Kim Jong Un will travel to Beijing next week to attend a major military parade alongside China’s president, Xi Jinping, and Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, state media in Pyongyang and Beijing have confirmed.
The event, which marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, will bring together 26 foreign leaders. No representatives from the United States or western Europe are expected.
It will be Kim’s first visit to China in six years and one of his rare trips abroad since the pandemic. North Korea’s leader has remained largely isolated internationally, though his relationship with Russia has strengthened in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a coup four years ago, is also due to attend, according to the country’s state media.
China has long been North Korea’s principal ally and economic lifeline. Announcing Kim’s visit, assistant foreign minister Hong Lei said Beijing would “warmly welcome” him, adding that “maintaining, consolidating and developing” relations between the two governments remained a priority.
Asked about the significance of Putin’s presence, Hong said his attendance “further demonstrates the high level of the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and declares the unity and solidarity between China and Russia”.
He added: “Facing an international landscape fraught with both change and turmoil, China and Russia, as founding members of the UN and permanent members of the Security Council, will continue to uphold the authority of the United Nations and international fairness and justice.”
Kim’s appearance in Beijing may not be his last high-profile summit this year. Earlier this week, US president Donald Trump suggested he was open to another meeting with the North Korean leader, following their unprecedented talks during his first term in office.
