In an apparent show of of solidarity with dictator Kim Jong-Un, tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on Wednesday to denounce President Donald Trump’s promise to bring “fire and fury” against the hermit kingdom should they attack the United States.
READ: Why North Korea’s Threat Against Guam is a Big Deal
As the Independent reported, photos and footage from the rally appear to show North Korean workers angrily marching through the square in uniform white shirts, while carrying propaganda signs and flags. It is believed members of the so-called elite class were dressed in black, applauding protestors as they passed by.
While participants in the event likely had no choice but to attend, it was the latest attempted show of might by Kim and his government. According to Fox News, North Korea’s state news organ, KCNA, was responsible for releasing the non-independently verified photos of the gathering. Additionally, the outlet published a strangely-worded statement criticizing Trump as “bereft of reason” and claiming “only absolute force can work on him.”
As the Daily Mail reported, General Kim Rak Gyom, head of North Korea’s rocket command, reiterated to KCNA that the country was “about to take” military action against the U.S. territory of Guam, and his forces would have action plans readied by mid-August, at which point they could execute a “historic enveloping fire at Guam.”
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, meanwhile, has sought to quell fears of an attack, releasing a statement in which he praised Trump’s strong message to the North Korean leader of America’s “unquestionable” ability to defend itself.
“What the president is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un can understand, because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Tillerson said. “I think the president just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime on the U.S. unquestionable ability to defend itself, will defend itself and its allies.”
(H/T: Daily Mail)