The friendship between North Korea and China will be on full display next week as leader Kim Jong Un attends a V-Day parade in Beijing. The trip, Kim’s first abroad since 2019, is for a ceremony on Wednesday marking 80 years since the end of World War II.
The parade, hosted by President Xi Jinping, will also welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin, but will be boycotted by Western leaders. The U.S. and major European nations are skipping the event to protest Putin’s presence, highlighting a sharp divide in global politics.
The primary motivation for Kim’s visit is widely seen as the need to bolster ties with his country’s main economic and political supporter. With China accounting for about 97% of North Korea’s trade, this relationship is vital for the nation’s survival.
The gathering of the three leaders is also a strategic move. It comes as North Korea has strengthened its military cooperation with Russia, and their joint appearance will be interpreted as a public demonstration of a united front against Western influence.