Xi, Putin, And Kim To Unite At China’s Massive Military Parade

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will join Chinese President Xi Jinping and more than two dozen other foreign leaders at China’s upcoming military parade in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday.

The parade, scheduled for September 3 in Tiananmen Square, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II following Japan’s surrender. The gathering will provide a striking image of three powerful leaders—Xi, Putin, and Kim—standing together atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace, symbolizing their alignment in an increasingly divided global order.

Kim’s Rare Trip Abroad

North Korea’s state news agency confirmed Kim’s attendance, which will be his first visit to China since 2019. Kim has traveled abroad only sparingly since taking power in 2011, with his last trip in 2023 to meet Putin in Russia’s Far East. His presence in Beijing will offer a rare chance to appear alongside global leaders despite his country’s deep isolation under international sanctions.

The confirmation of Kim’s attendance comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting the North Korean leader later this year.

Global Leaders in Attendance

China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei announced that 26 foreign heads of state and government will participate, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. European leaders such as Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia’s Robert Fico will also attend.

Notably absent are leaders from major Western countries, even though China played a pivotal role in the Allied victory in the Pacific during World War II. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be in Tianjin for a regional summit the same weekend, is also not expected at the parade.

Show of Military Power

The 70-minute parade will showcase over 10,000 troops, 100 aircraft, and hundreds of military vehicles. Beijing has emphasized that all equipment displayed is domestically produced and currently in service, with many items making their debut. These include drones, electronic warfare systems, hypersonic weapons, missile-defense technologies, and strategic missiles.

For Xi, the event underscores his push to modernize the People’s Liberation Army and demonstrate China’s military advancements on the global stage.

Strategic Alliances

China remains North Korea’s most important political and economic partner, providing crucial support to its heavily sanctioned economy. Their alliance, codified in a 1961 defense treaty, continues to be central to regional geopolitics.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang has deepened ties with Moscow, aligning more closely with Russia during its ongoing war in Ukraine. Kim and Putin signed a defense pact in Pyongyang last year, pledging mutual military assistance in case either country is attacked.

At Thursday’s press conference, Hong Lei highlighted the “traditional friendship” between China and North Korea, noting their shared struggle against Japan during World War II. He added that China seeks to work closely with North Korea to advance socialist development, strengthen cooperation, and safeguard regional peace and stability.