Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un departed from Pyongyang on Monday afternoon aboard a train, with expectations set for his debut appearance on the multilateral diplomatic stage at an upcoming military parade in Beijing.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks the first occasion for Kim, who has been in power since late 2011, to participate in a multilateral diplomatic event. Historically, Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who founded North Korea, attended a military parade in Beijing back in 1959.

The military parade, scheduled for Wednesday in Beijing, could potentially pave the way for a groundbreaking three-way meeting involving Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Kim’s journey is projected to take approximately 20 to 24 hours, with his anticipated arrival in Beijing slated for Tuesday afternoon.