Kim Jong-un to Attend Beijing Military Parade, Signaling Closer Ties with Russia and China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is set to make his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage by attending a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The move underscores Pyongyang’s growing alignment with Moscow and Beijing, at a time when Washington and Seoul are seeking renewed dialogue with North Korea. Analysts say Kim’s presence reflects an attempt to repair ties with China, deepen his leverage in global politics, and prepare for a post-war geopolitical landscape in Ukraine.

Seoul, Aug 2025 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is preparing to step into the global diplomatic spotlight, with his first-ever participation in a multilateral diplomatic event. Kim is expected to travel to Beijing this week to attend a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. His attendance, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is widely seen as a symbolic yet strategic move that reinforces North Korea’s deepening partnerships with its two most powerful allies.

This marks a historic moment for the North Korean leader. Since assuming power in late 2011, Kim has largely remained isolated from multilateral diplomacy. His grandfather and the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung, last attended a military parade in Beijing in 1959. Kim’s decision to join the event places him firmly within the orbit of China and Russia, at a time when relations with the United States and South Korea remain stalled.

The announcement of Kim’s visit came shortly after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed their willingness to resume diplomacy with Pyongyang at a high-level summit in Washington. However, Kim’s alignment with Putin and Xi suggests that he is pivoting away from engagement with Washington and Seoul, and toward a bloc increasingly defined by opposition to the U.S.-led international order.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has intensified over the past year. North Korea has reportedly sent troops and weapons to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. North Korean state media reported that Kim finalized the decision to deploy military assistance on August 28 of last year. Russian media further revealed that during the upcoming Beijing parade, Kim will be seated to Xi Jinping’s left, while Putin will sit on Xi’s right—a symbolic arrangement reflecting a tripartite show of unity.

Kim’s travel plans remain a subject of speculation. If he opts for his customary armored train, the journey from Pyongyang to Beijing could take nearly 20 hours. Some analysts, however, note that he may choose to fly aboard his private aircraft, “Shamma-1,” though historically he has preferred the more secure Forest Green train.

Observers suggest that North Korea views this visit as part of a broader strategy to recalibrate relations with Beijing, which had cooled in recent years. With the war in Ukraine eventually expected to shift Moscow’s focus back toward Europe and the West, Pyongyang may see strengthening its ties with China as essential for its long-term security and economic resilience.

Signs of this thaw in relations have already emerged. Recently, Choi Ryong-hae, chairman of North Korea’s parliamentary standing committee, attended a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to mark a bilateral anniversary.

Analysts believe Kim’s presence in Beijing goes beyond symbolism. It could be aimed at strengthening his bargaining position ahead of any renewed negotiations with Washington. By projecting unity with Xi and Putin, Kim is signaling that North Korea’s leverage in global affairs is growing, and that any future talks with the U.S. or its allies will have to account for Pyongyang’s closer integration into a powerful Eurasian axis.

Kim is expected to return to Pyongyang after the parade, but the political ripples of his first step onto the multilateral diplomatic stage are likely to reverberate far beyond the spectacle at Tiananmen Square.

Team Maverick.