A Rare Journey: Kim Jong Un Confirms Trip to Beijing

In a rare journey outside his isolated nation, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has confirmed he will travel to Beijing next week. He will attend a military parade on Wednesday, September 3rd, an event hosted by China to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade will also be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and 24 other foreign leaders. However, the event is being boycotted by the U.S. and major Western European powers, who are protesting Putin’s presence amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This visit is Kim’s first to China since 2019 and is widely interpreted as a strategic move to bolster ties with his country’s most vital ally. China provides the vast majority of North Korea’s trade and aid, making this relationship crucial for its stability.
Kim’s presence in Beijing alongside both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Putin will be a powerful symbol. It showcases a growing alignment between the three nations, which are increasingly finding common cause in their opposition to the Western-led global order.