Kim Jong-un to make multilateral diplomatic debut at China’s military parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will attend a military parade in Beijing on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender in World War II. This will be Kim’s first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage. With the South Korea–U.S. alliance and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan strengthening, the meeting of the North Korean, Chinese, and Russian leaders in one place is expected to highlight their solidarity.

On August 28, Hong Lei, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, unveiled the guest list at a press briefing on the 80th “Victory Day” parade, saying, “At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, heads of state and top government leaders from 26 countries will attend the event.” Kim was named second, following Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We warmly welcome North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the commemorative event,” Hong said.

He emphasized that “in times of hardship and adversity, the peoples of China and North Korea supported each other and jointly resisted Japanese aggression, making important contributions to the victory of the global anti-fascist war and the cause of human justice. Preserving, consolidating, and developing the traditional friendship between China and North Korea is the firm position of China’s Party and government.”

North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also reported that Kim will soon visit China at Xi’s invitation to attend the 80th Victory Day event. This will mark Kim’s first trip to China in six years and eight months, since January 2019, ahead of the North Korea–U.S. summit in Hanoi. With the coronavirus pandemic and deepening North Korea–Russia ties having put a halt to Pyongyang–Beijing summit diplomacy, this visit signals its resumption. While Kim has previously held bilateral summits with Xi and Putin, respectively, he has never before joined a gathering attended by multiple foreign leaders. By contrast, his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, observed China’s military parade alongside Chinese leader Mao Zedong on October 1, 1954, and actively participated in the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1960s.

Kim’s participation in this year’s Victory Day parade is expected to broaden North Korea’s diplomatic horizons while underscoring the North Korea–China–Russia solidarity in counterbalance to South Korea–U.S.–Japan cooperation. The announcement of his trip comes just three days after U.S. President Donald Trump, in a meeting with President Lee Jae-myung, expressed his intent to pursue a North Korea–U.S. summit. Meanwhile, China has voiced through state media its negative view of South Korea–U.S. cooperation.

The 70-minute parade at Tiananmen Square will mobilize more than 10,000 troops and 45 military units. Top leaders from Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, and Iran will also gather in Beijing. From South Korea, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik will attend.

※This article was translated by an AI tool and edited by a professional translator.