North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled by special train from Pyongyang on Monday, Sept. 1, en route to Beijing to attend a large military parade on Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He is expected to observe the event alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a high-profile appearance that could underscore closer coordination among the three governments.
Key Takeaways
- KCNA says Kim departed Pyongyang by special train on Sept. 1 with senior officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
- South Korea’s intelligence service reports Kim’s train entered China early Tuesday and was expected in Beijing later the same day, with protocol comparable to Putin’s.
- Xi will host a Wednesday parade at Tiananmen Square; China says 26 foreign leaders will attend.
- Seoul expects Kim to seek bilateral talks with Xi and Putin; no trilateral summit has been confirmed.
- This would be Kim’s first participation in a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule and his first China visit since 2019.
- Moscow says a Putin–Kim meeting on the sidelines is “under consideration,” and Putin is also attending a regional SCO gathering in China.
- Seoul assesses North Korea has sent about 15,000 troops to Russia since last fall, with roughly 2,000 fatalities; it also says some construction workers and deminers have deployed to Russia’s Kursk region. These figures are intelligence assessments, not independently verified.
- Before departure, Kim inspected a missile institute and a new weapons factory, reviewing a “next‑generation” ICBM engine program.
Verified Facts
North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kim left Pyongyang by his armored “special train” on to join commemorations in Beijing. KCNA listed senior aides in his delegation, including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Kim’s train crossed into China early Tuesday and was expected to reach Beijing later that day. According to attending lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, the NIS anticipates he will receive special protocol on par with Putin and could appear with Xi and Putin on the Tiananmen Square rostrum during the parade.
China plans a large-scale military display on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Chinese organizers say 26 world leaders will observe the event with Xi in Beijing.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russia’s TASS news agency that a Putin–Kim meeting in China is “under consideration.” Putin arrived in China on Sunday for both the parade and meetings linked to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
KCNA separately published photos showing Kim inspecting a missile research institute on Sept. 1 and a new weapons factory on Aug. 31. International media noted the images were distributed by North Korean state outlets and cannot be independently verified.
Context & Impact
Kim’s appearance in Beijing would be his first at a major multilateral gathering since taking power in late 2011. The optics of Kim, Xi and Putin attending the same ceremony may signal tightening political alignment amid deep rifts with Washington and U.S. allies over Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific and North Korea’s nuclear program.
South Korea assesses that North Korea has backed Russia’s war effort with personnel and munitions in exchange for economic and military assistance. Seoul’s latest figures—about 15,000 North Korean troops sent since last fall and roughly 2,000 killed—underscore the scope of alleged cooperation but remain unverified outside intelligence channels. North Korea and Russia deny violating U.N. sanctions.
For Beijing, hosting both Kim and Putin allows China to showcase diplomatic centrality and rally partners at an anniversary it views as foundational to its modern national narrative. For Kim, the trip offers a high-visibility platform to ease isolation, court economic support from China—his largest trading partner—and deepen defense ties with Moscow.
The visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung have voiced interest in reviving talks with Pyongyang. North Korea has rejected negotiations since the 2019 breakdown of Kim’s earlier diplomacy with Trump and has continued advancing long-range missile capabilities. Analysts say the “next‑generation” ICBM engine Kim reviewed likely points to efforts toward multiple warheads designed to complicate missile defenses.
Official Statements
Kim “left Pyongyang by his special train” for the Beijing celebrations.
KCNA
A Putin–Kim meeting is “under consideration.”
Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin aide, via TASS
Explainer
Unconfirmed
- Any private trilateral meeting among Xi, Putin and Kim.
- Kim’s final parade seating/rostrum placement and detailed schedule.
- Precise numbers of North Korean personnel in Russia and casualty figures—these are South Korean intelligence estimates.
- Specifics of any new agreements or arms-related arrangements that might be discussed during side meetings.
Bottom Line
Kim’s Beijing trip gives North Korea a rare multilateral spotlight and the chance to deepen ties with its two most consequential partners. Whether it yields concrete deals or remains largely symbolic, the imagery of Kim, Xi and Putin at a single military ceremony will resonate across regional security debates and complicate efforts to restart denuclearization talks.