North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, has arrived in Beijing to attend China’s largest military parade to date.
The “Victory Day” parade on Wednesday will provide an opportunity for Kim to engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other prominent world leaders.
Photographs depict Kim disembarking from his armored train at Beijing Railway Station, accompanied by his daughter. South Korea’s intelligence agency has previously identified her as Kim’s “most likely” successor.
President Xi is hosting the parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender, marking the end of World War Two.
Kim’s train, reportedly equipped with a restaurant serving fine French wines and delicacies such as fresh lobster, crossed into China on Tuesday. The journey from Pyongyang commenced on Monday, with the train’s heavy armor contributing to its slow pace.
Since her public debut in November 2022, Miss Kim has frequently appeared alongside her father. However, detailed information about her remains limited.
Reports regarding her age vary. In 2023, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated that it believed she was approximately 10 years old.
The Chinese parade occurs at a pivotal time for President Xi, as he aims to solidify Beijing’s economic and diplomatic influence on the global stage.
Amidst the destabilization of the global trade order due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, President Xi has sought to position China as a reliable trading partner.
The parade in Beijing presents President Xi with an opportunity to showcase his nation’s growing capacity to rival the United States in potential conflicts.
The 70-minute event is expected to feature China’s latest military hardware, including numerous aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems, marking the first comprehensive display of the military’s new force structure in a parade.
Xi will stand alongside Kim and Russia’s Putin, in what appears to be a demonstration of solidarity with both nations amid the conflict in Ukraine. Kim has reportedly supplied weapons and personnel to Russia, which initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
They will be among 26 heads of state—including leaders from Iran and Cuba—as tens of thousands of military personnel march in formation through Beijing’s historic Tiananmen Square.
Leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam have also been invited, further highlighting Beijing’s efforts to strengthen ties with neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
Kim’s attendance marks the first instance in decades of a North Korean leader being present at a Chinese military parade. The last such occurrence was in 1959, when his grandfather, North Korea’s founder Kim Il-Sung, attended.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will be the sole EU leader in attendance, while Bulgaria and Hungary will send representatives.
China has refrained from criticizing Putin’s full-scale invasion and has faced accusations from the West of supporting Russia’s war effort through the provision of dual-use materials and the purchase of Russian oil. Beijing denies these allegations.
Following their meeting on Tuesday, Putin characterized Xi as a dear friend, while Chinese state media portrayed relations as exemplary.
With Trump yet to secure firm commitments from Putin regarding a potential peace agreement in Ukraine, Xi’s welcoming of the Russian leader appears to underscore their close relationship.
Kim’s presence represents an upgrade from China’s previous Victory Day parade in 2015, when Pyongyang dispatched a high-ranking official, Choe Ryong-hae.
The reclusive leader rarely travels abroad, with his recent interactions with world leaders primarily limited to Putin, whom he has met twice since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
His last visit to Beijing was in 2019, for an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. That trip also involved travel by train.
The tradition of traveling via train was initiated by Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, who undertook train journeys to Vietnam and Eastern Europe.
Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, also traveled by train, reportedly due to a fear of flying.
According to a South Korean news outlet, the armored train comprises approximately 90 carriages, including conference rooms, audience chambers, and bedrooms.
Many remain trapped under rubble as rescuers use helicopters in remote areas hit by recent landslides.
The two leaders are seeking to promote “a more just and reasonable global governance system”.
It is a big week for Xi Jinping, who will host Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in Beijing at a massive military parade.
The sisters gave up their Pakistani passports eight years ago, but without a crucial document they can’t be Indian citizens.
There are fears the death toll will rise significantly as the area is remote and mountainous, making rescue operations difficult.