North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reappeared on the international stage with a high-profile trip to China, his first visit to the country in six years. His arrival coincided with a large-scale military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, where he stood beside President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin. The event, which drew about two dozen global leaders, provided Kim with a rare platform for visibility outside of Pyongyang and highlighted his intent to project authority beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Reemergence on the Global Stage
Kim traveled to the Chinese capital aboard his trademark armored train, a method long associated with his family’s rule. The choice of transport, both symbolic and practical, reinforced the controlled image Pyongyang seeks to cultivate when its leader ventures abroad. His attendance at the parade underscored Beijing’s willingness to showcase North Korea as a political partner during a moment of heightened geopolitical competition.
For Kim, who has faced years of international sanctions and pandemic-era isolation, the return to Beijing carried symbolic weight. The appearance allowed him to present himself as more than an isolated autocrat, instead projecting the image of a leader engaged in coordinated diplomacy with major powers.
Renewed Strategic Alignments
During meetings on the sidelines of the parade, Xi Jinping emphasized that the relationship between China and North Korea remained firm regardless of changes in the international landscape. He highlighted the need for deeper coordination on both regional security and global affairs. Kim, in turn, described the parade as “our celebration,” aligning North Korea’s interests with China’s global ambitions and reaffirming Pyongyang’s reliance on Beijing as its most important ally.
These public affirmations were significant in light of North Korea’s continuing economic hardships and its ongoing reliance on Chinese trade. Beijing remains Pyongyang’s key provider of energy, food, and basic goods. Kim’s willingness to stand so visibly with Xi sent a message that North Korea continues to anchor itself firmly within China’s orbit at a time when tensions with the United States and its allies remain high.
High-Level Engagements Reveal Shared Interests
The Beijing commemoration also created an opportunity for Kim to engage directly with Vladimir Putin. Their bilateral meeting was widely interpreted as a reinforcement of military and economic cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russia has increasingly turned to North Korea for support in its war in Ukraine, with Western intelligence agencies estimating that tens of thousands of artillery shells and rockets have been shipped to Russian forces. Reports also suggest that North Korean personnel have been involved in logistical and support roles, with figures of up to 15,000 troops mentioned by analysts, though Pyongyang has not confirmed such deployments.
For Kim, alignment with Moscow provides both political recognition and potential access to resources such as fuel and advanced weapons technology. For Putin, the symbolism of welcoming a partner willing to defy Western sanctions bolsters the narrative that Russia is not isolated on the world stage.
Public Display and Military Signaling
The military parade itself was a show of strength for China, with Xi Jinping declaring that the world faced a choice between “peace or war.” The event featured hypersonic missiles, stealth fighter aircraft, and unmanned underwater drones, all intended to emphasize Beijing’s expanding defense capabilities. More than 10,000 troops marched through Tiananmen Square, while advanced tanks and rocket systems underscored the scale of China’s military modernization.
For North Korea, the spectacle offered a chance to align its image with two major nuclear powers. Kim’s presence alongside Xi and Putin signaled defiance of Western pressure and positioned Pyongyang as an integral member of an emerging bloc challenging U.S. influence in Asia and beyond. The public optics also served as a reminder that Kim’s regime is not entirely isolated but instead part of a triangular relationship with Beijing and Moscow that carries significant strategic weight.