For a government that has struggled for decades to provide electricity to, or even feed its people, the North Korean regime does a few things well: Nuclear weapons (unfortunately), long range missiles (ditto), mass games, and parades. Indeed, the parade through central Pyongyang has become a staple of the imagery that North Korea uses to intimidate the world. In addition to thousands of goose-stepping soldiers—images that can’t help but conjure memories of the late 1930s—the regime also displays military hardware at the parades. In recent years, it has showed off its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the long-range missiles that North Korea could one day use to attack the United States with nuclear weapons. Note also that the regime often invites foreign media to these parades: They’re conducted largely for foreign consumption.

At this weekend’s parade though,, held to celebrate the unfortunate 70^th anniversary of the regime, the ICBMs were strangely absent. Instead, economic development was the primary theme. CNN, citing “experts,” reported that that the decision might have been made to “avoid antagonizing US President Donald Trump.”