Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is set to depart for China on Monday aboard his special armored train to attend a military parade in Beijing. This event could mark Kim's first appearance on the multilateral diplomatic stage and may include a three-way meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jong-un may need to leave Pyongyang as early as Monday to reach Beijing by Tuesday, given the train's travel time of approximately 20 to 24 hours. The upcoming 70-minute military parade in China, scheduled for Wednesday, will showcase the country's latest weaponry and troops as a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Kim is expected to cross the North Korea-China border on Monday night and stay at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, a familiar lodging from his previous visits to China. On Sunday, ahead of his anticipated departure, Kim visited a newly completed missile production line at a major munitions factory to review North Korea's missile production capacity and future prospects.
The military parade at Tiananmen Square will be attended by state leaders from 26 foreign countries, including Kim and Putin, marking Kim's first appearance on the multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power in 2011. This sets the stage for a possible trilateral summit with Xi and Putin, which, if held, would be the first meeting of the three countries' leaders since the Cold War.
Kim's participation in the Chinese event follows a high-stakes summit in Washington where South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim. However, Kim's presence at the parade and potential trilateral meeting could indicate a disinterest in engaging with Seoul or Washington.
The military parade also coincides with the U.S. efforts to "modernize" alliances, including with South Korea, aiming to counter China's growing global influence. Kim and Putin have recently deepened military ties, reflected in North Korea's support for Moscow's war against Ukraine.
Kim's attendance at the military parade suggests an attempt to restore strong ties with China, which had been strained due to North Korea's alignment with Moscow. Experts believe North Korea anticipates the Russia-Ukraine war's conclusion, which could shift Moscow's focus away from Pyongyang. Some suggest Kim's visit could strengthen North Korea's bargaining position ahead of potential negotiations with the U.S.