Government soldiers paraded through this city of over one million people on Tuesday, where shops remained closed after protesters blockaded streets and looted businesses the previous day.
Lieutenant-Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, a military spokesman, told reporters that the aim was to "reassure the population" that the army was there and prepared for any eventuality.
The march comes a day after violent protests in Goma against the East African Community's military force, which deployed late last year to pacify the turbulent region.
There is mounting frustration among some DRC people over what they view as an unwillingness of EAC troops to fight the M23, which has seized swathes of territory in North Kivu province and come within miles of its capital Goma.
Last month, it captured the town of Kitchanga, west of Goma. There are now fears that the rebels will move to encircle the city, which lies on the Rwandan border.
Leaders of the seven-nation EAC decided to create a military force to respond to the insurgency last year, with the first troops arriving in the region in November.
Kenyan President William Ruto said at the time that the troops would "enforce peace on those who are hellbent on creating instability".
EAC forces have yet to enter combat despite the continuing M23 advance.
The DRC accuses its smaller central African neighbor Rwanda of backing the M23, a charge that Rwanda denies.
UN experts, the United States and several western states agree with the DRC, however.