North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing next week, China's foreign ministry has announced, marking what is believed to be his first level international meeting with other leaders.
The parade, dubbed the Victory Day event, commemorates the 80th anniversary of China's war against Japan and the end of World War Two. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also set to attend this major event alongside 26 other heads of state. This follows recent statements from US President Donald Trump expressing a desire to meet Kim.
China is expected to showcase its newest military advancements, including hundreds of aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems - representing the first complete display of its military's new structure during a parade.
The highly choreographed event will feature tens of thousands of military personnel marching through Tiananmen Square, including troops from 45 military echelons and war veterans. The 70-minute parade will be closely observed by analysts and Western powers alike.
China's foreign ministry praised its long-standing traditional friendship with North Korea, emphasizing ongoing collaboration for regional peace and stability.
Kim's attendance at the parade signals a shift from China's last Victory Day event in 2015, where a high-ranking official represented North Korea.
The meeting presents not only a key photo opportunity with Kim, Putin, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping but also serves as a diplomatic advantage for Xi in a complex geopolitical landscape.
As the buildup to the event continues, the reaction of world leaders, particularly from Western nations, remains under scrutiny due to their strained relations with Russia amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Japan has also urged foreign leaders to reconsider attending, citing the parade's perceived anti-Japanese sentiment.
Upcoming discussions about South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung's potential attendance further complicate the event, as it may permit a historic meeting between the North and South Korean leaders for the first time since their relations soured in 2019.
