North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to stand with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a major military spectacle in Beijing next week. The two leaders will be guests of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a parade on Wednesday commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade has been diplomatically fraught, with leaders from the United States and major Western European countries boycotting the event. Their decision is a direct protest against Putin’s presence, highlighting the deep divisions in contemporary international relations.
This will be Kim’s first visit to China since 2019, a trip seen as essential for reinforcing his country’s most critical alliance. North Korea’s heavy economic reliance on China makes maintaining a positive relationship with Beijing a paramount concern for Kim.
The joint appearance of the three leaders is a carefully choreographed event designed to send a message of strength and unity. It comes as North Korea has increased its military cooperation with Russia, and the parade will serve as a public showcase for this emerging strategic triangle.