North Korea celebrated its “Military First” holiday and the recent success of its ballistic missile testing with mass dances and a series of outdoor concerts in Pyongyang.

State television broadcasts and newspaper front pages hailed the submarine-launched missile, which represented a giant leap in North Korean military technology.

In response, traditional mass dancing demonstrations were held across the country, the biggest taking place in the capital's Kim Il-sung Square.

Mass dances are often held in Pyongyang after military 'successes' (Getty)

Mass dancing is a common form of celebration in North Korea during state festivities and birthdays.

Such spectacles are rarely spontaneous and usually staged and tend to take place in front of important political monuments. After the country successfully tested a hydrogen bomb in January, footage showed young women dressed in elaborate gowns dancing around a stone statue.

The “Military First” holiday celebrates the anniversary of the Songun policy introduced by Kim Jong-un’s father, Kim Jong-il, in 1960, which gave primacy to the North Korean army in state politics and funding.

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After the successful Pyukguksong missile test, Kim Jong-un was shown hugging officials on an observation deck. State media quoted him as calling the event the “success of all successes”.

Despite the parties taking place across the country, the atmosphere in Pyongyang was still tense. Throughout the celebrations, military convoys travelled through the capital.

Recently, North Korean television has aired more military footage than usual. Clips showing soldiers marching chest-deep through mud and across ice-covered lakes, apparently in preparation for conflict, have been broadcast across the country.

The national holiday arrives amid increased tensions between North and South Korea. The South is currently carrying out its annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises with the US south of the neutral Demilitarised Zone.

Rumours that these exercises include training for an invasion of the North have sparked particular alarm in Pyongyang.

“They are not military exercises, but war preparations to invade our country,” said Kim Kyong-ik, a 44-year-old Pyongyang resident.

“Our country is getting more prosperous and they don’t like that, so they are stepping up their moves to stifle us.”

North Korea has warned it will turn Seoul and Washington into “a heap of ashes through a Korean-style pre-emptive strike” if they show any hint of aggression toward the North’s territory.

Inside the daily life in North Korea Show all 19 1 /19 Inside the daily life in North Korea Inside the daily life in North Korea People reading a newspaper at the metro station Inside the daily life in North Korea Thoughts of the leaders on the tram. They have about a dozen of these on every tram, all with different thoughts Inside the daily life in North Korea Young people training for a big upcoming festival Inside the daily life in North Korea People at the Pyongyang's annual marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea Many stars on one of the trolleys in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea An intimidating poster in a primary school in North Korea. Inside the daily life in North Korea Solar panels installed on a street lamp. Inside the daily life in North Korea A poster on the window next to one of the venues we visited in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Kids playing football next to the Arch of Triumph. After a while tourists were allowed to join, so some of us did Inside the daily life in North Korea Class in an educational center in Pyongyang (where people over 17 years old can attend any classes they choose after school, for free) Inside the daily life in North Korea People waving at me during the Pyongyang marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea People having a great time dancing at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea A metro driver in a metro station in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Fireworks to mark the birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung on our last night in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea My wonderful tour guide at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea One of the parks in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea A person rowing some boats for the day at a river in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea The National War Museum Inside the daily life in North Korea Public park in Pyongyang