Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is set to attend China's military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, as reported by various news outlets on Thursday. The event marks a significant moment, as it will be Kim's first joint appearance with both Xi and Putin.
According to Yonhap News Agency, China plans to host a large-scale military parade on September 3 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to celebrate what it calls the victory in the struggle against Japan in 1945. Kim's rare trip abroad indicates a warming of relations between North Korea and China, strained previously due to Pyongyang's close ties with Russia during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kim Jong-un will visit China at Xi Jinping's invitation to participate in the 80th-anniversary celebrations, as announced by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Additionally, Hong Lei, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs, confirmed Kim's attendance at the parade, highlighting that he will be among state leaders from 26 foreign countries invited by Xi.
Notable attendees include Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korea's Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, along with leaders from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Iran. Officials from the United States, France, and Britain are also expected to be present. Hong expressed China's willingness to enhance cooperation with North Korea to foster regional peace and uphold international justice.
This visit marks Kim's first since 2019 and comes amidst speculation that North Korea aims to repair ties with Beijing, potentially anticipating a conclusion to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggests that Kim's attendance could act as a catalyst for multilateral dialogue and possibly pave the way for a North Korea-U.S. summit.
Kim's appearance alongside Xi and Putin will be the first time the three leaders gather, aligning their countries against the strengthening trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Attention will also be focused on whether Kim will meet South Korea's Assembly Speaker Woo, who represents the highest-ranking South Korean official at the event.
While South Korea initially considered sending President Lee Jae Myung, it ultimately decided to dispatch Woo, reflecting its diplomatic ties with the U.S. Despite President Lee's consistent efforts to engage North Korea since taking office, Pyongyang has rejected overtures for dialogue.
Observers remain skeptical about a meeting between Kim and Woo due to persistent hostilities. However, Seoul is contemplating inviting Kim to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, in late October. This potential invitation follows discussions between South Korean President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in meeting Kim again this year.
South Korea's presidential chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, revealed that the government was aware of Kim's planned visit through related agencies and received confirmation prior to the public announcement. Kang emphasized that the alignment of North Korea, China, and Russia should be approached with caution, but Seoul remains hopeful that the Pyongyang-Beijing relationship will contribute to denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.