North Korea appeared to use its recent massive military parade to strengthen solidarity for its leader, Kim Jong-un, and dispel its negative image, the Unification Ministry said Monday.
  

The North's leader did not mention nuclear weapons during his rare public speech on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party.
  

But a torchlight parade held on late Saturday expressed key words -- nukes and the economy -- of Kim's dual policy of developing nuclear weapons and boosting the country's ailing economy.
  

Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, refrained from commenting on the North's intention, but he said that the North seemed to strengthen its internal solidarity and improve its public image through the parade.
  

"We hope that North Korea will make efforts to improve inter-Korean ties and move toward unification by honoring the Aug. 25 deal," Jeong said at a regular press briefing.
  

South and North Korea reached a landmark deal in late August to defuse military tension and seek to improve their long-strained relations.
  

Jeong said that there has been no unusual movement from North Korea amid lingering concerns that the North may make provocations ahead of this week's summit between Seoul and Washington. Next week, the two Koreas will hold the reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
  

"South Korea, the U.S. and relevant military authorities are closely watching the situation," he said.
 
 
North Korea forewent provocative acts such as a long-range rocket launch before the anniversary, which the North had threatened to do in recent weeks.
  

But analysts said that the North may go ahead with a rocket launch within this year as Pyongyang has claimed it has the right to fire off "a series of satellites" for peaceful space development, which experts view as a cover for ballistic missile tests. (Yonhap)