North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a parade of paramilitary groups marking the country's 75th anniversary. He also held diplomatic contacts in which he pledged to deepen ties with China and Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message expressing his willingness to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation at the task force level. Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a letter to Kim, saying the two countries would strengthen bilateral ties to ensure security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. The parade is the third military parade this year alone, the latter being held in July to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War.