North Korea prepares for country's biggest holiday as regional tensions rising

While tensions between his country and the United States appeared to be escalating rapidly, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made an appearance in front of reporters in Pyongyang on Thursday not to denounce Washington, but to cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of a new highrise district.

CBC'sSasaPetricicis in Pyongyang, travelling with a North Korean government representative.

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More than 100,000 people gathered at the event, which is part of a run-up to Saturday's105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il-sung the country's most important holiday.

Nothing official has been announced, but a large-scale militaryparade is expected Saturday.

North Korea has a history of connecting landmark construction projects to important political dates.

The most recent example is another new street,MiraeStreet, which was built in time for the65thanniversary in 2015 of the founding of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party.