Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, left Pyongyang on Monday to attend a military parade in China, commemorating the end of World War II. He is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, traveling via a special train. This marks Kim’s first overseas trip since his meeting with Russian President Putin in 2023. In Beijing, Kim is expected to observe the parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The invitation to Kim Jong-un was extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as reported by North Korean state media. The purpose of the visit is to participate in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. According to Xinhua, the Chinese state media, 26 foreign leaders are slated to attend China’s V-Day commemorations in Beijing. Tens of thousands of military personnel are scheduled to march in Tiananmen Square, with Xi Jinping overseeing the event. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei stated that China warmly welcomes the North Korean leader, highlighting the traditional friendly relationship between China and North Korea.
