Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a massive military parade in Beijing on September 3, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. The ceremony commemorates Japan's defeat in 1945 and the conclusion of the Second World War, a day China observes as "Victory Day" marking the country's victory over Japanese occupation.
China's display of military power with its latest weaponry, including fighter aircraft and hypersonic missiles, is to take place at the Tiananmen Square parade. Xi will inspect tens of thousands of troops accompanied by senior Communist Party leadership and foreign leaders. The foreign ministry of China has confirmed that 26 heads of state and government are coming, with Iran, Indonesia, Belarus, and Serbia being represented. Most prominently missing are the United States and other principal Western countries, the sole major European representative being Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Kim Jong Un's Beijing trip is extremely rare. Throughout his 14-year reign, the North Korean dictator has undertaken very few overseas journeys, primarily to China and Russia, with minor exceptions for summits in Vietnam and Singapore. According to experts, it could be the first time Kim encounters several world leaders at one occasion, offering the chance to reinforce North Korea's global standing.
Yang Moo-jin, head of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, pointed out that the summit would enable North Korea, China, and Russia to stage an alliance to counter rising coordination between South Korea, Japan, and the US North Korea is still subject to tough global sanctions for its nuclear and missiles pursuits, although rising backing from Russia and China has diminished their effect.
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Russia-China-North Korea relations have become warmer in the last few years. North Korea has provided troops and weapons to aid Russia in its current war against Ukraine, and China continues to be Pyongyang's biggest trading partner, with 97 percent of foreign trade in 2023. Putin's involvement also reflects the Russian intention to strengthen ties with Beijing as a reaction to Western sanctions after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The North Korean state media confirmed Kim’s attendance at Xi’s invitation, though details on potential bilateral meetings with Xi or Putin remain undisclosed. Analysts suggest that the parade is as much a display of military strength as a demonstration of political solidarity among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang in the face of growing Western pressure.
