Kim’s Rare Cross-Border Trip
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into China on his well-guarded train to attend Beijing’s celebration of Japan’s surrender in World War Two. Kim left Pyongyang on Monday and entered China on Tuesday morning, with senior officials such as Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
Beijing Military Parade Awaits
Kim is scheduled to land in Beijing on Tuesday morning to witness a grand-scale military parade to commemorate the anniversary of Japan’s official surrender in 1945. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, quoting an anonymous source, has stated that Kim’s attendance is an indicator of Pyongyang’s continued ties with China amid strained international relations.
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Symbolism of the Special Train
Photos taken by North Korean state media featured Kim beaming with his delegation within his signature armored train, the same vehicle that he has utilized for previous diplomatic trips to China and Russia. The train, routinely called bulletproof, has now become a trademark of his guarded but calculating style of foreign travel.
The presence of Kim at the festivities marks the longstanding relationship between North Korea and China, especially at a time when two countries are facing mounting pressure from the West. Not only does the visit cement Pyongyang’s strategic alliance with Beijing, but it also reminds one of their common experience of having fought as wartime allies.
