Kim Jong Un’s China Trip: Military Parade and International Diplomacy

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has departed Pyongyang on Monday to attend a military parade in China, which marks the end of World War II. Kim is expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, traveling by special train. This represents his first international travel since his meeting with President Putin in Russia in 2023. In Beijing, Kim is anticipated to attend the parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The invitation to Kim Jong-un was issued by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as indicated by North Korean state media. Kim’s visit is to participate in the 80th-anniversary celebrations of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. According to Xinhua, the Chinese state media outlet, 26 foreign leaders are expected to attend China’s V-Day commemorations in Beijing. The event will feature a parade of tens of thousands of military personnel marching through Tiananmen Square, overseen by Xi Jinping. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei expressed a warm welcome to the North Korean leader, noting the long-standing friendly relations between China and North Korea.