North Korea’s Kim Jong Un joins World Leaders in Beijing for WWII Commemoration

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in China to attend a major military parade, marking a rare international appearance for the reclusive head of state.

He crossed the border on his iconic armoured train for what will be his first multilateral summit, joining leaders from Russia, China, and other nations.

The “Victory Day” parade, scheduled for Wednesday in Beijing, commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender at the end of World War Two.

Kim will be in the company of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and 26 other heads of state, including leaders from Myanmar, Iran, and Cuba.

This event signifies the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959, highlighting a significant moment in the two nations’ diplomatic history.

Kim’s journey from Pyongyang is being made on his heavily protected, slow-moving train, a tradition favored by his father and grandfather.

The trip is expected to take up to 24 hours. This visit is an upgrade from the 2015 parade, which was attended by a lower-ranking North Korean official, indicating a potential strengthening of ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.

The parade through Tiananmen Square is expected to be a massive display of China’s military might, featuring tens of thousands of personnel and showcasing the country’s latest weaponry, from advanced aircraft to anti-drone systems.

While many Western leaders are boycotting the event due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the gathering will see significant representation from Southeast Asia, with leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam present.

From the European Union, only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is confirmed to attend, with Bulgaria and Hungary sending representatives.

Kim Jong Un’s presence in Beijing underscores a complex geopolitical landscape. His last visit to the Chinese capital was in 2019, and his foreign travel has been extremely limited, with recent interactions confined to meetings with Vladimir Putin.

This high-profile appearance alongside other world leaders signals a strategic move for North Korea on the international stage.

It is worth noting that no leader from the Indian subcontinent is attending the event since China has strong ties with Afghanistan as well as Pakistan and India recently as well.