A Spectacle of Solidarity: Kim Jong Un to Attend China’s V-Day

Beijing will host a spectacle of solidarity next week, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed to attend China’s V-Day celebrations. His rare trip abroad is for a military parade on Wednesday that marks 80 years since the end of World War II.
The event, hosted by President Xi Jinping, will also feature Russian President Vladimir Putin, but it has been snubbed by Western powers. The boycott by the U.S. and major European nations over the Ukraine war turns the parade into an exclusive gathering of non-Western allies.
This is Kim’s first visit to China since 2019, a trip aimed at shoring up his country’s most vital relationship. With China as its economic lifeline, this diplomatic engagement is a top priority for Pyongyang.
The joint appearance of Kim, Xi, and Putin will be a carefully choreographed display of unity. It is a message to the world that a powerful new coalition has formed, ready to challenge the status quo.