The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily NK that up to 100,000 people will participate in the mass parade at Kim Il Sung Square. Students attending universities in Pyongyang are expected to march in columns during the event and even take part in \u201cmass games\u201d at the square.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, students at the universities are attending lectures in the mornings and then practicing for the parade from 1 PM to 8:30 PM, the source said. According to him, the students are completely focused on the practice sessions: they are wearing their required uniforms and bringing flags inscribed with communist party insignia, colorful flower bouquets and drums to use during the training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cStudents are being pushed to the limit with group practices on top of their regular lectures,\u201d the source said. \u201cBy the time practice is over, they don\u2019t get home until 10 or 11 PM, so many students are having a tough time and end up getting in trouble for dozing off during morning classes.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the source, the students will be taking morning classes and participating in afternoon practice sessions until Sept. 16. On Sept. 17, they will just be required to attend morning classes but have the rest of the day off. From Sept. 18, however, the students will no longer attend classes, nor will they be afforded time off during the weekends; instead, they will be required to participate in \u201cintense training\u201d at Kim Il Sung Square every day from 8 AM to 7 PM.<\/span><\/p>\n Although students are complaining of fatigue due to the already draconian schedule, they are reportedly practicing as hard as they can so they avoid falling or tripping during the parade on Oct. 10.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those in graduating classes, however, are reportedly unhappy about being forced to prepare for the event since they already have so much to do before graduation, including writing their theses. Students in the graduating classes of Kim Il Sung University and the Kim Chaek University of Technology are targets of envy by students in graduating classes in other universities in the city because they are not required to take part in the event preparations, the source told Daily NK.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Central Committee and the Cabinet\u2019s Ministry of Education [Ministry of Higher Education] ordered mainly first or second year students at Kim Il Sung University and Kim Chaek University of Technology to be mobilized for event preparations,\u201d the source explained. \u201cThe graduating classes at these schools have been given extra space to prepare for graduation because they have a lot of students who are set to become Central Committee cadres.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dailynk.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/DNKE_2546_300554_1517949003_i-300x210.jpg\")
Workers\u2019 Party of Korea on Oct. 10, 2015. \/ Image: Yonhap<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n