Kim, Xi, Putin to Unite at Beijing Military Parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un embarked on a rare trip to Beijing by train to attend a grand military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a historic gathering of three leaders known for challenging U.S. influence. The event, set for September 3, celebrates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and China’s resistance against Japanese aggression, showcasing China’s military might with tens of thousands of troops and advanced weaponry in Tiananmen Square.

Kim’s journey, his first to China since 2019 and fifth since assuming power in 2011, marks his debut at a major multilateral event, joined by 26 world leaders, including Putin, who arrived Sunday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency reported Kim’s departure from Pyongyang on Monday, accompanied by top officials like Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. South Korean media confirmed his train’s arrival in Dandong, China, on Monday night, with an expected arrival in Beijing by Tuesday.

The parade offers a potential stage for a trilateral show of unity among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, though no private meeting between Kim, Xi, and Putin has been confirmed. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov indicated a possible sidelines meeting between Putin and Kim, while analysts speculate Kim may seek bilateral talks with Xi to mend strained ties, given China’s role as North Korea’s largest trading partner. Recent years have seen North Korea pivot toward Russia, supplying troops and ammunition for the Ukraine war, but experts suggest Kim aims to balance relations with Beijing to prepare for post-conflict scenarios.

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This high-profile appearance aligns with North Korea’s bolder foreign policy, issuing statements on global issues like the Middle East and Taiwan Strait, positioning itself within a China-Russia-led bloc against Washington. The trip follows U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung expressing interest in restarting talks with Pyongyang, stalled since 2019 after failed denuclearization negotiations. Kim’s presence in Beijing signals both a strategic recalibration and an effort to elevate North Korea’s global stature amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

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