North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to Join Putin at China’s Victory Day Parade

Political Bureau,
National Press Corporation (NPC), UK
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to attend China’s Victory Day military parade in Beijing next week alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking his first multilateral international engagement in years.

The parade commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two. It will showcase China’s latest military hardware, including aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems, in a highly choreographed 70-minute display through Tiananmen Square.

China’s President Xi Jinping is using the event to project influence over both Kim and Putin, at a time when the US is seeking negotiations with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Western leaders are largely absent, reflecting opposition to Russia’s invasion, while China has faced criticism for its neutral stance and alleged support for Moscow.

Kim’s presence is a diplomatic signal of Beijing’s growing role in regional affairs and its ability to convene leaders from countries closely aligned with its interests. Putin, Kim, and Xi will be joined by 26 other heads of state, including leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, highlighting China’s outreach in Asia.

This is the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959, underscoring the symbolic weight of the event for both Pyongyang and Beijing. Analysts will closely watch how Xi leverages the meeting ahead of potential talks with the US, as well as the broader implications for regional diplomacy and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.