Every April 15th, North Korea celebrates its most important holiday of the year: the Day of the Sun. Honoring the birthday of North Korea’s founder and first leader Kim Il-Sung, citizens celebrate with grand festivities, such as extravagant parades and large familial gatherings. This year, however, North Korea added a new arrangement to the celebratory mix – a grand display of ballistic missiles.

The missiles were displayed at a ceremony in the nation’s capital city, Pyongyang. The missiles are thought to be mostly long-range and submarine-based.

On April 16th, the day after the missile display, North Korea proceeded to test one of its missiles. According to a South Korean defense official, the test took place in Sinpo, a port city in Eastern Korea. As United States satellites have recently observed increased activity there, US officials believe that the North Koreans use Sinpo for the majority of their submarine activity and testing.

Both United States and South Korean intelligence officials have attempted to ascertain exactly what type of missile was tested. The missile allegedly blew up almost immediately, providing for limited available data regarding its characteristics, but defense analysts think that it was likely a medium-range missile and would not have the intercontinental capability to reach the United States mainland.

The United States navy has discharged the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group to the region. The group also brought ships with the capability to shoot down the missiles that North Korea has been testing.

President Trump has affirmed that if China does not “rein in” North Korea’s nuclear program and aggressive missile testing developments, the United States will step in. South Korean officials have declared that if the missile launch is followed by nuclear tests, North Korea will receive a “powerful punishing measure.” Choe Ryong-Hae, a close advisor to Kim Jong Un, has asserted that North Korea is “prepared to fight an all-out war with an all-out war” and is “ready to hit back with nuclear tests of [their] own style against any nuclear attacks.”

North Korea had quite an eventful holiday.