North Korea parade marks 65 years of reclusive state's rule

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square, which was attended by Kim Jong-il and his son Kim Jong-un. The North Korean government has allowed many news organisations access to this year's 65th anniversary of the Workers' party celebrations
Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square
Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Kim Jong-il and his son Kim Jong-un appeared at a night-time spectacle of fireworks, patriotic music and dancing Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Historical footage of Kim Il-sung played on big screens as thousands of dancers below performed intricate choreographed routines. At one point, the dancers seemingly transformed the stadium floor into a vast sea of ocean waves, then a field of trees Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Military guards in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean soldiers watch the night dancing in Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Kim Il-sung Square after the military parade at which Kim Jong-il was joined by his son in his most public appearance since being announced as North Korea's next leader Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean army band members wave as they leave Kim Il-sung Square Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Kim Il-sung Square after the military parade Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Kim Il-Sung Square after the end of the military parade
Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Soldiers in Kim Il-sung Square
Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Koreans in Kim Il-Sung Square after the military parade Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Crowds in Kim Il-sung Square after the military parade Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his son Kim Jong-un watch the military parade from a platform at Kim Il-sung Plaza Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean military take part in parade to mark the 65th anniversary of the Korean Workers' party Photograph: Dan Chung/For the Guardian

North Korean military at the parade Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Thousands of troops from every branch of North Korea's 1.2m-strong military, as well as from naval officers' academies and military nursing schools, goose-stepped around the plaza Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean military sit beneath a picture of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean military during the parade Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean tank crews carrying rocket-propelled grenades wave to the crowds Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

People line the streets to wave at tank crews Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

North Korean tank crews wave to the crowds Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Crowds attend the military parade Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

News crews arrive at the airport in Pyongyang Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Scenes on arrival at the airport in Pyongyang Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

Officials await the arrival of news crews at the airport in Pyongyang Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

The streets of Pyongyang in the hours before the military parade Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian

The media were driven through the streets of Pyongyang in a non-stop convoy Photograph: Dan Chung/Dan Chung for the Guardian