Ending weeks of speculation, it was confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit China next week at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. He will attend the “V-Day commemorations” in Beijing on Wednesday, a large-scale military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II.
The parade is expected to be a major showcase of military might and diplomatic alliances. Among the 26 confirmed foreign leaders is Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The event, however, will proceed without the leaders of the United States or major Western European powers, who are shunning the celebration due to disagreements with Putin over the war in Ukraine.
This trip is Kim’s first to China since 2019, a period during which the relationship between the two allies has been closely scrutinized. As North Korea’s largest trading partner and main aid provider, China holds significant leverage. The visit is widely interpreted as a move by North Korea to solidify its standing with Beijing.
Kim’s presence in Beijing is particularly noteworthy given his country’s recent efforts to build a stronger partnership with Russia, including supplying arms for its war effort. The trilateral meeting of Kim, Xi, and Putin offers a potent symbol of an emerging coalition of interests in East Asia.
