SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea celebrated the nation's 73rd anniversary with a toned-down military parade.
It did not feature any ballistic missiles, but civil defense forces were wearing gas masks and hazmat suits.
North Korea has not reported any COVID-19 cases and recently rejected vaccine donations so they could be used in harder-hit countries, the BBC reports.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, appearing noticeably thinner, watched the parade go through the country's capital.
Experts tell The Associated Press that the toned-down event reflects challenges North Korea faces, including a mismanaged economy and closed borders.
CNN reports that most, if not all, foreign diplomats and aid workers have left the country.