Kim Jong Un to Attend Historic Military Parade in China, Strengthening Ties with Russia and China Amidst Potential Resumption of US Talks

Next week in Beijing, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a historic military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion following Japan’s surrender to Allied forces. The event commemorates China’s victory over Japanese aggression and will bring together leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea for the first time.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry statements, the parade signifies China’s triumph against Japanese imperialism. News outlets in South Korea and North Korea have reported Kim’s decision to attend the event.

In addition to the North Korean and Russian leaders, heads of state from 26 other nations are expected at the parade. These include Iran, Cuba, Belarus, Serbia, and Slovakia, who is the only NATO member on the list so far.

This will be Kim’s first known visit to China since 2019, following five meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping between 2018 and 2019. However, in recent years, Kim has strengthened ties with Russia, signing a mutual defense treaty with the Kremlin and deploying thousands of troops to aid Moscow in Ukraine.

John Delury, a senior fellow at Asia Society, believes this event signifies a renewed strategic relationship between China and North Korea, stating that it sets their leaders’ partnership back on an even keel. He also suggests that Kim may be anticipating reduced leverage with Russia due to ongoing peace talks between the United States and Russia regarding Ukraine.

President Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Kim again, as they did three times in 2018 and 2019. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has indicated Pyongyang’s disinterest in resuming talks with the U.S., but she has also stated that Trump and Kim have a unique personal relationship, which could lead to further negotiations if the U.S. adopts a more favorable stance towards North Korea.

South Korean President Lee will not attend the parade but will be represented by Parliamentary Speaker Woo Won-shik. Some analysts believe that this event suggests the emergence of a new Cold War structure, with North Korea relying on Russia for military cooperation and China for economic relations.

China and Russia have collaborated in helping North Korea avoid international sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs. They have also provided support to each other in various ways during Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. However, their alliance is not institutionalized like the partnerships between the United States, South Korea, and Japan, which established a trilateral secretariat last year.

As preparations for the parade proceed, Chinese media has been focusing on the country’s contributions to victory in World War II, officially known as the “Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.” The conflict began with Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and lasted until 1945, resulting in an estimated 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians killed or injured.

Leader Xi Jinping visited a battlefield memorial last month, encouraging the nation to “tell the story of the War of Resistance well” and to pass on the spirit of resistance from generation to generation.