North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a calculated appearance in Beijing next week, joining Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for a major military parade. The event on Wednesday commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and is Kim’s first trip abroad since 2019.
The parade has been marked by a diplomatic boycott from the West. Leaders of the U.S. and major European countries are refusing to attend due to their conflict with Putin over Ukraine, effectively ceding the international stage to this gathering of Eastern powers.
Kim’s visit is seen primarily as a mission to reinforce ties with China, his country’s economic lifeline. With trade with China representing nearly all of North Korea’s external economic activity, this diplomatic outreach is considered essential.
The timing of the visit is also critical, as it follows North Korea’s decision to supply Russia with ammunition. Kim’s presence in Beijing alongside his Russian and Chinese counterparts will serve as a powerful visual confirmation of a strengthened anti-Western alliance.