saddle though. I can speak from personal experience.
Now thinking on the DPRK a little more here, do they have mounted units? All of their Military Parades I have seen are on foot or mechanised.
CtahhR Wrote:Now thinking on the DPRK a little more here, do they have mounted units? All of their Military Parades I have seen are on foot or mechanised.
Maybe Cavalry units were/are seen as an imperialist symbol reminiscent of the Japanese occupation; that may be the reason we´re unfamiliar with KPA units riding horses during parades.
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight The Who, Won't get fooled again
