North Korean leader Kim Jong Un departed from Pyongyang on Monday for China, with the purpose of attending the military parade commemorating the end of World War II. Kim is expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday via a special train. This marks his first international trip since his meeting with Russian President Putin in 2023. In Beijing, Kim is scheduled to participate in the parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The invitation to attend the event was extended by Xi Jinping, as announced by North Korean state media. The parade is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The event will be attended by 26 foreign leaders, according to Xinhua, the Chinese state media outlet. Tens of thousands of military personnel are set to march through Tiananmen Square, overseen by Xi Jinping. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei expressed a warm welcome to the North Korean leader, emphasizing the traditional friendly relations between China and North Korea.
