North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing next week to join Chinese President Xi Jinping at a military parade. The parade marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The gathering highlights closer ties between the three leaders at a time of heightened global tension.
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What is the purpose of the parade?
The event is scheduled for Sept. 3 in Tiananmen Square and will commemorate Japan’s surrender in 1945. Chinese officials say more than 10,000 soldiers, over 100 aircraft, missile systems, tanks and domestically built drones will be featured. Many of these weapons are being shown publicly for the first time.
The ceremony is framed as part of Xi’s effort to modernize the People’s Liberation Army and showcase advances in new military branches alongside traditional forces.
Who will attend?
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that leaders from at least 26 countries plan to take part. Among them are Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic, Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
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Kim Jong Un’s September Beijing trip will be his first since 2019, marking his 11th foreign journey since taking power in 2011.
Kim’s attendance will mark his first visit to China since 2019. North Korean state media, KCNA, confirmed the trip. CNN notes he has made 10 prior foreign trips since 2011, making this his 11th. His most recent trip abroad was to Russia in 2023 for talks with Putin.
What message are China and Russia sending?
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said Putin’s presence demonstrates the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Beijing and Moscow. Lei said it symbolizes their shared determination to protect the results of World War II.
He also linked the anniversary to the founding of the United Nations. He pledged further cooperation in forums such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.
“In the face of a volatile and unstable international environment, China and Russia, as founding members of the UN and permanent members of the Security Council, will continue to uphold the organization’s authority and promote international justice,” Lei said.
The two countries have recently stepped up military collaboration. Earlier this month, their navies carried out a joint submarine patrol in the Pacific — their first of its kind — covering the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. A Chinese military expert told the Global Times the mission was proof of high-level trust between the two militaries.
How is North Korea advancing its weapons program?
Kim’s appearance in Beijing comes as North Korea accelerates its nuclear and missile ambitions with help from Russia. Analysts told The Washington Post that Moscow’s support has enabled Pyongyang to move faster on advanced technologies once thought out of reach.
Since announcing a five-year plan in 2021, Kim has introduced tactical nuclear warheads, tested multi-warhead missiles and unveiled steps toward nuclear-powered submarines. Experts say Russian training and technology transfers have been central to that progress.
Security analysts warn the partnership could embolden Kim to take greater risks, raising concerns for the U.S., South Korea and other regional powers.
“In the future, if the North Koreans detect the right timing, they can really cause a huge amount of instability in the region,” said Go Myong-hyun, senior research fellow at Seoul’s Institute for National Security Strategy.
Last year, North Korea and Russia signed a security pact promising mutual military assistance if either country comes under attack.
What is the broader context?
The show of unity comes as President Donald Trump presses for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and reconfigures Washington’s alliances. It also follows China’s increasingly assertive actions in the Taiwan Strait and in nearby maritime disputes.
