North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a significant trip abroad next week, traveling to Beijing to attend a major military parade. The event, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd, and will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The visit was confirmed by both North Korean and Chinese state sources.
The parade is set to be a major international event, with 26 foreign leaders in attendance, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the gathering will be conspicuously missing leaders from the United States and major Western European countries. Their absence is widely seen as a protest against Putin’s presence amid ongoing tensions related to the war in Ukraine.
This journey represents Kim’s first official visit to China since 2019 and comes at a crucial time for bilateral relations. Despite China being North Korea’s most vital economic lifeline—accounting for about 97% of its external trade—there have been questions about the strength of their alliance in recent years. This high-profile appearance is viewed by many as a strategic move to reinforce this critical partnership.
The visit also occurs as North Korea deepens its ties with Russia, having supplied Moscow with military aid for its campaign in Ukraine. Kim’s presence in Beijing alongside Putin and Xi will likely be interpreted as a powerful display of solidarity among the three nations, showcasing a united front in the face of Western pressure.