Esther Imonmion
In a rare international appearance, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with China’s Xi Jinping in a high-stakes parade that signals defiance to the West.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing next week alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China has confirmed, in what is set to be a landmark display of authoritarian unity.
This will mark Kim’s first multilateral international meeting — a diplomatic coup for China’s Xi Jinping, who has been pushing for a new Beijing-led world order. For Xi, the gathering is a chance to project influence over both Putin and Kim at a time when Washington is scrambling to strike a deal with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump is not attending but has said he wants to meet Kim, whose growing nuclear arsenal and support for Russia have rattled Western capitals.
The “Victory Day” parade will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two. Putin and Kim will be among 26 other heads of state expected to attend, making this the first time a North Korean leader has joined a Chinese military parade since 1959.
China is expected to showcase its latest arsenal, including advanced aircraft, tanks and anti-drone systems — the first full public display of its new military force structure. Tens of thousands of soldiers will march through Tiananmen Square in a highly choreographed 70-minute spectacle that will be scrutinised by global analysts.
At a press briefing Thursday, China’s foreign ministry hailed Pyongyang as a “traditional friend” and pledged continued cooperation on “regional peace and stability.” Kim’s presence is an upgrade from the 2015 Victory Day parade, when North Korea sent a senior official instead of its leader.
Kim rarely travels abroad, with recent meetings limited largely to Putin, whom he has met twice since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Now, he is seizing an opportunity to break isolation and appear on a global stage, while deepening ties with Beijing.
For Xi, hosting both leaders bolsters his hand in any forthcoming talks with Trump, particularly as Washington eyes a possible Asia visit to finalise a tariffs deal.
Most Western leaders will boycott the parade in protest of Russia’s war, leaving the field open for China to court Asian and authoritarian allies. Myanmar’s military ruler Min Aung Hlaing, Indonesia’s president, and Malaysia’s prime minister are expected, while only one EU leader — Slovakia’s Robert Fico — will attend.
The contrast with 2015 is stark: back then, Europe sent multiple heads of state and top envoys. Now, Beijing’s guest list underscores how China’s global alliances are shifting, tilting toward Moscow, Pyongyang, and a circle of regional partners.
Kim’s rare attendance, six years after his last Beijing visit, signals not only North Korea’s reliance on China but also a show of defiance to Western powers seeking to contain this emerging authoritarian bloc.